Top 6 Most Successful IWGP Jr Tag Team Champions

2. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)

Not only are The Young Bucks one of the most successful junior tag teams, but they are also one of the most successful tag teams in the world. Throughout their careers, they changed what it meant to be a team and what the tag division was capable of.

Nick and Matt Jackson made their New Japan debut in the 2013 Super Jr. Tag Tournament. After winning, they earned a shot at the titles at Power Struggle beating TAICHI and Taka Michinoku for their first win. During this reign, they cemented their dominance beating some of the best teams from The Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) and Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero).

The Young Bucks hold the record for most reigns as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions holding the belts a huge seven times. However, each reign varied in success. Some lasted only a few weeks with no successful defences and others were several months. With nine defences and their reigns lasting over 700 days, the duo brought something new each time they won the belts.

The brothers may now be firmly heavyweights, but they will forever be cemented in New Japan’s tag team division history. During their time in New Japan, they stayed focused on elevating the division and bringing their own personality to every match. For years, they remained at the top of the division and it was a loss when they bulked up and became Heavyweights.

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1. Gedo & Jado

Considering how long Gedo and Jado have been in the wrestling business, is it any surprise that they have made the top of the list. The duo first made their New Japan debut in 1989 as junior heavyweights. Unlike many wrestlers, have remained in that division throughout their careers. Although only Jado had success with singles gold, Gedo and Jado became a staple part of the division’s tag division.

The duo first won the titles back in July 2001 beating El Samurai and Jushin Thunder Liger. Their first reign was extremely successful lasting just under a year. They had some impressive defences against wrestlers like Black Tiger, Minoru Tanaka and many more. It was clear that they had this rare and unprecedented chemistry not seen very often in teams.

It was just the start, and they went on to hold the titles another four times. If that wasn’t impressive enough, they showcased that the title isn’t just a hot potato. With only four reigns, they held the title for a record 960 days. They also had a record number of 15 combined defences.

Although the pair are now utilized as managers, there is no denying they made their marks in the title’s history. Gedo and Jado hold the record for most combined defences and most combined days both as a team and individually. More recent fans of New Japan wouldn’t believe it by seeing them now, but they were the junior tag division standard-bearers for a long time.

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