# Tag League the Best

The Tag League the Best (タッグリーグ・ザ・ベスト, Taggu Rīgu Za Besuto) was an annual professional wrestling tag team tournament, founded by All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), which held it from 1985 to 2004 (with no tournament taking place in 1990). After the folding of AJW in 2005, the tournament was adopted by its one-time rival and later associate promotion, JWP Joshi Puroresu, which held it annually from 2011 to 2016.
The tournament is usually held under round-robin rules with only the 2004 and 2016 tournaments having been held in a single-elimination format. The tournament's points system has varied throughout the years. From 1985 to 1992, a win was worth one point, a draw half a point and a loss zero points. From 1993 onwards a win has been worth two points, a draw one point and a loss zero points. When JWP took over promoting the tournament in 2011, it was moved to the beginning of the year from its usual position at the end of the year. JWP was also the first to introduce two round-robin blocks in the tournament instead of the usual single block system used by AJW. In AJW, the winners usually received a shot at the WWWA World Tag Team Championship, were they not already the reigning champions, while in JWP the tournament was used to determine the number one contenders to the unified Daily Sports Women's and JWP Tag Team Championships.
Due to the tournament's unusual name, it has sometimes been referred to as "The Best Tag (Team) League" by English language reporters, however, the tournament's Japanese promoters have always called it "Tag League the Best".
Manami Toyota holds the record for most Tag League the Best wins with five, all with different partners. No tag team has been able to win the tournament twice. Madusa Miceli is the only non-Japanese wrestler to be part of a winning team in the tournament.

## List of winners

| 1985: Bull Nakano and Dump Matsumoto 1986: Chigusa Nagayo and Yumiko Hotta 1987: Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka 1988: Hisako Uno and Mika Suzuki 1989: Madusa Miceli and Mitsuko Nishiwaki 1991: Kyoko Inoue and Toshiyo Yamada 1992: Aja Kong and Kyoko Inoue 1993: Akira Hokuto and Manami Toyota 1994: Manami Toyota and Takako Inoue 1995: Kyoko Inoue and Tomoko Watanabe 1996: Manami Toyota and Rie Tamada 1997: Kaoru Ito and Yumiko Hotta 1998: Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi | 1999: Manami Toyota and Miho Wakizawa 2000: Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda 2001: Manami Toyota and Yumiko Hotta 2002: Kayo Noumi and Momoe Nakanishi 2003: Ayako Hamada and Nanae Takahashi 2004: Kumiko Maekawa and Saki Maemura 2011: Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki 2012: Ran Yu-Yu and Toshie Uematsu 2013: Dash Chisako and Sendai Sachiko 2014: Rabbit Miu and Tsukushi 2015: Aoi Kizuki and Kayoko Haruyama 2016: Hanako Nakamori and Makoto |

## 1985

The first Tag League the Best was held in late 1985, with the finals taking place on October 10. The tournament featured eight teams in a single block, facing each other in a round-robin tournament. After the round-robin section was finished, the top team qualified straight to the final match, while teams placed second and third were put in a semifinal match to determine the other finalist.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka (Crush Gals) | 6.0 |
| Itsuki Yamazaki and Noriyo Tateno (Jumping Bomb Angels) | 5.0 |
| Bull Nakano and Dump Matsumoto (Gokuaku Domei) | 5.0 |
| Jaguar Yokota and Yukari Omori | 4.0 |
| Devil Masami and Jumbo Hori | 3.5 |
| Monica Castillo and Monster Ripper | 2.5 |
| Mika Komatsu and Yumi Ogura | 2.0 |
| Kanako Nagatomo and Kazue Nagahori | 0.0 |
| Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| | | 1 | Nagayo and Asuka |
| 2 | Yamazaki and Tateno | 3 | Nakano and Matsumoto |
| 3 | Nakano and Matsumoto | | |

## 1986

The second Tag League the Best was held at the end of 1986, with the finals taking place on October 10, 1986. This year, the two top teams following the round-robin portion advanced directly to the finals of the tournament, with no semifinal matches taking place.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Chigusa Nagayo and Yumiko Hotta | 6.5 |
| Hisako Uno and Yukari Omori | 6.5 |
| Itsuki Yamazaki and Noriyo Tateno (Jumping Bomb Angels) | 6.0 |
| Bull Nakano and Condor Saito (Gokuaku Domei) | 6.0 |
| Devil Masami and Kyoko Asa | 5.5 |
| Kazue Nagahori and Yumi Ogura (Red Typhoons) | 5.0 |
| Dump Matsumoto and Yasuko Ishigura | 4.0 |
| Kanako Nagatomo and Mika Komatsu (Operon Domei) | 3.5 |
| Judy Martin and Velvet McIntyre | 2.0 |
| Lioness Asuka and Mika Suzuki | 0.0 |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Nagayo and Hotta | |
| 2 | Uno and Omori | |

