The Midnight Express (professional wrestling): Difference between revisions

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			{{short description\|Professional wrestling tag team}}
			{{Use American English\|date=February 2024}}
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=February 2013}}
	{{Infobox Wrestling team		{{Infobox Wrestling team
	\|article_name= The Midnight Express		\|article_name= The Midnight Express
	\|type=		\|type=s
			\|image=
	\|image= Midnightexpressscreenshot.jpg
			\|caption=
	\|caption= (Left to Right) ], ], and ]
	\|members=] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ]<br /> ] <br /> ]		\|members=]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>Rikki Nelson<br>] (manager)<br>] (manager)<br>] (manager)
	\|names=The ~~Original~~ Midnight Express <br /> The ~~New~~ Midnight Express		\|names=The Midnight Express<br />Midnight Express Incorporated<br />The Original Midnight Express
			\|debut=1980
	\|former_members=
			\|hometown=Dark Side
	\|managers =
			\|disbanded= 2011
	\|debut=1981
			}}
	\|disbanded= Semi-Active
			'''The Midnight Express''' was the name used by several ] ]s of changing members, usually under the ] of ]. The group started in 1980 with ] and ] in ]. In 1981 they were joined by ]. This group disbanded in 1983, but later the same year a new version of the Midnight Express was formed in ] by teaming up Condrey and ], with Cornette as their manager. After leaving Mid-South, the Midnight Express competed briefly in ] before moving on to ] (JCP). Condrey left in 1987, and was replaced by ]. Eaton and Lane (still managed by Cornette) competed in JCP and ], where they briefly feuded with "The Original Midnight Express" of Condrey and Rose (managed by ]). This version of the Midnight Express disbanded in October 1990 when Cornette and Lane left WCW. In 1998, the ] (WWF) teamed up ] and ] as "The Midnight Express", who were also managed by Jim Cornette. From 2004 until 2011 various combinations of Condrey, Eaton, and Lane competed as The Midnight Express on the independent circuit.
	\|promotions= ] <br/>] <br /> ]<br />] <br /> ]
	\|}}
	'''The Midnight Express''' is a ] ] that has had various members and achieved most of its success in the 1980's.

	==History==		==History==
			===Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose and Norvell Austin (1980–1983)===
	===Origins===
			In 1980 a new team was formed in ] consisting of ] and ].<ref name="Titles">{{cite book\|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will\|title=Wrestling Title Histories\|publisher=Archeus Communications\|year=2006\|edition=4th\|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref> ] adopted the masked persona of "The Shadow" and teamed with ] to defeat Condrey and Rose for the title on May 4, 1981. After losing the title back to Condrey and Rose on July 27, 1981, Austin turned on Armstrong and joined up with Condrey and Rose to form a ] (group) known as The Midnight Express.<ref name="TagMidnight">{{cite book\|author=Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson\|title= The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams\|publisher=ECW Press\|year=2005\|chapter=the Top 20: 10 The Midnight Express\|pages=58–62\|isbn=978-1-55022-683-6}}</ref> In the book ''The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams'' Condrey explains that the name did not stem from the movie '']'' (although later versions of the Midnight Express would use ] by ], or a cover version, as their theme music), but from the fact that they all dressed in black, drove black cars, and were out partying past midnight.<ref>{{cite book\|author=Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson\|title= The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams\|publisher=ECW Press\|year=2005\|chapter=the Top 20: 10 The Midnight Express\|quote="At one time, we all dressed in black. We had black Lincolns, black automobiles and everything else, and we were all out until midnight, so we went as the Midnight Express. \|isbn=978-1-55022-683-6 \|page=59}}</ref>
	'''The Midnight Express''' was originally formed in ] as a six-man tag team with ], ] and ] in ]'s ]. The group's ] was the so called "]"; which allowed any two members of the team to wrestle their matches on any given night, thus their opponents who had only (]) signed to face "The Midnight Express", didn't know which combination they would get.

			Together the three men won the AWA Southern Tag Team title in the CWA and invoked ] to allow any two of the three men to defend the titles on a given night.<ref>{{cite book\|author=Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson\|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams\|publisher=ECW Press\|year=2005\|chapter=the Top 20: 7 The Fabulous Freebirds \|pages=46–52 \|isbn=978-1-55022-683-6}}</ref> The Midnight Express lost the AWA Southern tag team title to ] and ] before returning to SECW in the spring of 1982.<ref name="Titles"/> Upon their return to Southeastern Championship Wrestling the Midnight Express quickly regained the Southeastern Tag Team title from ] and ] on September 27, 1982. The Express then became involved in a feud with the ] and his storyline son "Mongolian Stomper Jr.", with whom they traded the Southeastern title.<ref name="Titles"/> The Midnight Express's next challengers were ] and local wrestler Ken Lucas. The two teams repeatedly traded the title until the Midnight Express, using their 3-on-2 advantage, finally reclaimed the championship by the end of July 1983.<ref name="Titles"/> The Midnight Express's final feud in the SECW was with the local heroes Jimmy Golden and Robert Fuller, who managed to drive the group out of SECW.<ref name="TagMidnight"/> After dropping the Southeastern Tag Team titles to Brad and ], Austin, Condrey and Rose went their separate ways.
	===Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton===
	In 1983 ] joined the Mid-South territory under booker ], being good at spotting young talent ] recruited him to team up with Dennis Condrey. Condrey was a former rival of Bobby Eaton so they were familiar with each others styles and with the addition of cornerman Jim Cornette they became a tight knit unit. The Express had up until then been a stable but once Eaton and Condrey joined together the Midnight Express wrestled exclusively as a 2 man team until end of the Midnight Express legacy. Eaton was nicknamed “Beautiful” Bobby to compliment “Loverboy” Dennis, a nickname that Eaton still uses to this very day. The Express’ first target was the Mid-South champions ] and ], the highlight of the feud had to be Eaton and Condrey tarring and feathering Magnum TA. The Express got their first gold when Mr. Wrestling II turned on Magnum TA allowing Eaton and Condrey to walk away with the titles.

