Top 6 Most Successful IWGP Jr Tag Team Champions

Top 6 Most Successful IWGP Jr Tag Team Champions

In the past few years, one of the criticisms fans have had about New Japan Pro Wrestling has come from the Junior Heavyweight tag division. From the lack of teams, inconsistency and short reigns, many have worried about the division.

Yet, despite all these problems, one of the oldest New Japan titles has a rich history since its conception in 1998. Throughout the title’s history, there have been 64 reigns held by 33 different teams compromised of 44 wrestlers, all weighing under 100kg.

Here is a look at the six most successful IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in New Japan.


6. Suzuki Gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

Suzuki Gun’s El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru are two of the most underrated wrestlers in the company. Aside from their diverse in-ring style, their success in the junior tag division stands out and is what most fans remember them for.

Previously, both men had experience as part of different teams. El Desperado teamed with Kota Ibushi and Kanemaru won the titles with fellow Suzuki Gun member TAICHI. Yet, during the 2018 anniversary show, the new team of Despy and Kanemaru beat Roppongi 3K and the LIJ team of BUSHI and Hiromu to win the titles and start a reign of dominance.

For a first reign, the Suzuki Gun duo couldn’t have done any better. They cemented their dominance beating teams like Roppongi 3K and even the legends that are Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask. Not only did they have a string of successful defences. Their reign also achieved the record for longest single IWGP Junior tag title run at 304 days.

Even with El Desperado holding the IWGP Junior HEavyweight title, the tag belts will still be on both his and Kanemaru’s mind. With their years of experience and in-ring IQ, their three reigns have spread over 476 days breathing life into the division during quiet times. For many, it is when Despy and Kanemaru hold the belts that the division shines the most.


5. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa

 

On  August 8, 1998, New Japan introduced their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship during a live event. In the inaugural match for the title, Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa, both men who trained in the New Japan dojo, beat Dr. Wagner Jr. and Koji Kanemoto to become the first champions.

As champions, Otani and Takaiwa ensured that the new title was given a strong platform to shine throughout both of their reigns. They defended them against teams like Chris Jericho and Black Tiger (Eddie Guerrero), El Samurai and Jushin Thunder Liger, and more. It also emphasized that they could take on all challengers and defend their title with dignity and pride.

Their second reign was just as successful. Despite only holding the titles twice, their combined number of days as champions total just under 500 days. It showcases just how solid each reign was with a good amount of defences. It also proves just how dedicated they were to ensure that this new division was able to shine!

As well as making history by becoming the first-ever IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Otani and Takaiwa cemented their place on the list with two extremely long and successful reigns. Despite being in their late 40s, both men continue to wrestle as junior heavyweights in various promotions across Japan.

3 years ago by Sonal Lad

@Wrestling_Chat

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