## 1987

The third Tag League the Best culminated in a final match on October 11, 1987. For the second year in a row, there were no semifinal matches; the two top teams following the round-robin portion took part in a final match.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka (Crush Gals) | 7.0 |
| Bull Nakano and Condor Saito (Gokuaku Domei) | 7.0 |
| Itsuki Yamazaki and Noriyo Tateno (Jumping Bomb Angels) | 6.0 |
| Angel Manelli and Leilani Kai | 6.0 |
| Devil Masami and Yukari Omori | 5.5 |
| Kazue Nagahori and Yumi Ogura (Red Typhoons) | 4.0 |
| Dump Matsumoto and Kage Kahoru | 3.5 |
| Mika Suzuki and Yumiko Hotta | 2.5 |
| Mika Komatsu and Yasuko Ishigura | 2.0 |
| Drill Nakamae and Kumiko Iwamoto | 1.5 |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Nagayo and Asuka | |
| 2 | Nakano and Saito | |

## 1988

The fourth Tag League the Best ran in late 1988 and culminated in a final match on October 10. The top team following the round-robin portion of the tournament moved directly to the finals, while teams number two and three faced off in a semifinal match.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Mitsuko Nishiwaki and Yumiko Hotta (Fire Jets) | 7.5 |
| Hisako Uno and Mika Suzuki | 7.0 |
| Bull Nakano and Dynamite Jack (Gokumon To) | 7.0 |
| Mika Komatsu and Yumi Ogura (Calgary Typhoons) | 6.5 |
| Itsuki Yamazaki and Noriyo Tateno (Jumping Bomb Angels) | 6.0 |
| Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada | 5.5 |
| Dynamite King and Dynamite Queen | 5.5 |
| Kumiko Iwamoto and Sachiko Nakamura | 4.0 |
| Erika Shishido and Nobuko Kimura | 2.5 |
| Kaoru Maeda and Mika Takahashi (Honey Wings) | 2.0 |
| Miori Kamiya and Raven Amada | 1.5 |
| Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| | | 1 | Nishiwaki and Hotta |
| 2 | Uno and Suzuki | 2 | Uno and Suzuki |
| 3 | Nakano and Jack | | |

## 1989

The fifth Tag League the Best was held in late 1989 and culminated in a final match on October 8. This tournament was the first two introduce two semifinal matches, with the top four teams qualifying following the round-robin portion.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Madusa Miceli and Mitsuko Nishiwaki | 6.0 |
| Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada | 6.0 |
| Raven Amada and Yumiko Hotta | 6.0 |
| Akira Hokuto and Etsuko Mita | 6.0 |
| Beastie and Bull Nakano | 6.0 |
| Bison Kimura and Grizzly Iwamoto (The Outsiders) | 5.5 |
| Mima Shimoda and Suzuka Minami | 4.5 |
| Hiromi Hasegawa and Noriyo Tateno | 4.0 |
| Kaoru Maeda and Mika Takahashi (Honey Wings) | 0.5 |
| Aja Shishido and Miori Kamiya | 0.5 |
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 1 | Miceli and Nishiwaki | | |
| 3 | Amada and Hotta | | |
| 3 | Amada and Hotta | 1 | Miceli and Nishiwaki |
| | | 2 | Toyota and Yamada |
| 2 | Toyota and Yamada | 2 | Toyota and Yamada |
| 4 | Hokuto and Mita | | |

## 1991

After no tournament was held in 1990, Tag League the Best returned in 1991 taking place between October 4 and December 8.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Kyoko Inoue and Toshiyo Yamada | 5.5 |
| Aja Kong and Bison Kimura (Jungle Jack) | 4.5 |
| Akira Hokuto and Bull Nakano | 4.5 |
| Bat Yoshinaga and Yumiko Hotta | 3.5 |
| Debbie Malenko and Suzuka Minami | 3.0 |
| Mariko Yoshida and Takako Inoue | 3.0 |
| Etsuko Mita and Manami Toyota (Mint Showers) | 3.0 |
| Mima Shimoda and Miori Kamiya | 1.0 |
| Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| | | 1 | Inoue and Yamada |
| 2 | Kong and Kimura | 2 | Kong and Kimura |
| 3 | Hokuto and Nakano | | |

