The Buffalo Athletic Club version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was a regional professional wrestling championship for tag teams that existed from 1956 until 1970. The championship was promoted by National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) member the Buffalo Athletic Club under promoters Ed Don George and Bobby Bruins, whose territory covered most of northeast Ohio and portions of Western New York. Many NWA territories used a version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship as the NWA bylaws allowed each territory to use the name. In 1957 no less than 13 different NWA World Tag Team Championships were promoted across the United States. In 1970 the Buffalo Athletic Club left the NWA to form an independent wrestling promotion known as the National Wrestling Federation, at which point they replaced the NWA World Tag Team Championship with the NWF World Tag Team Championship. Like all professional wrestling championships, this version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was not won or lost competitively but instead determined by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The title was awarded after the chosen team "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The first recognized championship team was Ben and Mike Sharpe, but records are unclear on how they became the first champions in the Ohio/New York territory. The Sharpe Brothers previously held numerous other versions of the NWA World Tag Team Championship and were a highly regarded tag team, which makes it possible that they were simply declared champions by the promoters to legitimize their version of the championship. The last championship team consisted of Johnny Powers and Great Igor, who won the championship in November 1969. The Gallagher brothers, Doc and Mike, held the championship four times, a record both for combined and individual reigns. Due to gaps in the championship history and the lack of specific dates for some of the championship reigns it is impossible to determine which team held the championship for the longest time, although the Gallagher brothers held it for at least 481 days and are thus the most likely team to have the longest combined reigns.
Title history Key SymbolMeaningNo.The overall championship reignReignThe reign number for the specific wrestler listed.EventThe event in which the championship changed handsN/AThe specific information is not known —Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign[Note #]Indicates that the exact length of the title reign is unknown, with a note providing more details. Indicates that there was a period where the lineage is undocumented due to the lack of written documentation in that time period.Indicates that a title change took place "no later than" the date listed.Documentation of the specific date of a title change is not found but documentation of the champion holding the title on that date/in that period. No.ChampionsReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotes11 The location of the match was not captured as part of the documentation.live eventRecords are unclear on how the Sharpe brothers became champions2 and 1 live eventHeld the Chicago version at the time; Declared the local champions when the Sharps' "decline the challenge, based on news reports in a Sayre, Pennsylvania newspaper.3 and Billy Darnell1Chicago, Illinoislive eventMelby and Darnell defeated Blears and Martino Angelo, as Layton was injured.4 and 2Menands, New Yorklive event 5 and Billy Darnell2Menands, New Yorklive event 62Chicago, Illinoislive event 7 and Great Scott1 live eventRogers and Scott were the MWA/American champions in Ohio. Championship listed as World Championship in the Buffalo Athletic club area late as February 6, 195483 live event 9 and Art Neilson1 live eventLisowski and Neilson held the Chicago version at the time and were recognized in Ohio and New York as well10 and Hans Schmidt1Toledo, Ohiolive eventLisowski and Neilson only lost the Buffalo Athletic Club version of the championship11Sheik of Araby and Gypsy Joe1 live eventSheik and Gypsy Joe were the reigning Midwestern Tag Team Champions. Listed as world champions in a Marion, Ohio newspaper.12 and Art Neilson2 live eventHeld the Chicago version and defended it in the Buffalo Athletic Club territory13 and Shoulders Newman1Toledo, Ohiolive eventLisowski and Neilson only lost the Buffalo Athletic Club version of the championship14(Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff)1 live event 151 live event 161Cleveland, Ohiolive eventThe championship was possibly listed as international tag team champions around Cleveland until July 195917 and Lord Athol Layton1Akron, Ohiolive eventThe Gallagher brothers still defend the world championship on other cities.182Cleveland, Ohiolive eventThe Gallaghers are recognized in the entire territory.191Cleveland, Ohiolive event 20 and Lord Athol Layton2Cleveland, Ohiolive event 212 Canton, Ohiolive event 223Live event 23 and Sato Keomuka1Akron, Ohiolive eventThe championship change was repeated in Cleveland on December 1, 196023 and Magnificent Maurice1 live event 25 and Sato Keomuka2 live eventThe Keomokuas were still listed as champions as in April 196126(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan)1 live eventThe Kangaroos were also billed as champions in Pittsburgh and Chicago as well, may have been the same championship27(Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff)2 live eventRecords are unclear if this is the NWA World Tag Team Championship or not. The Kalmikoffs were still listed as champions on April 26, 196228 and Mr. Moto1 Chicago, Illinoislive eventArakawa and Mr. Moto defeated Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher. Still billed as champions on October 10, 1968294 live event 30 and Moose Cholak1Cleveland, Ohiolive event 311Cleveland, Ohiolive event 32 and Great Igor1live eventThe championship change took place between November 20 and 25, 1969N/AN/AN/AReplaced with the NWF World Tag Team Championship
Team reigns by combined length Key SymbolMeaning¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used. RankTeamNo. of reignsCombined days1 4 2 1 3 2 4 and Billy Darnell 2 775 and Moose Cholak 1 706 1 7 and Lord Athol Layton 2 8 and Art Neilson 2 9 and Great Igor 1 10 and 2 11 3 12 and Sato Keomuka 2 (Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff) 2 14 and Magnificent Maurice 1 and Hans Schmidt 1 and Shoulders Newman 1 and Great Scott 1 and Mr. Moto 1 (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) 1 Sheik of Araby and Gypsy Joe 1
Individual reigns by combined length Key SymbolMeaning¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used. RankWrestlerNo. of reignsCombined days1 4 4 3 1 1 5 2 2 7 1 8 2 77 2 7710 1 7011 1 1 13 2 2 2 2 17Great Igor 1 18 2 2 20 3 3 22 2 2 2 2 26 1 1 1 1 1 1 Sheik of Araby 1 Magnificent Maurice 1 1 1 Great Scott 1 1 1 Gypsy Joe 1
Footnotes
Concurrent championships Sources for 13 simultaneous NWA World Tag Team Championships NWA World Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Chicago version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Buffalo Athletic Club version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Iowa/Nebraska version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Indianapolis version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Salt Lake Wrestling Club version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)
References