NWA International Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)

The NWA International Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship in Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). A secondary title after the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version), it was one of several international tag team championships recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance. It was the first NWA tag team championship to be billed as an "international" title and active from 1956 to 1963.

NWA International Tag Team Championship
Details
PromotionGeorgia Championship Wrestling
Date establishedOctober 1956
Date retiredNo later than June 1963
Statistics
First champion(s)Fred Atkins and Ike Eakins
Final champion(s)Ray Gunkel and Dick Steinborn
Most reignsDon McIntyre and Red McIntyre (2)
Freddie Blassie and Bob Shipp (2)
Ray Gunkel and Don McIntyre (2)
Ray Gunkel and Dick Steinborn (2)
Tarzan Tyler and Len Montana (2)
Longest reignRay Gunkel and Ron Etchison (63 days)
Shortest reignKarl Heinkler and Kurt Von Brauner (7 days)

Some reigns were held by champions using a ring name, while others used their real name. There have been a total of 34 recognized individual champions and 23 recognized teams, who have had a combined 28 official reigns. The first champions were Fred Atkins and Ike Eakins, and the final champions were Ray Gunkel and Dick Steinborn. At 63 days, Ray Gunkel and Ron Etchison's first and only reign was the longest, while the team of Karl Heinkler and Kurt Von Brauner's reign was the shortest, at seven days.

Five teams - Don McIntyre and Red McIntyre, Freddie Blassie and Bob Shipp, Ray Gunkel and Don McIntyre, Ray Gunkel and Dick Steinborn, and Tarzan Tyler and Len Montana - are tied with the most reigns with two each. Gunkel has the most individual reigns with seven. The following is a chronological list of teams that have been International Tag Team Champions by ring name.

Title history

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Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific team—reign numbers for the individuals are in parentheses, if different
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 Fred Atkins and Ike Eakins October 1956 GCW show N/A 1 Billed as champions upon arrival in the territory. [1]
2 Red McIntyre and Chief Big Heart December 7, 1956 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 63 [1]
3 Mark Lewin and Donn Lewin February 8, 1957 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 35 [1][2]
4 Don McIntyre and Red McIntyre (2) March 15, 1957 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 [1][3]
Championship history is unrecorded from March 15, 1957 to June, 1957 (NLT).
5 Kurt Von Brauner and Freddie Blassie June, 1957 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1 [Note 1] [1]
6 Don McIntyre and Red McIntyre June 21, 1957 GCW show Atlanta, GA 2 [1]
Championship history is unrecorded from June 21, 1957 to July 20, 1957 (NLT).
7 Don McIntyre (3) and Tarzan White July 20, 1957 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1
8 The Von Brauners
(Kurt Von Brauner and Fritz Von Brauner)
August 24, 1957 GCW show Rome, GA 1 41 [1]
9 Ray Gunkel and Don McIntyre (4) October 4, 1957 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 [1]
Championship history is unrecorded from October 4, 1957 to February, 1958 (NLT).
10 Ray Gunkel (2) and Billy Red Lyons February, 1958 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1 [Note 2] [1]
11 The Mighty Yankee and Don Lee April 4, 1958 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 14 [1]
12 Karl Heinkler and Kurt Von Brauner (3) April 18, 1958 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 7 [1][4]
13 Angelo Martinelli and Rocky Columbo April 25, 1958 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1
Championship history is unrecorded from April 25, 1958 to June, 1958 (NLT).
14 Jack Dillon and Don Lee (2) June, 1958 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1 [Note 3] [1]
15 Ray Gunkel (3) and Ron Etchison June 13, 1958 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 63 [1]
Vacated August 15, 1958 GCW show Atlanta, GA Championship is held-up after a controversial title defense against Freddie Blassie and Angelo Poffo ended in a no-contest.
Championship history is unrecorded from August 15, 1958 to October, 1958 (NLT).
16 Ray Gunkel (4) and Nick Roberts October, 1958 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1 [Note 4] [1]
17 Freddie Blassie (2) and Bob Shipp October 10, 1958 GCW show Atlanta, GA 2 [1][5]
Championship history is unrecorded from October 10, 1958 to January, 1959 (NLT).
18 Ray Gunkel (5) and Don McIntyre (5) January, 1959 (NLT) GCW show N/A 2 [1]
Championship history is unrecorded from January, 1959 (NLT) to December, 1959 (NLT).
19 Ray Gunkel (6) and Dick Gunkel December, 1959 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1 [1]
Championship history is unrecorded from December, 1959 (NLT) to May 3, 1960 (NLT).
20 Freddie Blassie (3) and Eric Pederson May 3, 1960 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1
Championship history is unrecorded from May 3, 1960 (NLT) to June, 1960 (NLT).
21 The Corsicans
(Corsica Joe and Corsica Jean)
June, 1960 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1
Championship history is unrecorded from June, 1960 (NLT) to April, 1961 (NLT).
22 Gypsy Joe and Skull Murphy April, 1961 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1
Championship history is unrecorded from April, 1961 (NLT) to January 5, 1962 (NLT).
23 Jean Gaullois and Paul Gaullois January 5, 1962 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1
Championship history is unrecorded from January 5, 1962 (NLT) to April, 1963 (NLT).
24 Tarzan Tyler and Len Montana April, 1963 (NLT) GCW show N/A 1
25 Dick Steinborn (2) and Chief Little Eagle April 27, 1963 GCW show Atlanta, GA 1 [6]
26 Tarzan Tyler and Len Montana June, 1963 (NLT) GCW show N/A 2
27 Bill Dromo and Chief Little Eagle (2) June 5, 1963 GCW show Columbus, GA 1 9
28 Ray Gunkel (7) and Dick Steinborn (3) June 14, 1963 GCW show Atlanta, GA 2

Footnotes

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  1. ^ The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 1 and 20 days.
  2. ^ The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 35 and 62 days.
  3. ^ The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 1 and 12 days.
  4. ^ The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 1 and 9 days.

References

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General

  • Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "United States: Georgia". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 140–141. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  • "International Tag Team Title (Georgia)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  • Norris, Mike (2004). "Regional Territories: GCW". KayfabeMemories.com.

Specific

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