## 1992

The seventh Tag League the Best was held between October 17 and December 13, 1992. This was the final tournament to feature half points. The two top teams following the round-robin portion qualified directly to the semifinals.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Aja Kong and Kyoko Inoue | 6.5 |
| Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada | 6.0 |
| Debbie Malenko and Sakie Hasegawa | 5.5 |
| Suzuka Minami and Yumiko Hotta | 5.0 |
| Takako Inoue and Terri Power | 4.0 |
| Bat Yoshinaga and Tomoko Watanabe | 3.0 |
| Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (Las Cachorras Orientales) | 3.0 |
| Miori Kamiya and Kaoru Ito | 2.5 |
| Erica Tsuchiya and Yukari Maedomari | 1.0 |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Kong and Inoue | |
| 2 | Toyota and Yamada | |

## 1993

The eighth Tag League the Best was held between October 10 and December 10, with a final match taking place between the two top teams.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Kyoko Inoue and Toshiyo Yamada | 10 |
| Akira Hokuto and Manami Toyota | 10 |
| Eagle Sawai and Yasha Kurenai | 8 |
| Takako Inoue and Yumiko Hotta | 8 |
| Bull Nakano and Suzuka Minami | 8 |
| Aja Kong and Sakie Hasegawa | 8 |
| Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (Las Cachorras Orientales) | 4 |
| Kaoru Ito and Tomoko Watanabe | 0 |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Inoue and Yamada | |
| 2 | Hokuto and Toyota | |

## 1994

The ninth Tag League the Best was held between October 8 and December 10, 1994. Due to a three-way tie following the round-robin portion of the tournament, the top three teams faced each other once more to determine the winner. Manami Toyota and Takako Inoue prevailed, defeating both Aja Kong and Reggie Bennett, and Kyoko Inoue and Sakie Hasegawa, while Kong and Bennett were able to win only one of the tiebreaker matches and Inoue and Hasegawa lost both.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Manami Toyota and Takako Inoue | 10 |
| Aja Kong and Reggie Bennett | 10 |
| Kyoko Inoue and Sakie Hasegawa | 10 |
| Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (Las Cachorras Orientales) | 9 |
| Toshiyo Yamada and Yumiko Hotta | 9 |
| Kaoru Ito and Suzuka Minami | 5 |
| Rie Tamada and Tomoko Watanabe | 2 |
| Chaparita Asari and Mariko Yoshida | 1 |

## 1995

The tenth Tag League the Best ran between October 10 and December 10, 1995, and was the first and thus far only tournament to feature a match for the third place in the tournament.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Kyoko Inoue and Tomoko Watanabe | 10 |
| Kaoru Ito and Manami Toyota | 10 |
| Reggie Bennett and Yumiko Hotta | 9 |
| Aja Kong and Takako Inoue | 9 |
| Akira Hokuto and Mima Shimoda | 8 |
| Etsuko Mita and Toshiyo Yamada (Dream Orca) | 6 |
| Mariko Yoshida and Sakie Hasegawa | 4 |
| Chaparita Asari and Yoshiko Tamura | 0 |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | K. Inoue and Watanabe | Pin |
| 2 | Ito and Toyota | 22:01 |
| Third Place | Third Place | Third Place |
| 3 | Bennett and Hotta | Pin |
| 4 | Kong and T. Inoue | 16:54 |

## 1996

The eleventh Tag League the Best was held between October 13 and December 1, 1996. For the first time in five years, the tournament featured semifinal matches, with the top four teams qualifying for advancement following the round-robin portion.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Chaparita Asari and Kyoko Inoue | 15 |
| Mima Shimoda and Reggie Bennett | 14 |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Tomoko Watanabe | 12 |
| Manami Toyota and Rie Tamada | 9 |
| Aja Kong and Yoshiko Tamura | 8 |
| Yuka Shiina and Yumiko Hotta | 8 |
| Etsuko Mita and Misae Genki | 6 |
| Saya Endo and Toshiyo Yamada | 6 |
| Takako Inoue and Yumi Fukawa | N/A |
| Kaoru Ito and Mariko Yoshida | N/A |
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 1 | Asari and Inoue | | |
| 4 | Toyota and Tamada | | |
| 4 | Toyota and Tamada | 4 | Toyota and Tamada |
| | | 3 | Maekawa and Watanabe |
| 2 | Shimoda and Bennett | 3 | Maekawa and Watanabe |
| 3 | Maekawa and Watanabe | | |