			===Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton (1983–1987)===
	The duo had just won the gold when they ran into the ] (] & ]) and kicked off their legendary feud that would run well into the 90ties. The two Expresses had a series of matches that were so unlike how tag-team wrestling was usually presented by in the Mid-South gathering a lot of attention both locally and nationally. They feuded through out 1984 in the Mid-South territory before the Midnight Express was ready to move on. The Midnight Express had a short say in ] where they feuded mainly with ] but when opportunities in WCCW looked to go nowhere the Midnight Express made a big change.
			When ] was sent to ] under promoter ] as part of a talent trade it was decided that he should be part of the new version of the Midnight Express. Eaton joined with former rival Dennis Condrey under the management of ] in this incarnation of the team. The Express had until this point been a group of wrestlers, but now worked exclusively as a two-man team.<ref name="TagBook">{{cite book\|author=Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson\|title= The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams\|publisher=ECW Press\|year=2005\|isbn=978-1-55022-683-6}}</ref> To complement "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey, Eaton was nicknamed "Beautiful Bobby", a nickname he continued using. The Express was first booked in a storyline with the Mid-South Tag Team champions ] and ]. The highlight of the angle saw Eaton and Condrey tarring and feathering Magnum T. A. in the middle of the ring. Condrey and Eaton won their first tag team championship when Mr. Wrestling II turned on Magnum T. A. and attacked him during a match, allowing The Midnight Express to walk away with the titles without much opposition. Collectively Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton held 53 tag team titles, setting the record in all of professional wrestling. During the Midnight's Express time in Mid-South, ] was made an honorary member by Jim Cornette.<ref>WWE Network Wendi Richter vs Princess Victoria</ref>

			With Mr. Wrestling II and Magnum T. A. splitting up, the Midnight Express needed a new team to defend their newly won title against. This team was ] (] and ]), with whom they started a long-running series of matches that would last well into the 1990s and span several wrestling promotions. The two Expresses had a series of matches which differed from the way tag team wrestling was presented at the time and drew attention both locally and nationally.<ref name="TagBook"/> The two teams feuded throughout 1984 in Mid-South Wrestling before the Midnight Express left the promotion to work elsewhere.
	In 1985 Eaton, Condrey and Cornette signed with ] and thus got exposed on a national level through JCP’s dead with ].
			] between the Midnight Express and ] at ]]]
			The Midnight Express had a short stay in ] in Texas where they feuded mainly with ] (] and ]).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/parade.html#85\|title=WCCW Parade of Champions Results (1985)\|access-date=2007-02-19\|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory}}</ref> When opportunities in WCCW looked to go nowhere the Midnight Express signed with ] (JCP) in 1985, giving them national exposure through JCP's television shows that were broadcast on ].<ref name="TagBook"/> Shortly after joining JCP, the Midnight Express reignited their feud with the Rock 'n' Roll Express from whom they won the ] in February 1986 on '']''. Eaton and Condrey lost the titles back to the Rock 'n' Roll Express six months later.<ref name="Titles"/> Besides feuding with the Rock 'n' Roll Express, Eaton and Condrey also had long-running feuds with ] (] and ]) as well as ] (] and ]). The feud with the Road Warriors included a high-profile ] at ], which the Midnight Express lost and where Jim Cornette famously hurt his knee when he fell off the scaffold.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#86 \|title=WCW Starrcade Results (1986) \|access-date=2007-02-19\|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory}}</ref>

			===Reformation with Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane (1987–1988)===
	Shortly after joining the territory the Midnight Express reignited their feud with the Rock & Roll Express whom they won the ] in February of 1986 and lost the titles back to the Rock & Roll Express 6 months later. Besides feuding with the Rock & Roll Express Eaton & Condrey also had a long running feuds with ] & ] including a high profile ] at ] which the Midnight Express lost.
			In March 1987, Dennis Condrey suddenly left JCP without giving any reason, leaving Eaton without a partner. Bubba Rogers worked a few dates to fulfill obligations, but Dusty Rhodes made the decision to pick Stan Lane who was a singles star in Florida at the time. Tom Prichard was thought about, but never officially suggested.<ref name="TagBook"/>

			Eaton and Lane reached the semi-finals of the Crockett Cup Tag Team Tournament on April 11, 1987, in Baltimore. On May 16, 1987, the combination of Eaton and Lane won the ] for the first time, a title they would win three times during their time together.<ref name="Titles"/> A year later the team was cheered on despite being heels as they won the NWA World Tag Team Titles from the Horsemen ] and ] on September 10, 1988 (Anderson and Blanchard left NWA to go to ]). The Midnight Express's title run only lasted a little over a month and a half before the Road Warriors (who had recently turned heel on ]) took the gold from them in a brutal match.<ref name="Titles"/>
	===Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane===
	In the early parts of 1987 Dennis Condrey left JCP from one day to the next, he literally abandoned the team when they were scheduled to appear at an event in ] as he changed his plane ticket to go somewhere else so he could drop out of sight. No specific reason has ever been given by Dennis Condrey only speculations from people around him. Enter a man that Eaton is very familiar with and a man who’s no stranger to tag-teaming, ] formerly of ‘’the Fabulous Ones’’’. Lane and Eaton knew each other well from working against each other in the past and this showed as the new version of the Midnight Express gelled from the beginning.

			===Feud of the Midnight Expresses (1988–1989)===
	In May of 1987 the combination of Eaton and Lane proved to be a golden one as they won the ] (A title they would win three times during their time together). A year later the team was cheered on to victory as the Midnight Express won the NWA World Tag-Team Titles from ] & ] ''(See also: ])'' on September 10, 1988. This feat meant that they were the first tag-team to ever hold both the NWA World tag-team and NWA United States tag-team titles, a feat only the Steiner Brothers would go on to duplicate in 1991. The Midnight Express’ run with the titles only last a little over a month and a half before the Road Warriors took the gold from them in a brutal match up that saw the Road Warriors turn heel (bad guys) and the Midnight Express turn face (good guys).
			]
			Meanwhile, Condrey eventually signed a contract to wrestle for the ], which at the time was recording television in ]; Condrey was living in Denver, Colorado at the time. He reconnected with former Midnight Express member Randy Rose and the two began teaming as the Midnight Express under the management of ]. The unit won the ] in October 1987 after defeating ] and ], then “lost” the titles to ] in December. In reality, Condrey and AWA owner ] were in a dispute over money owed to Condrey and he, Rose, and Dangerously all left the promotion in early 1988 while still being promoted as champions; the AWA decided to retroactively declare the Midnights/Rockers match in December to be a title change in favor of the latter.

