List of WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions
The WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested in WWE on the SmackDown brand. Unveiled on the August 23, 2016 episode of SmackDown Live, it was created to be the counterpart title to the then-WWE Tag Team Championship, which became exclusive to Raw as a result of the 2016 WWE draft and was subsequently renamed to Raw Tag Team Championship.[1]
The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes rather than contend in direct competition. The inaugural champions were Heath Slater and Rhyno, who won the title in a tournament final at Backlash on September 11, 2016. The current champions are The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods), who are in their record sixth reign as a team and individually.[2] They all defend the titles under the Freebird Rule. Big E represented the team in a triple threat match involving Jey Uso (representing The Usos) and then-co-champion The Miz (representing himself and John Morrison), who Big E pinned, on the April 17, 2020 episode of SmackDown.
As of June 20, 2020, overall there have been 19 reigns between 12 teams composed of 23 individual champions, and one vacancy. The team of Heath Slater and Rhyno were the inaugural champions. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) have the most reigns at six, both as a team and individually. The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) have the longest singular reign at 182 days for their third reign, and they have the longest combined reign at 381 days (380 days as recognized by WWE). The team of The Miz and Shane McMahon and The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) are tied with the shortest reign at 21 days (although WWE recognizes 20 days for The Hardy Boyz). The oldest champion is Shane McMahon, winning the title at 49 years old, while the youngest is Jason Jordan when he won it at 28.
Reigns
No. | Overall reign number |
---|---|
Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
Days | Number of days held |
Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
+ | Current reign is changing daily |
No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | ||||
1 | Heath Slater and Rhyno | September 11, 2016 | Backlash | Richmond, VA | 1 | 84 | 83 | As a result of the 2016 WWE draft, the WWE Tag Team Championship became exclusive to Raw. In response, SmackDown established the SmackDown Tag Team Championship; Raw's title was subsequently renamed. Slater and Rhyno defeated The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) in the tournament final to become the inaugural champions. |
[3] |
2 | The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Randy Orton) |
December 4, 2016 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Dallas, TX | 1 | 23 | 23 | Wyatt and Orton won the match, but Harper was also recognized as champion under the Freebird Rule. | [4][5] |
3 | American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) |
December 27, 2016 | SmackDown | Rosemont, IL | 1 | 84 | 83 | This was a fatal four-way tag team elimination match, also involving Heath Slater & Rhyno and The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso). Luke Harper and Randy Orton represented The Wyatt Family and were last to be pinned. |
[6] |
4 | The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) |
March 21, 2017 | SmackDown | Uncasville, CT | 1 | 124 | 123 | [7] | |
5 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) |
July 23, 2017 | Battleground | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | 28 | 27 | Kingston and Woods won the match, but Big E was also recognized as champion under the Freebird Rule. | [8] |
6 | The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) |
August 20, 2017 | SummerSlam Pre-show |
Brooklyn, NY | 2 | 23 | 23 | Big E and Xavier Woods represented The New Day. | [9] |
7 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) |
September 12, 2017 | SmackDown | Las Vegas, NV | 2 | 26 | 25 | This was a Sin City Street Fight. Big E and Kingston won the match, but Woods was also recognized as champion under the Freebird Rule. |
[10] |
8 | The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) |
October 8, 2017 | Hell in a Cell | Detroit, MI | 3 | 182 | 182 | This was a Hell in a Cell match. Big E and Xavier Woods represented The New Day. |
[11] |
9 | The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper (2) and Rowan) |
April 8, 2018 | WrestleMania 34 | New Orleans, LA | 1 | 135 | 135 | This was a triple threat tag team match, also involving The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston. Harper was previously known as Luke Harper. |
[12] |
10 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) |
August 21, 2018 | SmackDown | Brooklyn, NY | 3 | 56 | 55 | This was a No Disqualification match. Kingston and Woods won the match, but Big E was also recognized as champion under the Freebird Rule. |
[13] |
11 | The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) |
October 16, 2018 | SmackDown 1000 | Washington, D.C. | 1 | 103 | 102 | Big E and Xavier Woods represented The New Day. | [14] |
12 | Shane McMahon and The Miz | January 27, 2019 | Royal Rumble | Phoenix, AZ | 1 | 21 | 21 | [15] | |
