WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Encyclopedia
The Dragon Gate I-J Heavyweight Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling
tag team
championship formerly contested for in the Japanese
promotion
WAR, and later Dragon Gate
. It was created in WAR on February 23, 1996 when Gedo
and Lionheart
defeated Lance Storm
and Yuji Yasuraoka in a tournament final. It was deemed inactive in 2000 when WAR folded, and was later revived by Dragon Gate on August 8, 2006. The I-J belts would be unified with the new Dragon Gate Open the Twin Gate Championship
, a tag title made specifically for Dragon Gate, on October 12, 2007. During its existence, there were 23 recognized individual champions and 14 recognized teams, who had a combined 16 official reigns.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
championship formerly contested for in the Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
WAR, and later Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling,...
. It was created in WAR on February 23, 1996 when Gedo
Keiji Takayama
Keiji Takayama better known as Gedo , is a long time professional wrestler. He formed a long-lasting tag team with Jado...
and Lionheart
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
defeated Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
and Yuji Yasuraoka in a tournament final. It was deemed inactive in 2000 when WAR folded, and was later revived by Dragon Gate on August 8, 2006. The I-J belts would be unified with the new Dragon Gate Open the Twin Gate Championship
Dragon Gate Open the Twin Gate Championship
The Open the Twin Gate Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Dragon Gate. Dragon Gate had used the WAR IJ Tag Team Championship since 2006, until 2007 when Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino introduced the new Twin Gate after winning the Summer Adventure Tag League...
, a tag title made specifically for Dragon Gate, on October 12, 2007. During its existence, there were 23 recognized individual champions and 14 recognized teams, who had a combined 16 official reigns.
Title history
| Wrestlers: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gedo Keiji Takayama Keiji Takayama better known as Gedo , is a long time professional wrestler. He formed a long-lasting tag team with Jado... and Lionheart Chris Jericho Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer... |
1 | February 23, 1996 | Sendai, Japan | Defeated Lance Storm Lance Storm Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling... and Yuji Yasuraoka in a tournament final. |
| Lance Storm Lance Storm Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling... and Yuji Yasuraoka |
1 | March 27, 1996 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Jushin Liger Jushin Liger , better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior... and El Samurai Osamu Matsuda is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his stage name El Samurai.-Early years :... |
1 | July 20, 1996 | Tokyo, Japan Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
Won the title at the 4th Anniversary Show. |
| Lance Storm and Yuji Yasuraoka | 2 | November 9, 1996 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Battle Ranger and Masaaki Mochizuki Masaaki Mochizuki is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Dragon Gate, where he is the current Open the Dream Gate Champion in his second reign and the leader of the Junction Three stable... |
1 | February 12, 1997 | Toyohashi, Japan Toyohashi, Aichi is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1906. As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 383,691 and a density of 1,468.62 persons per km². The total area is . By size, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-largest city until March 31,... |
|
| Masashi Aoyagi and Gokuaku Umibouzu | 1 | May 13, 1997 | Tsu, Japan Tsu, Mie is the capital of Mie Prefecture, Japan. The city of Tsu is located on Ise Bay, east of the city. Tsu is bounded to the north by Suzuka and Kameyama; to the west by Iga, Nabari, and Nara Prefecture; and to the south by Matsuzaka city.-History:... |
|
| Tomohiro Ishii and Yuji Yasuraoka | 1 | October 12, 1997 | Hachioji, Japan Hachioji, Tokyo is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the... |
|
| Vacated | October 18, 1997 | |||
| Masakazu Fukuda and Hiroyoshi Kotsubo | 1 | November 24, 1997 | Yokohama, Japan Yokohama is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu... |
Defeated Tomohiro Ishii and Yuji Yasuraoka in a tournament final. |
| Vacated | August 4, 1998 | Vacated due to Fukuda graduating to the heavyweight division. | ||
| Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH.... |
1 | December 11, 1998 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Nariaki Mochizuki and Masao Orihara. |
| Tomohiro Ishii and Yuji Yasuraoka | 2 | March 1, 1999 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Vacated | June 20, 1999 | Vacated due to Yasuraoka retiring. The title is later retired when WAR closes. | ||
| Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki | 1 | August 6, 2006 | Nagoya, Japan | Defeated Gamma and Dr. Muscle Masato Yoshino Masato Yoshino is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Dragon Gate wrestling promotion.-Toryumon:... in a tournament final on the The Gate of Adventure tour to revive the title in Dragon Gate. |
| Gedo and Jado Shoji Akiyoshi , better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling with his tag team partner Gedo... |
1 | January 7, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | This match at New Japan Pro Wrestling New Japan Pro Wrestling is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it... 's Circuit 2007 Battle Hall Live Vol. 1 was also for Gedo & Jado's IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event... . |