			About a year later, on an episode of '']'', Cornette received an on-air phone call from someone who was claiming to be anonymous; Cornette recognized the man’s voice and challenged him to come out and speak his piece to his face. The man turned out to be Paul E. Dangerously, and he, Condrey, and Rose came out and attacked Cornette and Lane during a singles match featuring the latter. This began one of the most anticipated feuds in the tag team division, with Eaton and Lane facing off against Condrey and Rose.
	Now the fan favorites the Midnight Express soon had to content with a blast from the past: The Midnight Express. Only this Midnight Express was billed as '''The Original Midnight Express''' as it consisted of Dennis Condrey and ] who had teamed up before Condrey and Eaton became a team. The duo was led by long time Jim Cornette nemesis ] in the hopes of proving that the originals were better than the new version. The shock of seeing the Original Midnight Express gave Dangerously’s team the initial advantage in the feud but once again Dennis Condrey left, being replaced by ] to cut the feud short.

			Despite the success the feud had generated early on, the battle between the Midnight Express and the Original Midnight Express eventually petered out.<ref name="TagBook"/> Cornette contended in a ] that backstage politics and animosity between the Original Midnights, promotion head ] and head booker ] led to the feud being cooled off.
	Due to various booking issues Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express left the promotion for a short while, around the time that ] brought out Jim Crockett and began promoting the federation as the ] / ]. When the booking issues started to clear up Cornette and the Midnight Express returned to the federation and a very strong tag-team division. One of those teams was The Dynamic Dudes (] & ]) , who admitted that the Midnight Express was one of their favorite team and asked if Cornette would be their manager as well. Cornette agreed but the Midnight Express were not happy about it at all. After arguing Jim Cornette stopped accompanying the Express to the ring, choosing to only manage the Dudes. At the ] the two teams met with Jim Cornette in a neutral corner, forced to choose between the teams. The Express started out very aggressive, especially for a team that was supposed to be fan favorites and when the night was over the Midnight Express had once again established themselves as heels with Jim Cornette in their corner, Cornette had never stopped siding with the Express.

			===The Midnight Express in WCW (1989–1990)===
	After their heel turn the Midnight Express started feuding with ] and ] over the recently re-activated US Tag-Team titles, winning the gold from the young team in early 1990. The Midnight Express would lose the titles to ] 3 months later.
			Due to various differences over the direction of the Midnight Express, Cornette, Lane, and Eaton also left JCP briefly, a few months after ] purchased the company and it was renamed ] (WCW). When the issues were resolved, Cornette and the Midnight Express returned to the promotion. In the tournament to determine new World tag team champions, the Midnight Express advanced to the finals before losing to the Freebirds with some assistance from the Samoan Swat Team. They engaged in a feud with the Freebirds and Samoans until the 1989 Great American Bash, where they teamed up with the Road Warriors and Dr. Death Steve Williams to defeat the Freebirds and Samoans in a War Games match.

			The Midnight Express soon turned heel as a result of a feud with the Dynamic Dudes (] and ]). Jim Cornette duped the Dudes into thinking he wanted to be their manager but then turned on them during their match against the Midnight Express at ] in New York. The Dynamic Dudes gained a measure of revenge when the Midnight Express laid out an open challenge for any team for $10,000. After dispatching of a couple of no-name teams, the Express was challenged by the masked Dynamic Duo, billed from ], who pinned the Express and unmasked as Ace and Douglas. The feud soon lost steam and was forgotten soon after.
	After appearing at ] the Midnight Express split up when Jim Cornette and Stan Lane left the federation. For the first time in 7 years there was no Midnight Express, it was the end of an era in tag-team wrestling.

			After returning to their cheating ways, the Midnight Express started a feud with the up-and-coming team of ] and ] over the United States Tag team titles. The Express won the titles from the young team in early 1990, but lost them to ] (] and ]) three months later.<ref name="Titles"/> They were then defeated at ] by ] and ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/havoc.html#90\|title=WCW Halloween Havoc Results (1990)\|access-date=2007-02-19\|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory}}</ref>
	===Randy Rose and Dennis Condrey===
	In late 1988, Condrey and Rose came to the NWA with manager ] and called themselves the "Original Midnight Express", "Ravishing Randy" and "Loverboy Dennis". They worked for the ] where Condrey/Rose won the ], eventually heading to the NWA to feud with Eaton/Lane/Cornette.

			On October 29, 1990, the Express showed up to the ] TV tapings in Anderson, South Carolina, only to discover they were not on the card for any of the shows. Since they were not told ahead of time, Eaton was unable to take the day off to spend time with his wife and children. Cornette, already frustrated over what he perceived as the burial of Lane and Eaton by WCW President ], discovered the next day that the Express was booked for four matches at the October 30 ] TV tapings in Atlanta, Georgia, and they were to lose all of them. After confronting ], the booker at the time, over the scheduling, Cornette was told to "go home" if he disagreed. Calling Anderson's bluff, Cornette walked out of the room and told Lane he was leaving for good. Lane decided that he was going to quit as well, and after they said goodbye to Eaton (who decided to stay due to his family obligations), both men left and began heading north toward Charlotte, North Carolina; it was not until Anderson came looking for Cornette and Lane later that he realized they had quit after questioning Eaton of their whereabouts. So, for the first time in almost a decade, there was no Midnight Express.<ref name="TagBook"/>
	===The New Midnight Express===
	The Midnight Express name was resurrected by the ] (WWF) in the late 1990s when they put a combination of ] (as '''Bombastic Bob''') and ] (as '''Bodacious Bart''') together as '''The New Midnight Express''' with Cornette as their manager -- all as part of the "NWA invasion" ] They came in as NWA Tag Team Champions but did not achieve much success (nor did the angle).

	===~~The~~ ~~Midnight~~ ~~Express~~ ~~today~~===		===Bart Gunn and Bob Holly (1998)===
			The Midnight Express name was resurrected by the ] (WWF) in 1998, when they put a combination of ] (as "Bombastic Bob") and ] (as "Bodacious Bart") together as "The Midnight Express" with Cornette as their manager<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book \|title=] \|last1=Shields \|first1=Brian \|last2=Sullivan \|first2=Kevin \|page= \|publisher=] \|year=2009 \|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0 }}</ref>—all as part of the ] ]. On March 30, 1998, they won the NWA World Tag Team Championship from ], but did not achieve much more success in the WWF. Despite the name "Midnight Express" and having Cornette in their corner, in shoot interviews Cornette has indicated that he never considered the team as continuing the lineage of the Midnight Express.{{citation needed\|date=June 2020}}
	In 2003, he started working for NWA-Mid-Atlantic as the Midnight Express with ], This Midnight Express version was very short lived as he started a tour with Dennis Condrey (and sometimes Lane and Cornette) as the Midnight Express and they are still wrestling together on select Independent wrestling cards all over the United States.

