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- It isn’t just WWE’s main roster which has seen memorable tag teams, matches, champions, and belt designs over the years, because NXT emerged as its own defined brand ever since WWE revamped its developmental in the early 2010s, adding more official titles into the mix. NXT has seen various title designs over its divisions and brands (including the often ignored NXT UK), with it boasting its own women’s tag team division too. Much like WWE’s main roster, the designs in NXT have been up and down, with some gorgeous designs and some average ones too which didn’t quite capture the prestige a title should have.
Highlights
- The WWE Tag Team Championships have a long history dating back to 1958 and have evolved into two belts on Raw and SmackDown.
- The current Raw/SmackDown Tag Team Championships have received criticism for their cartoonish design, which doesn't live up to the prestige of past tag titles.
- The WWE World Tag Team Championships from 1985-2002 are considered one of the best-looking belts in WWE history, with a nickel plate and hints of gold that gave it personality.
The WWE tag team championships date all the way back to 1958. The WWWF United States Tag Team Championships were the first official version of the titles, that have evolved into two belts on both Raw and SmackDown nowadays. The look of the championship belts has changed many times in the 60-plus years since the belts were established.
RELATED: 18 Best Belt Designs In Wrestling History
The WWE Tag Team Championship elevated the tag team division, help build main event stars, and has been held by almost every WWE icon from Steve Austin to Hulk Hogan. This list will rank every look of the WWE Tag Team Championships.
UPDATE: 2023/08/18 07:30 EST BY ANDREW KELLY
It isn’t just WWE’s main roster which has seen memorable tag teams, matches, champions, and belt designs over the years, because NXT emerged as its own defined brand ever since WWE revamped its developmental in the early 2010s, adding more official titles into the mix. NXT has seen various title designs over its divisions and brands (including the often ignored NXT UK), with it boasting its own women’s tag team division too. Much like WWE’s main roster, the designs in NXT have been up and down, with some gorgeous designs and some average ones too which didn’t quite capture the prestige a title should have.
15 The Original World Tag Team Championships (1971)
The original tag team championships date back to 1971. The original WWE tag titles were preceded by the United States Championships and the International Tag Team Championships. The look of the original World Tag Team Championships was shiny but fairly bland. They were also very small, like most belts in their era.
14 United States Tag Team Championships (1958 – 1967)
Mark Lewin and Don Curtis were the first wrestlers to win the tag titles that eventually evolved into the modern WWE tag team championships. The United States Tag Titles lasted from 1958 to 1967. The championship was notable for being one of the first tag team championships in professional wrestling and helped to establish the tag team division in the WWWF. The title was decently decorated and featured an image of the Capital, which was a nice touch.
13 Raw/SmackDown Tag Team Championships (2016-Present)
These are maybe the worst WWE wrestling belts the WWE has used in a few decades. Many modern fans still wonder why the "Fruit Roll-Up strap" tag belts have not been changed or updated. Both titles look like a custom belt from an early PlayStation 2 wrestling game that had limited options.
Considering the WWE has a history of legendary tag championships that are on par with any company, these belts are way too cartoonish to be considered a prize in the wrestling business.
12 NXT Tag Team Championships (Original)
The original NXT Tag Team Championships did fit in with the style of the brand, with block colors and the black & gold theme, though they did look a little bit below average overall in terms of design.
They didn’t have a prestigious look about them, with the gold not exactly shining. The design looked and came across like the belts for a developmental brand and they were in need of an upgrade when the time came.
11 "Red WWF" Tag Championships (1985)
The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo) were two of the first men to use this version of the World Tag Team Championship. The title looks bland overall, but the "WWF" in the middle is a nice touch. The more rectangular look helped it resemble one of the classic NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship looks. It was a great step forward for the belt but only lasted for a short time in the WWE.
10 "Trophy Style" World Tag Team Championships (1980)
Legends like The Wild Samoans, Bob Backlund, and Pedro Morales all held this version of these WWE tag titles. The gold plates on this title helped it stand out in a crowd. These belts were introduced when the company changed its name from "WWWF" to "WWF."