## 1997

The twelfth Tag League the Best took place in late 1997 and culminated in a final match on December 21. No semifinal matches took place.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Kaoru Ito and Yumiko Hotta | N/A |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Takako Inoue | N/A |
| Emi Motokawa and Manami Toyota | N/A |
| Kayo Noumi and Momoe Nakanishi | N/A |
| Miho Wakizawa and Miyuki Fujii | N/A |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Ito and Hotta | |
| 2 | Maekawa and Inoue | |

## 1998

The thirteenth Tag League the Best took place between October 10 and November 22, 1998, again with no semifinal matches.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi (Nana☆Momo☆) | 10 |
| Manami Toyota and Yumiko Hotta | 9 |
| Zap I and Zap T (ZAP) | 9 |
| Kayo Noumi and Miho Wakizawa | 6 |
| Emi Motokawa and Sachie Noshibori | 2 |
| Mayumi Takahashi and Miyuki Fujii | 0 |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Mika Haikae | 0 |

## 1999

The fourteenth Tag League the Best was held between October 10 and December 26, 1999. For the first time in eight years, the tournament featured a single semifinal match between teams ranked two and three following the round-robin portion, while the top team qualified directly to the finals.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Tomoko Watanabe | 5 |
| Manami Toyota and Miho Wakizawa | 5 |
| Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi (Nana☆Momo☆) | 5 |
| Kaoru Ito and Kayo Noumi | 3 |
| Miyuki Fujii and Yumiko Hotta | 2 |
| Semifinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Maekawa and Watanabe | Pin |
| 2 | Toyota and Wakizawa | Pin | 2 | Toyota and Wakizawa | 1:41 |
| 3 | Takahashi | 4:47 | | | |
* ↑ Momoe Nakanishi had suffered an injury and was unable to take part in the semifinal match, leaving Takahashi to wrestle alone.

## 2000

The fifteenth Tag League the Best was held between October 15 and December 23, 2000. The winners of the tournament, Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda, went on to defeat Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi for the WWWA World Tag Team Championship on January 4, 2001.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (Las Cachorras Orientales) | 7 |
| Kayo Noumi and Manami Toyota | 7 |
| Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi (Nana☆Momo☆) | 6 |
| Carol Midori and Sayuri Okina | 6 |
| Kaoru Ito and Miho Wakizawa | 4 |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Tomoko Watanabe | 0 |
| Results | Midori Okina | Mita Shimoda | Ito Wakizawa | Noumi Toyota | Maekawa Watanabe | Nakanishi Takahashi |
| Midori Okina | — | Mita Shimoda (17:21) | Midori Okina (19:56) | Midori Okina (20:22) | Midori Okina (forfeit) | Nakanishi Takahashi (17:07) |
| Mita Shimoda | Mita Shimoda (17:21) | — | Mita Shimoda (19:26) | Noumi Toyota (19:13) | Mita Shimoda (8:26) | Draw (30:00) |
| Ito Wakizawa | Midori Okina (19:56) | Mita Shimoda (19:26) | — | Noumi Toyota (19:42) | Ito Wakizawa (forfeit) | Ito Wakizawa (20:49) |
| Noumi Toyota | Midori Okina (20:22) | Noumi Toyota (19:13) | Noumi Toyota (19:42) | — | Noumi Toyota (forfeit) | Draw (30:00) |
| Maekawa Watanabe | Midori Okina (forfeit) | Mita Shimoda (8:26) | Ito Wakizawa (forfeit) | Noumi Toyota (forfeit) | — | Nakanishi Takahashi (forfeit) |
| Nakanishi Takahashi | Nakanishi Takahashi (17:07) | Draw (30:00) | Ito Wakizawa (20:49) | Draw (30:00) | Nakanishi Takahashi (forfeit) | — |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Mita and Shimoda | Pin |
| 2 | Noumi and Toyota | 13:33 |