			===Midnight Express reunited (2004–2011)===
	In January 2005, Eaton and Condrey were briefly managed by ] in SCW when they wrestled The Fantastics for the vacant tag team titles (they lost). As of 2006, Eaton is still competing on the independent wrestling circuit. He worked two shows in April and one in July for the ] in ].
			In 2003, Eaton worked for NWA Mid-Atlantic forming a new version of the Midnight Express with Rikki Nelson. This version was short-lived as Eaton soon started working independent wrestling cards with Dennis Condrey, sometimes with Lane and Cornette as well. Often they would be booked in matches against old rivals the Rock 'n' Roll Express, including the ] in ] on June 7, 2008, and their final match at ]'s "Legends & Icons" show in August 2011.

	==In ~~Wrestling~~==		== Members ==
			{{col-begin}}
	Eaton and Lane had for a time what many considered the best finishing move in all of wrestling. The "]" consisted of Lane bear-hugging an opponent while Eaton ascended to the top rope. When Eaton was in position, Lane would lower the opponent to a horizontal position a few feet above the mat with Eaton then jumping from the top rope and ]ing the suspended opponent across the neck. When performed correctly it was the (kayfabe) most devastating maneuver of its time in tag-team matches, compared only to the ] (] and ]) ].
			{{col-2}}

			=== Wrestlers ===
	Cornette was known for giving very original names to the Midnights' moves. Besides the aforementioned "Veg-O-Matic", Cornette coined the names "]" (now a common tag-team maneuver), "Double Goozle" (a combination ]/clothesline), "]" and "Divorce Court" (for an ]).
			* ] (1980–1989, 2004–2011)
			* ] (1980–1983, 1987–1989, 2004–2006)
			* ] (1981–1983, 2004)
			* ] (1983)
			* ] (1983)
			* ] (1983–1990, 2002–2011)
			* ] (1987–1990, 2005–2010)
			* ] (1998)
			* ] (1998)
			* ] (2002–2005)

			=== Managers ===
			* ] (1983–1990, 1998, 2004–2010)
			* ] (1987–1989)
			{{col-end}}

	==Championships and accomplishments==		==Championships and accomplishments==
	*'''~~Austin~~ ~~and~~ ~~Condrey~~'''		*''']'''
			** ] (])
	:*''']'''
	::*] (1 time)

			=== Austin and Condrey ===
	*'''Condrey and Rose'''
	:*''']'''		*''']'''
	::*] (])		**] (])
	:*''']'''
	::*] () - with ]
	:*'''Southeastern Championship Wrestling'''
	::*] (])

	*'''Condrey and ~~Eaton'''~~		=== Austin and Rose ===
	:*''']'''		*'''NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling'''
			** NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship(Southern Division) (1 time)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/al/secw/se-s-t.html \| title=NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title \| access-date=2020-02-17}}</ref>
	::*] (])
	:*''']'''
	::*] (])
	:*''']'''
	::*] (])

			=== Condrey and Eaton ===
	*'''Eaton and Lane'''
	:*''']'''		*'''All-Star Wrestling (Virginia)'''
	::*] (])		**ASW Tag Team Championship (7 time)
			*'''International Wrestling Cartel'''
	::*] (])
			**IWC Tag Team Championship (10 time)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2004-12.html \| title=Independent Wrestling Results – December 2004 \| access-date=2008-07-05\|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref>
			*''']'''
			**] (])
			*''']'''
			**] (])
			*''']'''
			**NWA Bluegrass Tag Team Championship (10 times)
			*''']'''
			**NWA Rocky Top Tag Team Championship (19 times)
			*''']'''
			**NWA East Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time)
			*''']'''
			**PWI ranked them '''#21''' of the 100 best ]s during the "PWI Years" in 2003
			*'''Universal Championship Wrestling'''
			**UCW Tag Team Championship (2 times)<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.genickbruch.com/english/index.php?befehl=titles&titel=2833\|title=UCW Tag Team Championship\|access-date=2020-02-01}}</ref>
			*''']'''
			**Class of 2019 - Inducted with ]
			*''']'''
			**] (])<ref name="WCCWAmTag">{{cite book \| author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will \| title=Wrestling Title Histories \|chapter= (Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title \| publisher=Archeus Communications \| year=2006 \| isbn=978-0-9698161-5-7}}</ref><ref name="NWAAmericanTag">{{cite web \|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/wccw/am-t.html \|title=N.W.A. American Tag Team Title \| access-date=January 19, 2020 \|work=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
			*'''Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards'''
			**] (1986)

	*'''Gunn and ~~Holly'''~~		=== Condrey and Rose ===
	:*''']'''		*''']'''
	::*] (])		**] (])
			*''']'''
			**] (]) – with ]<ref name="SouthernTag">{{cite book \| first1=Royal \|last1=Duncan \|first2=Gary \|last2=Will \| title=Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present \|location=Waterloo, Ontario \|orig-year=2000.\|chapter= (Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title \| pages= 185–189\| publisher=Archeus Communications \|year=2006 \| isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name="SouthernTagWeb">{{cite web \| url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-t.html \| title=Southern Tag Team Title \| work=Wrestling-Titles \| access-date=January 19, 2020}}</ref>
			*''']'''
			**Class of 2019 - Inducted with ]
			*''']'''
			**] (])
			**NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship Tournament (1983)<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/index.html\|title=Pro Wrestling History\|website=prowrestlinghistory.com\|access-date=2018-11-22}}</ref>
			*''']'''
			**WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles" />

			=== Rose and Starr ===
			*''']'''
			**] (])<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.whenitwascool.com/se-continental-198308\|title=SECW 198308 Results}}</ref>
			*'''All-South Wrestling Alliance'''
			**ASWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/aswa/aswa-ga-t.html\|title=ASWA Georgia Team Team Title\|website=Wrestling.titles.com}}</ref>