13 | The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) |
February 17, 2019 | Elimination Chamber | Houston, TX | 4 | 51 | 51 | [16] | |
14 | The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) |
April 9, 2019 | SmackDown | Brooklyn, NY | 1 | 21 | 20 | [17] | |
— | Vacated | April 30, 2019 | SmackDown | Columbus, OH | — | — | — | The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) vacated the title due to Jeff suffering a knee injury that required surgery. | [18] |
15 | Daniel Bryan and Rowan (2) | May 7, 2019 | SmackDown | Louisville, KY | 1 | 68 | 68 | Defeated The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) to win the vacant title. | [19] |
16 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) |
July 14, 2019 | Extreme Rules | Philadelphia, PA | 4 | 63 | 62 | This was a triple threat tag team match, also involving Heavy Machinery (Otis and Tucker). Big E and Woods won the match. At the time, Kingston was the reigning WWE Champion and he was not recognized as champion with Big E and Woods, but after The New Day won their sixth title on April 17, 2020, Kingston was retroactively credited for this reign under the Freebird Rule. |
[20][21][22][2] |
17 | The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson) |
September 15, 2019 | Clash of Champions | Charlotte, NC | 1 | 54 | 54 | Big E and Xavier Woods represented The New Day. | [23] |
18 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) |
November 8, 2019 | SmackDown | Manchester, England | 5 | 111 | 110 | Big E and Kingston won the match. At the time, Woods was inactive due to injury and he was not recognized as champion with Big E and Kingston, but after The New Day won their sixth title on April 17, 2020, Woods was retroactively credited for this reign under the Freebird Rule. | [24][2] |
19 | The Miz (2) and John Morrison | February 27, 2020 | Super ShowDown | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 1 | 50 | 50 | Big E and Kofi Kingston represented The New Day. | [25] |
20 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) |
April 17, 2020 | SmackDown | Orlando, FL | 6 | 64+ | 64+ | This was a triple threat match between Big E representing The New Day, Jey Uso representing The Usos, and The Miz representing himself and John Morrison. Big E pinned The Miz to win the titles for him and Kingston; Woods is also recognized as champion under the Freebird Rule. | [26][2] |
Combined reigns
As of June 20, 2020.
By team
† | Indicates the current champion |
---|
Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns |
Combined days |
Combined days rec. by WWE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) | 4 | 380 | 379 |
2 | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) | 6 | 348+ | 343+ |
3 | The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) | 1 | 135 | |
4 | The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) | 1 | 103 | 102 |
5 | American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) | 1 | 84 | 83 |
Heath Slater and Rhyno | ||||
7 | Daniel Bryan and Rowan | 1 | 68 | |
8 | The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson) | 1 | 54 | |
9 | The Miz and John Morrison | 1 | 50 | |
10 | The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Randy Orton) | 1 | 23 | |
11 | The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) | 1 | 21 | 20 |
Shane McMahon and The Miz | 1 | 21 |
By wrestler
Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns |
Combined days |
Combined days rec. by WWE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jey Uso | 4 | 380 | 379 |
Jimmy Uso | 4 | 380 | 379 | |
3 | Big E † | 6 | 348+ | 343+ |
Kofi Kingston † | ||||
Xavier Woods † | ||||
6 | Rowan | 2 | 203 | |
7 | Harper/Luke Harper | 2 | 158 | |
8 | Cesaro | 1 | 103 | 102 |
Sheamus | ||||
10 | Chad Gable | 1 | 84 | 83 |
Heath Slater | ||||
Jason Jordan | ||||
Rhyno | ||||
14 | The Miz | 2 | 71 | |
15 | Daniel Bryan | 1 | 68 | |
16 | Dash Wilder | 1 | 54 | |
Scott Dawson | ||||
18 | John Morrison | 1 | 50 | |
19 | Bray Wyatt | 1 | 23 | |
Randy Orton | ||||
21 | Jeff Hardy | 1 | 21 | 20 |
Matt Hardy | ||||
Shane McMahon | 1 | 21 |
See also
References
- Martin, Adam. "Daniel Bryan to reveal two new championships exclusive to Smackdown tonight from Connecticut". wrestleview.com. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Why New Day is the greatest faction of all time - WWE.com
- Caldwell, James. "9/11 WWE Backlash Results – Caldwell's Complete PPV Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- WWE.com Staff (December 7, 2016). "The Wyatt Family to defend SmackDown Tag Team Titles under the Freebird Rule". WWE. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE TLC 2016 live review: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose in a TLC match for the WWE Championship, The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
- Parks, Greg. "12/27 WWE Smackdown LIVE – Parks's Ongoing, Real-Time Report, including three title matches, John Cena's return". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