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The tiny straps looked extremely small on bigger wrestlers and the plate is hard to see if you aren't up close. It was a fancy shift for the belts and the addition of gold helped them appear as a top prize in wrestling.
9 WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships get plus points for not having the plate dominated by the WWE logo in the center, going for a unique design. The shield design feels classic, and the design for the most part is slick.
The downsides to this include the fact that the gold coloring is a little sickly, coming across more yellowy than golden, which does take it down a level or two.
8 International Tag Team Championships (1969 – 1971)
The International Tag Team Championships were professional wrestling championships in the WWE that predated modern world titles. The championship was a highly respected title and was held by tag teams that included legends like Bruno Sammartino and Victor Rivera, a Latino wrestling pioneer. The big eagle on the top of the International Tag Team Championships gave it a solid look that was way ahead of its time.
7 NXT Men’s (Second) & NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships
It makes sense to throw in both the current men’s and women’s Tag Team Championships as they are essentially the same design, just with different coloured straps.
Both designs are quite smart, and the detail is more intricate than the previous iteration. The NXT logo is still front and center, but the color scheme makes it feel much more prestigious than it did previously.
6 WWE Tag Team Championships (2002-2010)
After Raw and SmackDown split brands in 2002, the WWE Tag Team Championships became the "Smackdown" tag team belts and the World Tag Team belts went to Raw. The list of endless Ruthless Aggression stars that held these titles includes Kurt Angle, Edge, Rey Mysterio, and Batista.
Although the titles had a strange "open book" shape, they gelled well with the Smackdown brand. They were bigger and looked like a true prize, especially in an era full of huge wrestling stars.
5 Unified WWE Tag Team Championships (2010 - 2015)
Although these belts do resemble modern titles, their color scheme helps them stand out. The Unified WWE Tag Team Championships actually looked like tag titles. The gladiator plate looks like a top prize with its orange bronze color, while the silver look makes them look like a secondary prize. The unified titles were a great evolution that quickly took a step back when they split and became the Raw and Smackdown Championships.
4 WWWF World Tag Team Championship (1972-1981)
The WWWF World Tag Team Championship had a look that was way ahead of its time. It featured different colors on the front plate with gems that helped them look like a major prize in wrestling. This style of the belt was used with a black, red, and blue strap. Although the belt is small in pictures, it is absolutely beautiful. It has a look that truly transcends time. The Valiant Brothers, Dino Bravo, and The Blackjacks all used this version of the tag titles as champions.
3 NXT UK Tag Team Championships
The former NXT UK Tag Team Titles were among the most gorgeous, intricate, and prestigious looking of all time. They followed suit with the singles titles in NXT UK with them looking more classic and traditional than the main roster belts, carrying an air of grandeur.
The titles themselves may not have been all that important due to them existing on the often ignored NXT UK brand, but they had a great look nonetheless.
2 WWE World Tag Team Championships (2002-2010)
The WWE World Team Championships became a Raw exclusive title in 2002. The sleek redesign of the belt helped it stand out in a sea of titles. The belt looked similar to the WWE Championship and was one of the bigger front plates in WWE history.
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Evolution, RVD, Booker T, D-generation X, Rated RKO, and many other major stars of the Ruthless Aggression Era earned these titles. It could easily be considered one of the best-looking titles of all time if it were not for the sleek look of its predecessor.
1 WWE World Tag Team Championships (1985-2002)
The nickel plate on this championship with the hints of gold gave this title more personality than any tag belt that precedes it. There are different variations of this title that feature the "world" in black and also a completely gold-plated front.
This is one of the longest-lasting titles in WWE history thanks to its sleek look and size. The Hart Foundation, The Hardy Boyz, The Dudleys, Edge and Christian, The Colossal Connection (André the Giant and Haku), and The Steiner Brothers all earned this title. It's, both, one of the most iconic and one of the best-looking belts in WWE history.