## 2001

The sixteenth Tag League the Best was held between September 23 and December 2, 2001.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Manami Toyota and Yumiko Hotta | 6 |
| Kaoru Ito and Momoe Nakanishi | 6 |
| Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (Las Cachorras Orientales) | 5 |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Misae Genki | 5 |
| Kayo Noumi and Miho Wakizawa (Kiss no Sekai) | 4 |
| Nanae Takahashi and Tomoko Watanabe | 4 |
| Results | Mita Shimoda | Ito Nakanishi | Noumi Wakizawa | Maekawa Genki | Toyota Hotta | Takahashi Watanabe |
| Mita Shimoda | — | Ito Nakanishi (18:01) | Mita Shimoda (18:32) | Draw (30:00) | Toyota Hotta (7:40) | Mita Shimoda (23:45) |
| Ito Nakanishi | Ito Nakanishi (18:01) | — | Ito Nakanishi (19:05) | Maekawa Genki (20:03) | Toyota Hotta (18:39) | Ito Nakanishi (20:06) |
| Noumi Wakizawa | Mita Shimoda (18:32) | Ito Nakanishi (19:05) | — | Noumi Wakizawa (23:05) | Noumi Wakizawa (14:59) | Takahashi Watanabe (20:44) |
| Maekawa Genki | Draw (30:00) | Maekawa Genki (20:03) | Noumi Wakizawa (23:05) | — | Maekawa Genki (20:32) | Takahashi Watanabe (22:33) |
| Toyota Hotta | Toyota Hotta (7:40) | Toyota Hotta (18:39) | Noumi Wakizawa (14:59) | Maekawa Genki (20:32) | — | Toyota Hotta (19:33) |
| Takahashi Watanabe | Mita Shimoda (23:45) | Ito Nakanishi (20:06) | Takahashi Watanabe (20:44) | Takahashi Watanabe (22:33) | Toyota Hotta (19:33) | — |
| Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Toyota and Hotta | Pin |
| 2 | Ito and Nakanishi | 17:03 |

## 2002

The seventeenth Tag League the Best was held between October 15 and December 23, 2002, and saw the return of the two semifinal match format. While the tournament was ongoing, Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda defeated Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi in a non-tournament match to win the WWWA World Tag Team Championship, however, their failure to win the tournament resulted in them relinquishing the title.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Kayo Noumi and Momoe Nakanishi (Kiss no Sekai) | 8 |
| Takako Inoue and Tomoko Watanabe | 8 |
| Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda (Las Cachorras Orientales) | 8 |
| Fang Suzuki and Nanae Takahashi | 8 |
| Mariko Yoshida and Yumiko Hotta | 8 |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Misae Genki | 7 |
| Megumi Yabushita and Sumie Sakai | 7 |
| Mika Nishio and Miyuki Fujii | 2 |
| Results | Mita Shimoda | Suzuki Takahashi | Noumi Nakanishi | Maekawa Genki | Yoshida Hotta | Yabushita Sakai | Nishio Fujii | Inoue Watanabe |
| Mita Shimoda | — | Mita Shimoda (23:27) | Noumi Nakanishi (25:15) | Mita Shimoda | Yoshida Hotta (17:52) | Mita Shimoda | Mita Shimoda | Inoue Watanabe (9:26) |
| Suzuki Takahashi | Mita Shimoda (23:27) | — | Suzuki Takahashi (21:01) | Suzuki Takahashi (23:39) | Yoshida Hotta (18:06) | Yabushita Sakai (17:54) | Suzuki Takahashi (19:40) | Suzuki Takahashi (20:40) |
| Noumi Nakanishi | Noumi Nakanishi (25:15) | Suzuki Takahashi (21:01) | — | Draw (30:00) | Noumi Nakanishi (8:30) | Yabushita Sakai | Noumi Nakanishi | Draw (30:00) |
| Maekawa Genki | Mita Shimoda | Suzuki Takahashi (23:39) | Draw (30:00) | — | Yoshida Hotta (24:00) | Maekawa Genki (20:44) | Maekawa Genki | Maekawa Genki (17:00) |
| Yoshida Hotta | Yoshida Hotta (17:52) | Yoshida Hotta (18:06) | Noumi Nakanishi (8:30) | Yoshida Hotta (24:00) | — | Yoshida Hotta (17:03) | Nishio Fujii | Inoue Watanabe (5:33) |
| Yabushita Sakai | Mita Shimoda | Yabushita Sakai (17:54) | Yabushita Sakai | Maekawa Genki (20:44) | Yoshida Hotta (17:03) | — | Yabushita Sakai (12:51) | Draw (30:00) |
| Nishio Fujii | Mita Shimoda | Suzuki Takahashi (19:40) | Noumi Nakanishi | Maekawa Genki | Nishio Fujii | Yabushita Sakai (12:51) | — | Inoue Watanabe (12:33) |
| Inoue Watanabe | Inoue Watanabe (9:26) | Suzuki Takahashi (20:40) | Draw (30:00) | Maekawa Genki (17:00) | Inoue Watanabe (5:33) | Draw (30:00) | Inoue Watanabe (12:33) | — |
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Noumi and Nakanishi | Pin | | | |
| 3 | Mita and Shimoda | 4:31 | | | |
| 3 | Mita and Shimoda | 4:31 | 1 | Noumi and Nakanishi | Pin |
| | | | 2 | Inoue and Watanabe | 4:19 |
| 2 | Inoue and Watanabe | Pin | 2 | Inoue and Watanabe | 4:19 |
| 4 | Suzuki and Takahashi | | | | |

