AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title active from November 26, 1945, to February 1, 1988, primarily defended in the Tennessee area, particularly Memphis. Originally established as the NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team Championship under the National Wrestling Alliance's Mid-America promotion, it was renamed the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship on November 28, 1977, following the promotion's affiliation with the American Wrestling Association.[1] From July 1978 onward, it was promoted by the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), known for its fast-paced, territorial style of wrestling that emphasized frequent title changes and local rivalries.[1] The championship saw over 466 documented reigns, with numerous vacancies due to injuries, disputes, or team dissolutions, making it one of the most active titles in Southern wrestling history.[2] Notable teams that defined the title's legacy include The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn), who hold the record with 15 reigns totaling significant days across multiple defenses, often showcasing high-flying and charismatic performances in the Mid-South Coliseum.[2] Other prominent champions were The Heavenly Bodies (Al Greene and Don Greene) with 8 reigns, known for their technical prowess in the 1970s, and The Bicentennial Kings (Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson), also with 8 reigns.[2] The title's final champions were The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels), who won it on November 22, 1987, before it was vacated in December 1987 and deactivated on February 1, 1988, after which it was succeeded by the CWA Tag Team Championship.[1] This championship played a crucial role in developing tag team wrestling in the region, featuring future stars and contributing to the vibrant Memphis wrestling scene until the territorial era's decline.[1]History
Creation and early years
The NWA Southern Tag Team Championship was established in November 1945 by the NWA Mid-America promotion in Tennessee as a regional title to determine supremacy among tag teams in the Mid-South territory.[3] This creation occurred amid the post-World War II resurgence of professional wrestling, where territorial promotions sought to capitalize on growing fan interest by introducing dedicated tag team competitions.[4] The inaugural champions, Garza Lozano and Jack Purdin, captured the title on November 26, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee, defeating opponents in a match that marked the championship's debut.[3] Their reign exemplified the era's emphasis on established wrestlers blending international flair—Lozano, a Mexican competitor known as Tonina Jackson—with local talent like Purdin to draw crowds.[5] Promoted primarily by Nick Gulas and Roy Welch starting in the early 1940s, the title's early years featured regular events in key Mid-America cities such as Chattanooga and Nashville, contributing to the development of local wrestling talent and intense regional rivalries during the post-WWII boom.[4] These defenses helped elevate tag team wrestling as a staple, fostering partnerships and feuds that sustained attendance in arenas across the territory.[6] Within the National Wrestling Alliance's territorial framework, the championship served as a distinct Mid-Southern title, operating independently from similar regional belts like the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship or NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, while adhering to NWA guidelines for recognition and defense.[7]Affiliation with AWA and peak era
In 1977, following Jerry Jarrett's split from Nick Gulas and the formation of the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), the championship was renamed the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship due to a partnership between the CWA and the American Wrestling Association (AWA), which allowed for shared branding and talent exchanges; it was also occasionally referred to as the Mid-Southern Tag Team Championship during this time.[3] The title was primarily promoted through Jarrett's CWA operations in Memphis, Tennessee, where it became a cornerstone of weekly events that integrated AWA stars and facilitated cross-promotions, such as angles tying into the AWA World Tag Team Championship to draw larger crowds across the Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky territories.[3] The peak era of the championship unfolded from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, characterized by high turnover and frequent defenses that heightened fan engagement in the region. Teams like The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn) exemplified this vibrancy, capturing the title a record 15 times between 1982 and 1985, often defending it in high-profile matches at the Mid-South Coliseum, such as their victory over the Rock 'n' Roll Express on October 25, 1982.[3] This period saw over 100 combined reigns, reflecting the rapid pace of title switches that kept storylines fresh and local audiences invested, with events routinely selling out venues like the Mid-South Coliseum.[3] Notable rivalries further elevated the title's status, including intense feuds such as that between The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) and The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty), which spilled into Southern territory matches and amplified cross-promotional appeal in the mid-1980s. The championship also propelled local legends like Tojo Yamamoto, who amassed 23 individual reigns across partnerships, solidifying his role as a territorial mainstay and mentor figure in Memphis wrestling. These dynamics underscored the title's role in building stars and sustaining the CWA-AWA alliance during its most prosperous years.[3]Decline and deactivation
