The last of what is now a year-end awards trilogy from Pro Wrestling Illustrated came out today, as we go down from 500 (wrestlers) to 250 (women) and now 100 (tag teams). The second PWI Tag Team 100 list was revealed today and features both men’s and women’s teams. Naturally I’ve browsed the list already so below are the top ranked teams and how various Japan-based teams fared.
Because this is only in digital format and the print edition will not be out for another 3 weeks or so, those waiting for the latter should stop here to avoid SPOILERS! Otherwise, click below.
First, the overall top 5 then other ranked Japan teams, the rating period was 10/16/24-10/31/25:
1-Jeff & Matt Hardy (TNA)
2-Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin (All Elite Wrestling)
3-Hanan & Saya Iida (Stardom)
4-Angel De Oro & Niebla Roja (CMLL)
5-Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford (WWE)
10-Jun & Rei Saito (All-Japan)
13-OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) (New Japan)
16-Sho & DOUKI (New Japan)
17-Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles (New Japan)
21-Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima (Tokyo Joshi Pro)
37-Hazuki & Koguma (Stardom)
45-Natsuko Tora & Ruaka (Stardom)
55-Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
57-Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu (Sendai Girls)
61-AZM, Miyu Amasaki & Starlight Kid (Stardom)
63-Maria & Riko Kawahata (Marigold)
67-Mio Momomo & Yurika Oba (Sendai Girls)
68-Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi (All-Japan)
70-Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (Independent/Freelancers)
74-Satoshi Kojima & OKUNURA (New Japan/Major League Wrestling)
76-Chiaki, Misa Matsui & Nagisa Nozaki (Marigold)
78-Dragon Dia & Yuki Yoshioka (Dragon Gate)
84-Yuki Iino & Yukio Naya (DDT)
86-Xyon & Odyssey (All-Japan)
87-Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (New Japan)
90-Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs (New Japan)
Early thoughts: I think the main reason Hanan/Iida or my #1 pick, the Saitos, did not maybe wind up #1 (aside from The Hardys having a resurgence) is injuries. Hanan went down in September with an injury and Rei Saito has been out several months with a shoulder injury. OSKAR & Yuto are probably not higher because their NJPW return came fairly late in the evaluation period. Interesting to see some trios ranked even though it’s a tag team ranking.
The digital issue is available online at pei-online.com or can be purchased on the Zinio website and mobile apps.