| Ryo Saito Ryo Saito , is a Japanese professional wrestler . he wrestled for Dragon Gate, where he was a member of the Blood Warriors stable. His name is sometimes abbreviated as SaiRyo, so as not to confuse him with Toryumon/DG alumni SAITO.-Toryumon:... and Susumu Yokosuka Susumu Mochizuki Susumu Mochizuki , better known by his ring name Susumu Yokosuka is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing for the Dragon Gate professional wrestling promotion... |
1 | July 1, 2007 | Kobe, Japan Kobe , pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka... |
Won the title at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2007. |
| Keni'chiro Arai Keni'chiro Arai Keni'chiro "AraKen" Arai is a Japanese wrestler for Dragon Gate.-Biography:Keni'chiro Arai, also known as AraKen, is a second term graduate of Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Japan group, and has been a mainstay on the roster ever since. He participated in FMW before joining Toryumon... and Taku Iwasa Taku Iwasa Taku Iwasa is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Dragon Gate.-Early:Iwasa graduated as part of the Toryumon T2P class. He initially portrayed Takamichi Iwasa, a Satanic character. Injuries derailed his career, and he soon ended up as a jobber to the stars. He was briefly... |
1 | September 22, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Storm Gate ~ Tokyo Special ~ Dragon Storm 2007. |
| Naruki Doi Naruki Doi is a Japanese wrestler for Dragon Gate, where he is currently one third of the Open the Triangle Gate Champions. He also wrestled for Ring of Honor, where he is a former World Tag Team Champion with Shingo Takagi, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.... and Masato Yoshino Masato Yoshino Masato Yoshino is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Dragon Gate wrestling promotion.-Toryumon:... |
1 | October 12, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | This match on the The Gate of Victory tour was to unify the I-J title into the new Open the Twin Gate Dragon Gate Open the Twin Gate Championship The Open the Twin Gate Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Dragon Gate. Dragon Gate had used the WAR IJ Tag Team Championship since 2006, until 2007 when Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino introduced the new Twin Gate after winning the Summer Adventure Tag League... title. |
| Unified | October 12, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | Unified with the Open the Twin Gate title. | |
List of reigns by length
| Wrestlers | Days Held | Date Won | Date Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masakazu Fukuda and Hiroyoshi Kotsubo | 253 | November 24, 1997 | August 4, 1998 |
| Gedo Keiji Takayama Keiji Takayama better known as Gedo , is a long time professional wrestler. He formed a long-lasting tag team with Jado... and Jado Shoji Akiyoshi , better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling with his tag team partner Gedo... |
175 | January 7, 2007 | July 1, 2007 |
| Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki Masaaki Mochizuki is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Dragon Gate, where he is the current Open the Dream Gate Champion in his second reign and the leader of the Junction Three stable... |
152 | August 8, 2006 | January 7, 2007 |
| Masashi Aoyagi and Gokuaku Umibouzu | 134 | May 31, 1997 | October 12, 1997 |
| Lance Storm Lance Storm Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling... and Yuji Yasuraoka |
115 | March 27, 1996 | July 20, 1996 |
| Jushin Liger Jushin Liger , better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior... and El Samurai Osamu Matsuda is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his stage name El Samurai.-Early years :... |
112 | July 20, 1996 | November 9, 1996 |
| Tomohiro Ishii and Yuji Yasuraoka | 111 | March 1, 1999 | June 20, 1999 |
| Battle Ranger and Masaaki Mochizuki | 108 | February 12, 1997 | May 31, 1997 |
| Lance Storm and Yuji Yasuraoka | 95 | November 9, 1996 | February 12, 1997 |
| Ryo Saito Ryo Saito , is a Japanese professional wrestler . he wrestled for Dragon Gate, where he was a member of the Blood Warriors stable. His name is sometimes abbreviated as SaiRyo, so as not to confuse him with Toryumon/DG alumni SAITO.-Toryumon:... and Susumu Yokosuka Susumu Mochizuki Susumu Mochizuki , better known by his ring name Susumu Yokosuka is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing for the Dragon Gate professional wrestling promotion... |
83 | July 1, 2007 | September 22, 2007 |
| Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH.... |
80 | December 11, 1998 | March 1, 1999 |
| Gedo and Lionheart Chris Jericho Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer... |
33 | February 23, 1996 | March 27, 1996 |
| Keni'chiro Arai Keni'chiro Arai Keni'chiro "AraKen" Arai is a Japanese wrestler for Dragon Gate.-Biography:Keni'chiro Arai, also known as AraKen, is a second term graduate of Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Japan group, and has been a mainstay on the roster ever since. He participated in FMW before joining Toryumon... and Taku Iwasa Taku Iwasa Taku Iwasa is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Dragon Gate.-Early:Iwasa graduated as part of the Toryumon T2P class. He initially portrayed Takamichi Iwasa, a Satanic character. Injuries derailed his career, and he soon ended up as a jobber to the stars. He was briefly... |
20 | September 22, 2007 | October 12, 2007 |
| Tomohiro Ishii and Yuji Yasuraoka | 6 | October 12, 1997 | October 18, 1997 |
| Naruki Doi Naruki Doi is a Japanese wrestler for Dragon Gate, where he is currently one third of the Open the Triangle Gate Champions. He also wrestled for Ring of Honor, where he is a former World Tag Team Champion with Shingo Takagi, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.... and Masato Yoshino Masato Yoshino Masato Yoshino is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Dragon Gate wrestling promotion.-Toryumon:... |
0 | October 12, 2007 |
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