- Keller, Wade. "Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 3/21: Shane reacts to Shane challenging him to a WrestleMania match, more hype for WrestleMania 33". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- Powell, Jason. "7/23 Powell's WWE Battleground Live Review: Jinder Mahal vs. Randy Orton in a Punjabi Prison match for the WWE Championship, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens for the U.S. Championship, John Cena vs. Rusev in a flag match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
- Powell, Jason. "08/20 Powell's WWE SummerSlam Kickoff Show coverage: New Day vs. The Usos for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Akira Tozawa vs. Neville for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, and Jason Jordan vs. Miz, Bo Dallas, and Curtis Axel". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- Keller, Wade. "Keller's WWE Smackdown Report 9/12: Vince McMahon appears to address Shane being suspended and Owens threatening to sue". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE Hell in a Cell 2017 live review: Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon in a Falls Count Anywhere HIAC match, New Day vs. The Usos in an HIAC match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- Powell, Jason. "Powell's WrestleMania 34 live review: AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship, Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship, Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- Barnett, Jake. "8/21 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: Bludgeon Brothers vs. New Day in a No DQ match for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy, Becky Lynch explains her actions at SummerSlam, AJ Styles interview". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- Barnett, Jake (October 16, 2018). "10/16 Barnett's WWE Smackdown 1000 TV Review: Evolution, Undertaker, and other legends return for the milestone show, Rey Mysterio vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev vs. The Miz in World Cup tournament qualifiers". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE Royal Rumble 2019 live review: Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Balor for the WWE Universal Championship, Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, Ronda Rousey vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
- Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE Elimination Chamber 2019 live review: Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton vs. Samoa Joe in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship, new WWE Women's Tag Champions, Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- Barnett, Jake (April 9, 2019). "4/9 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: New Day's celebration for Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Championship, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy for the Smackdown Tag Titles, first Smackdown after WrestleMania 35". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
- Barnett, Jake (April 30, 2019). "4/30 WWE Smackdown Live Results: Barnett's review of Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a non-title match, Kofi Kingston addresses being attacked by Kevin Owens, the announcement of the Smackdown Money in the Bank ladder match participants". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- Barnett, Jake (May 7, 2019). "5/7 WWE Smackdown Live Results: Barnett's review of The Usos vs. Daniel Bryan and Rowan for the vacant Smackdown Tag Titles, Raw wrestlers appear, Ali vs. Andrade, Carmella and Ember Moon vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- Powell, Jason. "WWE Extreme Rules results: Powell's live review of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch vs. Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans in an Extreme Rules match for the WWE Universal Championship and the Raw Women's Championship, Kofi Kingston vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- 4 records set by Kofi Kingston - WWE.com
- Kofi Kingston profile - ESPN
- Powell, Jason. "WWE Clash of Champions results: Powell's live review of Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman for the WWE Universal Championship, Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- Powell, Jason (November 8, 2019). "11/8 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin, The Revival vs. Big E and Kofi Kingston for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Sasha Banks vs. Nikki Cross, Tyson Fury returns". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- Powell, Jason (February 27, 2020). "WWE Super ShowDown results: Powell's live review of "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship, Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet for the WWE Championship, Big E and Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz and John Morrison for the Smackdown Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- Powell, Jason (April 17, 2020). "4/17 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of The Miz vs. Jey Uso vs. Big E in a Triple Threat for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro and Naomi vs. Dana Brooke in Money in the Bank qualifiers, Sasha Banks vs. Tamina". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 17, 2020.