PNW #5 Page #2
Number 5 - Lonnie Mayne & Dutch Savage
This may have been the most charismatic team ever in the NW. They held the NW tag titles twice in 1972 and at that point Lonnie left to go to the WWWF. They feuded with Tony Borne & The Skull (Bugsy McGraw) and The Kangaroos.
Number 4 - Kurt & Karl Von Steiger
They held the NW tag titles on 6 occasions. They were a tough team that was on the scene from 1968 to 1971. They at one point won the AWA World Tag Titles from The Vachon Brothers that I don’t believe was recognized anywhere but Portland. They also held the Bay Area version of the World Tag Titles as well as numerous other territory tag titles.
Number 3 - Dutch Savage & Jimmy Snuka
This team held the tag titles 6 times. They were the only babyface team to hold the belts between 1973-76. They also held the tag titles with the longest reign at just over 11 months. They feuded with the likes of Bull Ramos & Jesse Ventura, The Royal Kangaroos, Ripper Collins & Bull Ramos, Killer Krupp & Kurt Von Steiger and others.
Number 2 - The Royal Kangaroos
This team had various tours of the NW and held the tag titles on 5 different occasions. They also had the 2nd longest title reign. They had a series of bounty matches that brought in some top national stars, but the Kangaroos always went over. They beat such teams as Lonnie Mayne & Raul Mata, Dory Funk, Jr. & Chief Big Heart, Dale Lewis & Mad Dog Vachon, Don Leo Jonathon & Bouncy Smith, Dory Funk, Jr. & Lonnie Mayne, Don Leo Jonathon & Tami Samoa.
Number 1 - Lonnie Mayne & Tony Borne
These two were the legends of the NW. One of the greatest teams ever in wrestling. They held the tag titles 10 times. People today still remember them almost 30 years later. They were always held in regard a step above anyone that came after them. Mayne was the strength of the team Borne was the veteran. Most successful as a heel team, by the time they turned babyface, Borne was past his prime. They had one of the most memorable feuds in NW history.
NEXT MONTH:
I will try and answer a lot of questions that I have seen appear on the PNW message board... questions like who was The Claw and what ever happened to him? Where is Vinnie Valentino now? It will be filled with trivia and interesting tidbits.