The decline of the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship began in the mid-1980s amid the broader erosion of regional wrestling territories, driven primarily by the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) aggressive national expansion that encroached on local markets and siphoned talent and audiences.[8] As WWF promoters like Vince McMahon ignored traditional NWA territorial boundaries—such as by running shows in Minneapolis and Chicago that outdrew AWA events by late 1985—attendance at regional promotions plummeted, with AWA cards in key venues like the Minneapolis Auditorium drawing under 2,000 fans by early 1988.[8] This national competition intensified financial pressures on partners like the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) in Memphis, where promoter Jerry Jarrett faced rising costs and reduced gate revenues as WWF syndication deals undercut local TV slots and fan loyalty.[8] The title's final reign belonged to The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels), who captured the belts on November 22, 1987, in Memphis. The championship was vacated in December 1987 when they won the AWA World Tag Team Championship and was succeeded by the CWA Tag Team Championship.[3] An inaugural tournament for the new title was held on February 1, 1988, in Memphis, crowning Max Pain and Gary Young as champions after defeating Jeff Jarrett and Manny Fernandez in the finals.[9] The AWA's weakening partnerships exacerbated these issues, as its 1985 collaboration with NWA affiliates via Pro Wrestling USA collapsed after a gate dispute at SuperClash, while Verne Gagne's unsuccessful attempts to sell the promotion in 1986 further destabilized alliances like the one with CWA.[8] Despite the end, the title's legacy endured in Memphis wrestling, where alumni such as Jerry Lawler— a multiple-time AWA Southern champion—preserved territorial traditions through high-profile feuds and storytelling that influenced later promotions like the USWA, emphasizing local rivalries and athletic tag team action.[10]Championship details
Title design and variations
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was originally introduced in 1945 under the National Wrestling Alliance's Mid-America promotion. The inaugural champions were Garza Lozano and Jack Purdin, who won the title following their victory over the Welch brothers in Birmingham, Alabama.[3] Following the promotion's split from the NWA in 1977 and affiliation with the American Wrestling Association, the title continued under the CWA from July 1978. Different versions of the belt were in use circa 1978–1981, 1981–1984, and 1985–1986.[11]Rules and match stipulations
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship matches adhered to the standard tag team conventions prevalent in the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), where only one member of each team could be the legal wrestler in the ring at a time, with switches requiring a tag via hand contact on the apron. Title defenses commonly employed a two-out-of-three falls format, allowing competitors to compete in up to three segments to secure a majority victory and emphasizing endurance in championship bouts. This structure was typical for major CWA tag team contests throughout the 1980s. Regional defenses occasionally relaxed standard rules, such as incorporating no disqualifications to permit weapons and brawling outside the ring, intensifying rivalries and appealing to Southern audiences. For instance, in 1986, champions Fire & Flame defended the titles against Giant Hillbilly Jim and Paul Diamond under no disqualification stipulations, with their masks on the line.[12] Champions were obligated to defend the belts regularly within CWA's primary territories of Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, ensuring frequent exposure on weekly television and house shows. Special stipulations were introduced for vacancies or pivotal defenses, including multi-team tournaments to determine new champions when titles were held up due to controversial finishes or wrestler departures. The championship's match rules evolved alongside the CWA's promotional affiliations. Before July 1978, under NWA sanctioning, bouts followed rigid territorial guidelines focused on technical wrestling. After the CWA's partnership with the American Wrestling Association, defenses shifted toward more theatrical presentations, prioritizing heel-face dynamics and crowd-engaging narratives in line with AWA-influenced booking.Champions and reigns
Individual reigns
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship saw over 400 title changes from its inception in 1945 until its deactivation in December 1987, with individual wrestlers accumulating multiple reigns through diverse tag team partnerships in the Mid-South territory. The inaugural champions were Garza Lozano and Jack Purdin, who defeated Herb Welch and Roy Welch in late 1945, marking Lozano's sole reign.[13] Over the decades, wrestlers like Tojo Yamamoto and Jerry Lawler became synonymous with the title's legacy, holding it repeatedly while adapting to different teammates amid the promotion's frequent booking changes. Tojo Yamamoto holds the record for the most individual reigns with 23, spanning from the early 1960s to 1981, often teaming with partners such as Alex Perez (five times), Jerry Jarrett, and Eddie Marlin to capture the belts in matches across Tennessee and Alabama venues.[14] Jerry Lawler secured 20 reigns between 1973 and 1986, demonstrating versatility by partnering with figures like Bill Dundee (three times), Giant Hillbilly Jim, and Austin Idol; notable among his holds was a brief less-than-one-day reign with Big Bubba Rogers on November 3, 1986, vacated immediately due to an in-ring attack.[15] Stan Lane and Steve Keirn each tallied 15 reigns as the core of The Fabulous Ones from 1984 to 1985, building their total through rapid defenses and rematches against rivals like The Sheepherders.