The World Tag League, to be exact, the league to decide the strongest tag team in the world, started in 1977, its former name was The Open Tag League. That was opened at the end of every years, we wrestling fan were enjoying fights of many famous wrestlers.
I think that The World Tag League '82 was the most exciting event in the history of ALL JAPAN. Today I introduce the participating teams.
Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk (The Funks)
Everybody knows them, the former world champions. They won the championship of this league in '77 and '79. Because Terry gave notice to retire, there was a Terry boom in Japan.
Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta
The team of master and pupil, the strongest team of ALL JAPAN. They became champions in '78 and '80. Their special features were Baba's brains and Tsuruta's youthfulness.
Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen
The team of super monsters. Brody won the league '81 with Jimmy Snuka, but at that time Hansen broke into the ring, and he knocked out Terry with Western Lariat. They said to the Funk brothers "You are fossils in Texas !!"
Harley Race, Dick Slater
At first, Race formed a team with Snuka, but Because Snuka was injured (they say he punished by other foreign wrestlers), Slater was nominated to the partner of Race. Dick was popular with Japanese fan as a young and vivid wrestler.
Ricky Steamboat, Jay Youngblood
The young and handsome boys. Though they were rather lightweight, they showed good fights with their speed and fighting spirits.
Genichiro Tenryu, Asura Hara
An unique team of a sumo wrestler and a Rugby player. They could not be active in this league, but they formed the party of Tenryu in 1987, made a boom of wrestling revolution.
Umanosuke Ueda, Super Destroyer
The team of heels. They didn't want to win, and their purpose was making confusions in ALL JAPAN. Goro Tsurumi, a friend of Ueda, often broke into the ring, and many matches were spoiled.
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