10 Best Tag Teams In NJPW History, Ranked

Though New Japan Pro-Wrestling is undoubtedly known for its singles division, the company has seen some amazing tag teams throughout the years. Some of these tag teams came to New Japan as a unit, while others had established themselves as singles stars before coming together.

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The word “best” is incredibly subjective. This list was compiled based on each team’s total number of title reigns, successful title defenses, and their overall popularity with the New Japan faithful. With that aside, let’s check out NJPW's top tag teams throughout the years. These tandems stand out above the rest as being the best in the company's history.

10 Roppongi 3K

Sho and Yoh effectively had the jr heavyweight tag division on lock when they hit their stride. With their coach Rocky Romero at their side, Roppongi 3K won the hearts of the NJPW fans and won quite a lot of gold along the way.

Unfortunately, Roppongi 3K broke up when Sho betrayed Yoh and joined Bullet Club. Still, the two accomplished virtually everything there is to do in the junior heavyweight tag division together.

9 Gedo and Jado

In addition to being four-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Gedo and Jado became one of the most accomplished tag teams in all of Japanese pro wrestling. They’ve won tag titles in several promotions, including Pro Wrestling NOAH, Dragon Gate, and Big Japan Pro Wrestling.

Gedo and Jado still tag together occasionally as both are currently members of Bullet Club. They’re currently also the bookers behind New Japan.

8 Gallows & Anderson

In NJPW, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson were most known as the henchmen of Bullet Club leader AJ Styles. In addition to becoming moderately accomplished as a singles wrestler and with other tag team partners, Karl Anderson found a lot of success when he brought Gallows to Bullet Club to join him in the tag division.

Gallows and Anderson are three-time IWGP Tag Team Champions with a total of seven title defenses and 601 days combined as champions.

7 FinJuice

David Finlay and Juice Robinson are real-life best friends who grew close during their time as Young Lions in the New Japan dojo. They started wrestling as a tag team as trainees and made it official soon after becoming full-fledged wrestlers.

FinJuice are one-time IWGP Tag Team Champions, one-time World Tag League winners, and former IMPACT Tag Team Champions. Though they don’t have as many title reigns under their belts as other tag teams do, they won the hearts of the New Japan faithful. Their chemistry in the ring makes them a real joy to watch.

6 Dangerous Tekkers

Suzuki-Gun teammates Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi’s growing bond as a tag team has been one of the most heartwarming stories in recent NJPW. What started out as a partnership made out of circumstance to represent Suzuki-Gun in the World Tag League blossomed into something much more.

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Zack and Taichi are now all but inseparable in and out of the ring. Their personal bond and the balance between their in-ring styles (Taichi valuing striking and Zack specializing in technical wrestling) make them an amazing tag team. They’re already three-time IWGP Tag Team Champions and definite fan favorites. They’re so beloved, in fact, that their tag team essentially turned all of Suzuki-Gun face in New Japan.

5 Apollo 55

New Japan placed Prince Devitt (also known as Finn Balor) alongside Ryusuke Taguchi when they needed someone to win back the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Titles from TNA’s Motor City Machine Guns. Though they were unsuccessful in this endeavor, the two stuck together and went on to become one of the most decorated junior heavyweight tag teams of all time. They’re four-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Devitt also notably held the tag belts with Taguchi while he was the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, showing how incredible his run in NJPW was.

However, all good things must come to an end. Prince Devitt turned heel on his partner and went on to create one of the most influential factions in modern pro wrestling: the Bullet Club.

4 Guerrillas of Destiny

Tama Tonga and his brother Tanga Loa have been perhaps the most consistent tag team on New Japan’s current roster. Their original tag team name was Sons of Tonga, a reference to their father Tonga Fifita, also known as Haku.

With seven total title runs, Tama and Tanga hold the record for most IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship reigns of all time. There’s a chance they could beat their own record by the time 2022 is up, as well.

3 The Young Bucks

Brothers Matt and Nick Jackson currently hold the record for most IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Title reigns, with seven total. They dominated the junior heavyweight tag division during their run in NJPW. They wowed audiences with their high-flying style and terrorized their opponents alongside their Bullet Club teammates.

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The Bucks also became NEVER trios champs alongside their best friend and Bullet Club leader, Kenny Omega. Lastly, they had a brief run as the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Champs before leaving the company in early 2019 to create AEW.

2 Cho-Ten

Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Masahiro Chono are one of the most decorated tag teams in New Japan’s history. They hold the record for most combined days as IWGP Tag Team Champs with 1,010 days holding the titles. They also hold the record for most title defenses with 12 total.

The two started teaming when they were stablemates as part of Team Wolf, a faction composed of them, Hiro Saito, and ECW’s Sabu. They broke up in the summer of 1998 after losing their titles to Genichiro Tenryu and Shiro Koshinaka. Chono focused on his career as a singles competitor, while Tenzan found a new partner who we’ll talk about later. Cho-Ten reunited four years later and cemented their legacy as one of the best tag teams in all of New Japan.

1 Tencozy

Tenzan’s new tag partner after the breakup of Cho-Ten was none other than bread enthusiast Satoshi Kojima. Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima are six-time IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions and two-time winners of the G1 Tag League.

Something particularly remarkable about Tencozy is that they won their first tag title in 1999 and their most recent in 2017, making them one of NJPW’s most enduring tag teams ever. They top this list for their extensive accolades and their status as a fan favorite tag team, even after all this time.