			=== Eaton and Lane ===
	''']'''
			*'''] / ]'''
	:* Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked the Midnight Express two times in the best tag teams during the "PWI Years".
			**] (])
	::* '''21''' Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton
			**] (])
	::* '''32''' Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane
			*''']'''
	:*] 1987 (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane)
			**] (1987)
			**Ranked them No. 32 of the 100 best tag teams during the ''PWI Years'' in 2003
			*'''Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards'''
			**] (1988) <small>vs. ] (] and ])</small>
			**Tag Team of the Year (1987, 1988)

			=== Eaton and Nelson ===
	''']'''
			*''']'''
	*1987 Tag Team of the Year (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane)
			**] (])
	*1988 Feud of the Year (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane Vs Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers)
	*1988 Tag Team of the Year (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane)

			=== Holly and Gunn ===
	==Trivia==
			*''']'''
	The Midnight Expresses' ] was a revamped rendition of the song "''Chase''" by composer ] for the 1978 ].
			**] (])

			==References==
	] and ] frequently use "''Chase''" by composer ] as their team music as a tribute to Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane, and Jim Cornette after Eaton and Lane granted them permission to use the music at a ROH show. <ref>ROH The Midnight Express Reunion- Philadelphia, PA 10/2/04,</ref>
			{{Reflist}}

	==External links==		==External links==
	*		*
			*

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			{{NWA Hall of Fame}}
			{{NWA World Tag Team Championship}}
			{{WCW United States Tag Team Championship}}
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			{{AWA World Tag Team Championship}}
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Latest revision as of 17:38, 3 December 2024

Professional wrestling tag team

Professional wrestling stable

The Midnight Express
Stable
Members	Dennis Condrey Randy Rose Norvell Austin Ron Starr Honky Tonk Ferris Bobby Eaton Stan Lane Wendi Richter Bob Holly Bart Gunn Rikki Nelson Jimmy Hart (manager) Jim Cornette (manager) Paul E. Dangerously (manager)
Name(s)	The Midnight Express Midnight Express Incorporated The Original Midnight Express
Hometown	Dark Side
Debut	1980
Disbanded	2011

The Midnight Express was the name used by several professional wrestling tag teams of changing members, usually under the management of Jim Cornette. The group started in 1980 with Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose in Southeast Championship Wrestling. In 1981 they were joined by Norvell Austin. This group disbanded in 1983, but later the same year a new version of the Midnight Express was formed in Mid-South Wrestling by teaming up Condrey and Bobby Eaton, with Cornette as their manager. After leaving Mid-South, the Midnight Express competed briefly in WCCW (Dallas) before moving on to Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP). Condrey left in 1987, and was replaced by Stan Lane. Eaton and Lane (still managed by Cornette) competed in JCP and WCW, where they briefly feuded with "The Original Midnight Express" of Condrey and Rose (managed by Paul E. Dangerously). This version of the Midnight Express disbanded in October 1990 when Cornette and Lane left WCW. In 1998, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) teamed up Bob Holly and Bart Gunn as "The Midnight Express", who were also managed by Jim Cornette. From 2004 until 2011 various combinations of Condrey, Eaton, and Lane competed as The Midnight Express on the independent circuit.

History

Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose and Norvell Austin (1980–1983)

In 1980 a new team was formed in Southeast Championship Wrestling consisting of Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose. Norvell Austin adopted the masked persona of "The Shadow" and teamed with Brad Armstrong to defeat Condrey and Rose for the title on May 4, 1981. After losing the title back to Condrey and Rose on July 27, 1981, Austin turned on Armstrong and joined up with Condrey and Rose to form a stable (group) known as The Midnight Express. In the book The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams Condrey explains that the name did not stem from the movie Midnight Express (although later versions of the Midnight Express would use the film's theme by Giorgio Moroder, or a cover version, as their theme music), but from the fact that they all dressed in black, drove black cars, and were out partying past midnight.

Together the three men won the AWA Southern Tag Team title in the CWA and invoked the "Freebird Rule" to allow any two of the three men to defend the titles on a given night. The Midnight Express lost the AWA Southern tag team title to Bobby Eaton and Sweet Brown Sugar before returning to SECW in the spring of 1982. Upon their return to Southeastern Championship Wrestling the Midnight Express quickly regained the Southeastern Tag Team title from Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden on September 27, 1982. The Express then became involved in a feud with the Mongolian Stomper and his storyline son "Mongolian Stomper Jr.", with whom they traded the Southeastern title. The Midnight Express's next challengers were "Dizzy Ed" Hogan and local wrestler Ken Lucas. The two teams repeatedly traded the title until the Midnight Express, using their 3-on-2 advantage, finally reclaimed the championship by the end of July 1983. The Midnight Express's final feud in the SECW was with the local heroes Jimmy Golden and Robert Fuller, who managed to drive the group out of SECW. After dropping the Southeastern Tag Team titles to Brad and Scott Armstrong, Austin, Condrey and Rose went their separate ways.

Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton (1983–1987)

When Bobby Eaton was sent to Mid-South Wrestling under promoter Bill Watts as part of a talent trade it was decided that he should be part of the new version of the Midnight Express. Eaton joined with former rival Dennis Condrey under the management of Jim Cornette in this incarnation of the team. The Express had until this point been a group of wrestlers, but now worked exclusively as a two-man team. To complement "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey, Eaton was nicknamed "Beautiful Bobby", a nickname he continued using. The Express was first booked in a storyline with the Mid-South Tag Team champions Magnum T. A. and Mr. Wrestling II. The highlight of the angle saw Eaton and Condrey tarring and feathering Magnum T. A. in the middle of the ring. Condrey and Eaton won their first tag team championship when Mr. Wrestling II turned on Magnum T. A. and attacked him during a match, allowing The Midnight Express to walk away with the titles without much opposition. Collectively Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton held 53 tag team titles, setting the record in all of professional wrestling. During the Midnight's Express time in Mid-South, Wendi Richter was made an honorary member by Jim Cornette.

With Mr. Wrestling II and Magnum T. A. splitting up, the Midnight Express needed a new team to defend their newly won title against. This team was The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson), with whom they started a long-running series of matches that would last well into the 1990s and span several wrestling promotions. The two Expresses had a series of matches which differed from the way tag team wrestling was presented at the time and drew attention both locally and nationally. The two teams feuded throughout 1984 in Mid-South Wrestling before the Midnight Express left the promotion to work elsewhere.

