Tag team

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Three tag teams in the ring

The English term tag team ( German : Wechselmannschaft ) describes a team of mostly two members in wrestling who can swap each other in or out in a fight by knocking off. Tag team matches were played early in the history of the sport; the first took place in San Francisco in 1901 . From the 1930s onwards, they became popular outside of California . Several special forms came up later, in which z. B. Teams are formed with more than two partners.

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In the original form of the tag team match , two teams with two wrestlers each take part, only one of whom is allowed to actively participate in the match. To change the partner, a rule-compliant day must follow . This is defined by various factors:

  • the inactive partner must stand with both feet on the apron (the protrusion of the ring base outside the ropes)
  • The partners have to touch each other during the day , regardless of the point of contact
  • the inactive wrestler must hold the tag rope attached to the ring post

However, the tag rope is rarely used today. It is used to enable a change only in the corner of the respective team. After one day there is a five-second phase in which the wrestler who has been replaced can stay in the ring to attack the opponent together with his partner ( double-team moves ). The double-team move contradicts the official wrestling rules, but is tolerated. A tag team match is usually decided by pin, surrender or count-out, whereby this must be brought about by the wrestler currently active. A disqualification can, however, also affect the inactive opponent.

Well-known tag teams