[1] The title's history includes numerous vacancies, typically resulting from partner disagreements, injuries, or failure to defend, which often prompted tournaments or battle royals to determine new champions. Examples include the March 19, 1984, vacancy after Jerry Lawler and Jos LeDuc's contentious steel cage match led to their split, resolved via a tournament won by Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich; the July 1987 vacancy due to an injury to one of The Clones; and the June 1, 1987, vacancy when Chic Donovan departed the promotion abruptly.[13] Among multi-time holders, wrestlers frequently switched partners to extend their reigns, as seen with Phil Hickerson (12 reigns, often with Tojo Yamamoto or Dennis Condrey) and Dennis Condrey (12 reigns, including stints in The Rock 'n' Roll Express precursors). Longest individual reigns included Jackie Fargo's 196-day hold with brother Sonny Fargo in 1965, establishing a benchmark for sustained defenses, while shortest examples featured one-day holds like The Sheepherders (Jonathan Boyd and Rip Morgan) on September 16, 1985.[13]| Wrestler | Total Reigns | Notable Partners and Eras |
|---|---|---|
| Tojo Yamamoto | 23 | Alex Perez (1960s), Jerry Jarrett (1980s) |
| Jerry Lawler | 20 | Bill Dundee (1970s), Austin Idol (1980s) |
| Stan Lane | 15 | Steve Keirn (1980s, as The Fabulous Ones) |
| Steve Keirn | 15 | Stan Lane (1980s, as The Fabulous Ones) |
| Phil Hickerson | 12 | Tojo Yamamoto, Dennis Condrey (1970s) |
| Dennis Condrey | 12 | Phil Hickerson, Robert Fuller (1970s-80s) |
| Jerry Jarrett | 13 | Tojo Yamamoto, Bill Dundee (1970s-80s) |
| Bill Dundee | 15 | Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett (1970s-80s) |
| Jackie Fargo | 15 | Sonny Fargo, Lester Welch (1950s-60s) |
| Len Rossi | 11 | Mario Milano, Jackie Fargo (1960s) |
Team reigns by length
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship saw numerous teams hold the title over its history, with combined reign lengths varying significantly based on the partnership's dominance in the Memphis territory. The longest combined team reign belongs to The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn), who captured the championship 15 times between 1982 and 1985, accumulating over 500 days as champions across key periods such as their initial run from October 1982 to November 1982 (28 days) and extended holds in 1983-1984 totaling around 200 days in multiple segments.[3] Other notable teams include The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton), who secured 2 reigns in the 1980s, including a brief but impactful win on August 13, 1984, in Memphis, Tennessee, contributing to their territorial legacy though with shorter cumulative durations compared to top holders due to intense rivalries.[16] The Assassins (various iterations, including Assassin #1 and Assassin #2) held the title in four reigns during the late 1970s, such as their 14-day run starting April 23, 1979, in Memphis, emphasizing masked teamwork in an era of frequent title changes.[3]| Rank | Team | Number of Reigns | Combined Days | Key Reign Periods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn) | 15 | ~500+ | 1982-10-25 to 1985 (multiple, including 84-day hold in 1984) |
| 2 | The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) | 2 | ~150 | 1984-08-13 (7 days); additional 1980s runs |
| 3 | The Assassins (various) | 4 | ~100 | 1979-04-23 (14 days); 1970s-1980s iterations |
Individual reigns by length
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship saw numerous wrestlers accumulate significant time as champions through multiple reigns, reflecting the territorial nature of Mid-South wrestling promotions where frequent title changes drove storylines and house show attendance. Tojo Yamamoto stands out as the wrestler with the most combined days holding the title, totaling approximately 819 days across 23 reigns from the early 1960s to the early 1980s, often partnering with figures like Jerry Jarrett, Alex Perez, and Johnny Long to defend against regional heels.[14] His longevity was bolstered by consistent booking in Nashville and Memphis territories, where he served as a reliable babyface anchor.[13] Other prominent individuals include Bill Dundee, who held the title for about 526 days over 15 reigns primarily in the late 1970s and early 1980s, frequently teaming with Jerry Lawler or Steve Keirn during the promotion's peak under the Continental Wrestling Association banner.[14] Jerry Lawler amassed roughly 291 days across 20 reigns, with notable extended holds like a 89-day stint in 1978 alongside Dundee, capitalizing on his rising star status as a singles competitor transitioning into tag division feuds.[15] These mid-tier accumulations highlight how wrestlers balanced tag team duties with solo pursuits in the competitive AWA Southern landscape. At the opposite end, several wrestlers experienced extremely brief reigns, often lasting 0 to 7 days due to immediate rematches or booking decisions to vacate titles quickly for fresh angles; examples include Tojo Yamamoto's 5-day hold on October 6-11, 1971, with Doug Somerson, and Bill Dundee's 6-day reign from May 18-24, 1982, with Lawler, both ended by rapid defenses in Memphis arenas.[13] Such short tenures were common in territorial wrestling, influenced by factors like promoter Nick Gulas and later Jerry Jarrett's fast-paced booking styles to maximize weekly TV and live event revenue, occasional injuries forcing vacancies, and the grueling travel schedules across Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky that disrupted long-term defenses.[13]| Rank | Wrestler | Total Days | Number of Reigns | Notable Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tojo Yamamoto | ~819 | 23 | Jerry Jarrett, Alex Perez, Johnny Long |
| 2 | Bill Dundee | ~526 | 15 | Jerry Lawler, Steve Keirn |
| 3 | Jerry Lawler | ~291 | 20 | Bill Dundee, Tojo Yamamoto |