The Midnight Express had a short stay in World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas where they feuded mainly with The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers). When opportunities in WCCW looked to go nowhere the Midnight Express signed with Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) in 1985, giving them national exposure through JCP's television shows that were broadcast on SuperStation TBS. Shortly after joining JCP, the Midnight Express reignited their feud with the Rock 'n' Roll Express from whom they won the NWA World Tag team titles in February 1986 on Superstars on the Superstation. Eaton and Condrey lost the titles back to the Rock 'n' Roll Express six months later. Besides feuding with the Rock 'n' Roll Express, Eaton and Condrey also had long-running feuds with The New Breed (Chris Champion and Sean Royal) as well as The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk). The feud with the Road Warriors included a high-profile Scaffold Match at Starrcade 1986, which the Midnight Express lost and where Jim Cornette famously hurt his knee when he fell off the scaffold.

Reformation with Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane (1987–1988)

In March 1987, Dennis Condrey suddenly left JCP without giving any reason, leaving Eaton without a partner. Bubba Rogers worked a few dates to fulfill obligations, but Dusty Rhodes made the decision to pick Stan Lane who was a singles star in Florida at the time. Tom Prichard was thought about, but never officially suggested.

Eaton and Lane reached the semi-finals of the Crockett Cup Tag Team Tournament on April 11, 1987, in Baltimore. On May 16, 1987, the combination of Eaton and Lane won the NWA United States Tag team titles for the first time, a title they would win three times during their time together. A year later the team was cheered on despite being heels as they won the NWA World Tag Team Titles from the Horsemen Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard on September 10, 1988 (Anderson and Blanchard left NWA to go to World Wrestling Federation). The Midnight Express's title run only lasted a little over a month and a half before the Road Warriors (who had recently turned heel on Sting) took the gold from them in a brutal match.

Feud of the Midnight Expresses (1988–1989)

Meanwhile, Condrey eventually signed a contract to wrestle for the AWA, which at the time was recording television in Las Vegas; Condrey was living in Denver, Colorado at the time. He reconnected with former Midnight Express member Randy Rose and the two began teaming as the Midnight Express under the management of Paul E. Dangerously. The unit won the AWA World Tag Team Championship in October 1987 after defeating Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee, then “lost” the titles to The Midnight Rockers in December. In reality, Condrey and AWA owner Verne Gagne were in a dispute over money owed to Condrey and he, Rose, and Dangerously all left the promotion in early 1988 while still being promoted as champions; the AWA decided to retroactively declare the Midnights/Rockers match in December to be a title change in favor of the latter.

About a year later, on an episode of World Championship Wrestling, Cornette received an on-air phone call from someone who was claiming to be anonymous; Cornette recognized the man’s voice and challenged him to come out and speak his piece to his face. The man turned out to be Paul E. Dangerously, and he, Condrey, and Rose came out and attacked Cornette and Lane during a singles match featuring the latter. This began one of the most anticipated feuds in the tag team division, with Eaton and Lane facing off against Condrey and Rose.

Despite the success the feud had generated early on, the battle between the Midnight Express and the Original Midnight Express eventually petered out. Cornette contended in a shoot interview that backstage politics and animosity between the Original Midnights, promotion head Jim Crockett and head booker George Scott led to the feud being cooled off.

The Midnight Express in WCW (1989–1990)

Due to various differences over the direction of the Midnight Express, Cornette, Lane, and Eaton also left JCP briefly, a few months after Ted Turner purchased the company and it was renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW). When the issues were resolved, Cornette and the Midnight Express returned to the promotion. In the tournament to determine new World tag team champions, the Midnight Express advanced to the finals before losing to the Freebirds with some assistance from the Samoan Swat Team. They engaged in a feud with the Freebirds and Samoans until the 1989 Great American Bash, where they teamed up with the Road Warriors and Dr. Death Steve Williams to defeat the Freebirds and Samoans in a War Games match.

The Midnight Express soon turned heel as a result of a feud with the Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas). Jim Cornette duped the Dudes into thinking he wanted to be their manager but then turned on them during their match against the Midnight Express at Clash of the Champions IX in New York. The Dynamic Dudes gained a measure of revenge when the Midnight Express laid out an open challenge for any team for $10,000. After dispatching of a couple of no-name teams, the Express was challenged by the masked Dynamic Duo, billed from Gotham City, who pinned the Express and unmasked as Ace and Douglas. The feud soon lost steam and was forgotten soon after.

After returning to their cheating ways, the Midnight Express started a feud with the up-and-coming team of Flyin' Brian and "Z-Man" Tom Zenk over the United States Tag team titles. The Express won the titles from the young team in early 1990, but lost them to The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) three months later. They were then defeated at Halloween Havoc 1990 by Tommy Rich and Ricky Morton.

On October 29, 1990, the Express showed up to the World Wide Wrestling TV tapings in Anderson, South Carolina, only to discover they were not on the card for any of the shows. Since they were not told ahead of time, Eaton was unable to take the day off to spend time with his wife and children. Cornette, already frustrated over what he perceived as the burial of Lane and Eaton by WCW President Jim Herd, discovered the next day that the Express was booked for four matches at the October 30 World Championship Wrestling TV tapings in Atlanta, Georgia, and they were to lose all of them. After confronting Ole Anderson, the booker at the time, over the scheduling, Cornette was told to "go home" if he disagreed. Calling Anderson's bluff, Cornette walked out of the room and told Lane he was leaving for good. Lane decided that he was going to quit as well, and after they said goodbye to Eaton (who decided to stay due to his family obligations), both men left and began heading north toward Charlotte, North Carolina; it was not until Anderson came looking for Cornette and Lane later that he realized they had quit after questioning Eaton of their whereabouts. So, for the first time in almost a decade, there was no Midnight Express.

Bart Gunn and Bob Holly (1998)

The Midnight Express name was resurrected by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1998, when they put a combination of Bob Holly (as "Bombastic Bob") and Bart Gunn (as "Bodacious Bart") together as "The Midnight Express" with Cornette as their manager—all as part of the "NWA invasion" angle. On March 30, 1998, they won the NWA World Tag Team Championship from The Headbangers, but did not achieve much more success in the WWF. Despite the name "Midnight Express" and having Cornette in their corner, in shoot interviews Cornette has indicated that he never considered the team as continuing the lineage of the Midnight Express.

