Tag Team Championship Belts: The Legacy of Wrestling’s Greatest Duos
Tag team wrestling has been a cornerstone of professional wrestling for decades, with legendary duos competing for some of the most prestigious Tag Team Championship belts in promotions around the world. Whether in WWE, AEW, NJPW, ROH, Impact Wrestling, or other major promotions, tag team titles symbolize the dominance, chemistry, and teamwork of the best duos in the business.
In this article, we’ll explore the most iconic Tag Team Championship belts across different wrestling promotions, their history, belt design evolution, and the legendary teams that have held them.
1. WWE Tag Team Championship Belts
Introduction & Evolution
WWE has had multiple tag team titles over the years, including:
- World Tag Team Championship (1971–2010) – The original WWE tag belts.
- WWE Tag Team Championship (2002–2016) – Created during the brand split.
- Raw & SmackDown Tag Team Championships (2016–2024) – Separate brand-specific titles.
- WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship (2024–Present) – Unified championship.
Belt Design Evolution
- Classic World Tag Team Belts (1980s–2010s) – Featured a gold-plated design with dual wrestlers grappling.
- Penny Copper Design (2010–2016) – Introduced a bronze Spartan helmet design that received mixed reactions.
- Modern Silver & Gold Design (2016–Present) – The current version has blue/red straps for Raw & SmackDown, later unified into gold-plated belts.
Notable Champions
- The Hardy Boyz (7-time champions) – Revolutionized tag wrestling with high-flying action.
- The Dudley Boyz (9-time WWE champions) – Masters of tables and hardcore matches.
- The Usos (Longest reign, 622 days, 2021–2023) – Dominated WWE’s modern era.
2. AEW World Tag Team Championship
Introduction & First Champions (2019)
AEW introduced its World Tag Team Championship in 2019, with SCU (SoCal Uncensored) defeating The Lucha Brothers to become the first champions.
Belt Design
- Features a gold-plated design with an old-school, boxing-style look, symbolizing tradition and prestige.
Notable Champions
- The Young Bucks (2-time champions) – One of the best modern tag teams.
- FTR (2022) – Defended their titles in multiple promotions, making them global tag wrestling icons.
- Kenny Omega & Hangman Page (2020) – A dominant duo with incredible chemistry.
3. IWGP Tag Team Championship (NJPW)
Introduction & First Champions (1985)
The IWGP Tag Team Championship is NJPW’s top heavyweight tag title, first held by Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami.
Belt Design
- Features large, gold-plated center plates with the NJPW lion logo, giving it a prestigious look.
Notable Champions
- Guerrillas of Destiny (7-time champions) – NJPW’s most dominant tag team.
- The Steiner Brothers (1991–1992) – Helped bring international prestige to NJPW’s tag division.
- FTR (2022) – Defended the belts in multiple promotions, making history.
4. ROH World Tag Team Championship
Introduction & First Champions (2002)
ROH introduced its World Tag Team Championship in 2002, with Christopher Daniels & Donovan Morgan becoming the inaugural champions.
Belt Design
- The current design features a classic, bold gold-plated look with ROH branding.
Notable Champions
- The Briscoe Brothers (13-time champions, record holders) – The greatest team in ROH history.
- The Young Bucks (3-time champions) – Helped elevate ROH’s tag team division.
- FTR (2022) – Delivered a historic trilogy against The Briscoes.
5. Impact Wrestling (TNA) World Tag Team Championship
Introduction & First Champions (2007)
TNA (now Impact Wrestling) introduced its World Tag Team Championship in 2007 after separating from the NWA. The first champions were Team 3D (The Dudley Boyz).
Belt Design
- The title has had multiple designs, but the modern version features a sleek, gold-plated look with an Impact Wrestling logo.
Notable Champions
- Beer Money Inc. (2008–2011) – One of TNA’s greatest homegrown teams.
- Motor City Machine Guns (2007, 2020–2021) – Brought fast-paced, technical tag wrestling to TNA.
- The Good Brothers (2021) – Helped elevate the division with international credibility.
6. NXT Tag Team Championship
Introduction & First Champions (2013)
WWE’s NXT Tag Team Championship was introduced in 2013, with British Ambition (Adrian Neville & Oliver Grey) becoming the first champions.
Belt Design
- Original Design (2013–2017) – Featured an X-shaped, gold-plated centerpiece.
- Modern Design (2017–Present) – Sleeker, with a black background and bold gold logo.
Notable Champions
- The Revival (2016–2017, now FTR) – Brought old-school tag wrestling to NXT.
- DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa, 2016–2017) – Had unforgettable matches against The Revival.
- Undisputed Era (2017–2021) – One of the most dominant factions in NXT history.
7. WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Introduction & First Champions (2019)
WWE introduced the Women’s Tag Team Championship in 2019, with Sasha Banks & Bayley becoming the first champions.
Belt Design
- Features a white strap with gold-plated center plates and a unique WWE branding design.
Notable Champions
- The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane, 2019–2020) – Elevated the title with strong performances.
- Sasha Banks & Bayley (First champions, 2019) – Set the foundation for the division.
- Damage CTRL (IYO SKY & Dakota Kai, 2022) – Dominated WWE’s women’s tag scene.
8. AEW World Trios Championship
Introduction & First Champions (2022)
AEW introduced the World Trios Championship for three-man teams, with The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) becoming the first champions.
Belt Design
- Features a modern, gold-plated aesthetic with AEW branding.
Notable Champions
- The Elite (First champions, 2022) – Set the gold standard for AEW’s trios division.
- House of Black (2023) – Dominated with a unique, dark faction identity.
Conclusion: Tag Team Championships Represent Wrestling’s Greatest Partnerships
Tag team wrestling has a rich history across promotions like WWE, AEW, NJPW, ROH, and Impact Wrestling. The best teams in the world have battled for these championships, leaving a lasting legacy of legendary matches, unforgettable rivalries, and historic title reigns.