Midnight Express reunited (2004–2011)

In 2003, Eaton worked for NWA Mid-Atlantic forming a new version of the Midnight Express with Rikki Nelson. This version was short-lived as Eaton soon started working independent wrestling cards with Dennis Condrey, sometimes with Lane and Cornette as well. Often they would be booked in matches against old rivals the Rock 'n' Roll Express, including the NWA 60th Anniversary Show in Atlanta, Georgia on June 7, 2008, and their final match at JCW's "Legends & Icons" show in August 2011.

Members

Wrestlers

Dennis Condrey (1980–1989, 2004–2011)
Randy Rose (1980–1983, 1987–1989, 2004–2006)
Norvell Austin (1981–1983, 2004)
Ron Starr (1983)
Honky Tonk Man (1983)
Bobby Eaton (1983–1990, 2002–2011)
Stan Lane (1987–1990, 2005–2010)
Bart Gunn (1998)
Bob Holly (1998)
Rikki Nelson (2002–2005)

Managers

Jim Cornette (1983–1990, 1998, 2004–2010)
Paul E. Dangerously (1987–1989)

Championships and accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Hall of Fame (class of 2007)

Austin and Condrey

Continental Wrestling Association
- CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)

Austin and Rose

NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship(Southern Division) (1 time)

Condrey and Eaton

All-Star Wrestling (Virginia)
- ASW Tag Team Championship (7 time)
International Wrestling Cartel
- IWC Tag Team Championship (10 time)
Jim Crockett Promotions
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)
Mid-South Wrestling
- Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times)
NWA Bluegrass
- NWA Bluegrass Tag Team Championship (10 times)
NWA Rocky Top
- NWA Rocky Top Tag Team Championship (19 times)
NWA East Tennessee
- NWA East Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked them #21 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" in 2003
Universal Championship Wrestling
- UCW Tag Team Championship (2 times)
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2019 - Inducted with "Ravishing" Randy Rose
World Class Championship Wrestling
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Tag Team of the Year (1986)

Condrey and Rose

American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)
Continental Wrestling Association
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Norvell Austin
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2019 - Inducted with "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (13 times)
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship Tournament (1983)
Windy City Pro Wrestling
- WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time)

Rose and Starr

Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (1 time)
All-South Wrestling Alliance
- ASWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time)

References

^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "the Top 20: 10 The Midnight Express". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. pp. 58–62. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "the Top 20: 10 The Midnight Express". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6. "At one time, we all dressed in black. We had black Lincolns, black automobiles and everything else, and we were all out until midnight, so we went as the Midnight Express.
Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "the Top 20: 7 The Fabulous Freebirds". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. pp. 46–52. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
^ Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
WWE Network Wendi Richter vs Princess Victoria
"WCCW Parade of Champions Results (1985)". ProWrestlingHistory. Retrieved February 19, 2007.
"WCW Starrcade Results (1986)". ProWrestlingHistory. Retrieved February 19, 2007.
"WCW Halloween Havoc Results (1990)". ProWrestlingHistory. Retrieved February 19, 2007.
Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
"NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title". Retrieved February 17, 2020.
"Independent Wrestling Results – December 2004". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
"UCW Tag Team Championship". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title ". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
"N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006) . "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title ". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, Ontario: Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
"Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
"Pro Wrestling History". prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
"SECW 198308 Results".
"ASWA Georgia Team Team Title". Wrestling.titles.com.

External links

Links to related articles

NWA Hall of Fame Inductees

2005
Gordon Solie Harley Race Jim Barnett Jim Cornette Lou Thesz Sam Muchnick

2006
Dory Funk Jr. Eddie Graham Lance Russell Leilani Kai Rock 'n' Roll Express Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson Saul Weingeroff

2008
Corsicans Corsica Joe and Corsica Jean The Iron Sheik Midnight Express Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey Nikita Koloff Ric Flair Tommy Rich

2009
Dennis Coralluzzo Gene Kiniski Jerry Jarrett Mil Máscaras Paul Orndorff Terry Funk Tully Blanchard

2010
Buddy Rogers Dan Severn Danny Hodge Ed Chuman Jack Brisco Minnesota Wrecking Crew Gene Anderson, Lars Anderson, and Ole Anderson Nick Gulas The Sheik Shinya Hashimoto

2011
Angelo Savoldi Bill Apter Dusty Rhodes Freddie Blassie Johnny Valentine LeBells Aileen Eaton, Gene LeBell and Mike LeBell Pat O'Connor Rikidōzan Sue Green Wahoo McDaniel

2012
The Fabulous Moolah John Tolos Joyce Grable Little Beaver Misty Blue Mr. Wrestling II Paul Boesch Ricky Steamboat Road Warriors Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk Sputnik Monroe Teddy Long

2013
Bobo Brazil Dory Funk, Sr. Ernie Ladd Fabulous Kangaroos Al Costello and Roy Heffernan Jackie Fargo Ray Stevens Salvador Lutteroth

2014
Cowboy Bob Kelly Giant Baba J. J. Dillon Kevin Sullivan Ox Baker Pinkie George

2015
Adam Pearce Leroy McGuirk Mike Sircy Wright Brothers Don Wright and Ron Wright

2016
Boris Malenko Gary Hart Jim Ross Len Rossi Nick Bockwinkel

2017
Everett Marshall José Lothario

NWA World Tag Team Champions

1990s

Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
Mr. Gannosuke and Tarzan Goto
C. W. Anderson and Pat Anderson
Border Patrol (Agent Gunn and Agent Maxx)
Barry Windham and Tully Blanchard
The Brotherhood (Eric Sbraccia and Knuckles Nelson)
The Brotherhood (Knuckles Nelson and Rick Fuller)
Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock)
The Brotherhood (Dukes Dalton and Knuckles Nelson)
Team Extreme (Khris Germany and Kit Carson)
Murder, Inc. (Jimmy James and Kevin Northcutt)

2000s

xXx (Curtis Thompson and Drake Dawson)
The Main Event (Reno Riggins and Steven Dunn)
Bad Attitude (David Young and Rick Michaels)
Bad Street Boys (Christian York and Joey Matthews)
Dan Factor and David Flair
New Heavenly Bodies (Chris Nelson and Vito DeNucci)
Glacier and Jason Sugarman
Disturbing Behavior (Jeff Daniels and Tim Renesto)
Shane Twins (Mike Shane and Todd Shane)
Real American Heroes (Joey Ryan and Karl Anderson)
Los Luchas (Phoenix Star and Zokre)
Skullkrushers (Keith Walker and Rasche Brown)

2010s

Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis and Kory Chavis)
The Usual Suspects (A.J. Steele and Murder One)
Kingz of the Underground (Ryan Genesis and Scot Summers)
Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer)
IronGodz (Jax Dane and Rob Conway)
Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)
Heatseekers (Elliot Russell and Sigmon)
Iron Empire (Matt Riviera and Rob Conway)
Kazushi Miyamoto and Rob Terry
Villain Enterprises (Brody King and PCO)
Wild Cards (Royce Isaacs and Thomas Latimer)

2020s

Eli Drake and James Storm
Aron Stevens and J. R. Kratos
La Rebelión (Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf 450)
Commonwealth Connection (Doug Williams and Harry Smith)
Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage and Damage)
Knox and Murdoch (Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch) (current)

Recognized champions in other promotions

WWF

Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher)
New Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bob)

TNA

A.J. Styles and Jerry Lynn
America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm)
Disciples of the New Church (Brian Lee and Slash)
Triple X (Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper and Low Ki)
Amazing Red and Jerry Lynn
Simon and Swinger
3 Live Kru (B.G. James, Konnan and Ron Killings)
Red Shirt Security (Joe Legend and Kevin Northcutt)
Abyss and A.J. Styles
Dallas and Kid Kash
D-Lo Brown and Apolo
The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens)
Chris Harris and Elix Skipper
Christopher Daniels and James Storm
Team Canada (Bobby Roode and Eric Young)
A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels
Latin American Xchange (Hernandez and Homicide)
Team 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray)

Unrecognized champions in other promotions
WCW	Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams and Terry Gordy) Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas Hollywood Blonds (Brian Pillman and Steve Austin) The Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson and Paul Roma)

World Championship Wrestling United States Tag Team Champions

JCP
(1986–1988)

Russian Team (Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khruschev)
Barry Windham and Ron Garvin
Dick Murdoch and Ivan Koloff
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)
Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers)

WCW
(1988–1992)

1980s	Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) Varsity Club (Kevin Sullivan and Steve Williams) Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner
1990s	Brian Pillman and The Z-Man The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) The Patriots (Firebreaker Chip and Todd Champion) Young Pistols (Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers) Big Josh and Ron Simmons Greg Valentine and Terry Taylor The Barbarian and Dick Slater

WCW World Tag Team Champions

MACW/JCP
(1975–1988)

1970s

Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson)
Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel
Rufus R. Jones and Wahoo McDaniel
Dino Bravo and Mr. Wrestling
Greg Valentine and Ric Flair
Dick Slater and Dusty Rhodes
Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat
Baron von Raschke and Greg Valentine
Jimmy Snuka and Paul Orndorff
Baron von Raschke and Paul Jones
Blackjack Mulligan and Ric Flair
Jay Youngblood and Ricky Steamboat
Greg Valentine and Ray Stevens

1980s

Jimmy Snuka and Ray Stevens
The Masked Superstar and Paul Jones
Ivan Koloff and Ray Stevens
Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen
Don Kernodle and Sgt. Slaughter
Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Bob Orton Jr. and Don Kernodle
Mark Youngblood and Wahoo McDaniel
Don Kernodle and Ivan Koloff
Dusty Rhodes and Manny Fernandez
The Russians (Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff)
The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey)
Manny Fernandez and Rick Rude
Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard
Barry Windham and Lex Luger
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)
Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk)

WCW
(1988–2001)

1980s	The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams) Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner)
1990s	Doom (Butch Reed and Ron Simmons) Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko) Dustin Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton Terry Gordy and Steve Williams Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas Hollywood Blonds (Brian Pillman and Steve Austin) Arn Anderson and Paul Roma The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan Pretty Wonderful (Paul Orndorff and Paul Roma) Stars and Stripes (Marcus Alexander Bagwell and The Patriot) Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater American Males (Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs) Sting and Lex Luger The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) The Outsiders (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Syxx) The Giant and Lex Luger Kevin Nash and Sting The Giant and Scott Hall Kenny Kaos and Rick Steiner Barry Windham and Curt Hennig Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio Jr.) Perry Saturn and Raven Jersey Triad (Bam Bam Bigelow, Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon) Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn West Texas Rednecks (Barry Windham and Kendall Windham) Filthy Animals (Konnan and Rey Misterio Jr.) Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman and Konnan) Creative Control/The Harris Brothers (Gerald/Ron Harris and Patrick/Don Harris) Bret Hart and Goldberg
2000s	Crowbar and David Flair Mamalukes (Big Vito and Johnny the Bull) Buff Bagwell and Shane Douglas KroniK (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) The Perfect Event (Chuck Palumbo and Shawn Stasiak) Dark Carnival (The Great Muta and Vampiro) Filthy Animals (Juventud Guerrera and Rey Misterio Jr.) Mark Jindrak and Sean O'Haire Misfits in Action (Corporal Cajun and Lieutenant Loco) Boogie Knights (Alex Wright and Disco Inferno) The Insiders (Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash) Natural Born Thrillers (Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire)

WWF
(2001)

Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker)
Booker T and Test
Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)
Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley)

v t e AWA World Tag Team Champions
1960s	Murder, Inc. (Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills) Hard Boiled Haggerty and Len Montana / Gene Kiniski Leo Nomellini and Wilbur Snyder Hard Boiled Haggerty and Bob Geigel Pat Kennedy and Dale Lewis Bob Geigel and Otto Von Krupp Larry Hennig and Duke Hoffman Bob Geigel and Stan Kowalski The Neilsons (Art Neilson and Stan Neilson) Doug Gilbert and Dick Steinborn The Kalmikoffs (Ivan and Karol) The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser Moose Evans and Verne Gagne Larry Hennig and Harley Race The Crusher and Verne Gagne Larry Hennig and Chris Markoff/Harley Race Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto The Vachons (Butcher and Mad Dog) The Von Steigers (Karl Von Steiger and Kurt Von Steiger) The Vachons (Butcher and Mad Dog) Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson
1970s	Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens The Crusher and Billy Robinson Bobby Duncum and Blackjack Lanza The High Flyers (Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne) Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens Verne Gagne and Mad Dog Vachon
1980s	East-West Connection (Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura) The Sheiks (Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera) The Crusher and Baron von Raschke Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal Scott Hall and Curt Hennig Buddy Rose and Doug Somers The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) Soldat Ustinov and Boris Zhukov / Doug Somers Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler Dr. D and Héctor Guerrero The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose) Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka) Brad Rheingans and Ken Patera The Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos)
1990s	D.J. Peterson and The Trooper

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