## 2003

The eighteenth Tag League the Best was held between November 2 and December 23, 2003, again with two semifinal matches between the top four teams. The winners of the tournament, Ayako Hamada and Nanae Takahashi, went on to defeat Kyoko Inoue and Takako Inoue for the WWWA World Tag Team Championship on January 3, 2004.
Final standings :
| Wrestlers | Score |
| Ayako Hamada and Nanae Takahashi | 6 |
| Amazing Kong and Eagle Sakai | 6 |
| Kumiko Maekawa and Saki Maemura | 6 |
| Kayo Noumi and Takako Inoue | 6 |
| Hikaru and Kyoko Inoue | 4 |
| Fang Suzuki and Sasori | 2 |
| Results | Kong Sakai | Hamada Takahashi | Suzuki Sasori | Hikaru K. Inoue | Noumi T. Inoue | Maekawa Maemura |
| Kong Sakai | — | Kong Sakai (11:18) | Kong Sakai (18:19) | Kong Sakai (15:03) | Noumi T.Inoue (11:57) | Maekawa Maemura (17:59) |
| Hamada Takahashi | Kong Sakai (11:18) | — | Hamada Takahashi (24:01) | Hamada Takahashi (16:52) | Noumi T.Inoue (20:43) | Hamada Takahashi (23:37) |
| Suzuki Sasori | Kong Sakai (18:19) | Hamada Takahashi (24:01) | — | Hikaru K. Inoue (11:44) | Noumi T.Inoue (18:31) | Suzuki Sasori (18:17) |
| Hikaru K. Inoue | Kong Sakai (15:03) | Hamada Takahashi (16:52) | Hikaru K. Inoue (11:44) | — | Hikaru K. Inoue (20:01) | Maekawa Maemura (20:52) |
| Noumi T. Inoue | Noumi T.Inoue (11:57) | Noumi T.Inoue (20:43) | Noumi T.Inoue (18:31) | Hikaru K. Inoue (20:01) | — | Maekawa Maemura (18:50) |
| Maekawa Maemura | Maekawa Maemura (17:59) | Hamada Takahashi (23:37) | Suzuki Sasori (18:17) | Maekawa Maemura (20:52) | Maekawa Maemura (18:50) | — |
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Hamada and Takahashi | Pin | | | |
| 4 | Noumi and Inoue | 3:42 | | | |
| 4 | Noumi and Inoue | 3:42 | 1 | Hamada and Takahashi | Pin |
| | | | 2 | Kong and Sakai | 8:31 |
| 2 | Kong and Sakai | Pin | 2 | Kong and Sakai | 8:31 |
| 3 | Maekawa and Maemura | 4:46 | | | |

## 2004

The 2004 version of the Tag League the Best, the final one held by AJW, was also the first tournament contested in a single-elimination format between December 4 and 26.
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| Kumiko Maekawa Saki Maemura | Kumiko Maekawa Saki Maemura | Pin | | | | | | |
| Maruka Matsuo Misae Genki | Maruka Matsuo Misae Genki | 19:30 | | | | | | |
| Maruka Matsuo Misae Genki | Maruka Matsuo Misae Genki | 19:30 | Kumiko Maekawa Saki Maemura | Kumiko Maekawa Saki Maemura | Pin | | | |
| | | | Ran Yu-Yu Toshie Uematsu | Ran Yu-Yu Toshie Uematsu | 10:03 | | | |
| Ran Yu-Yu Toshie Uematsu (Uematsu☆Ran) | Ran Yu-Yu Toshie Uematsu (Uematsu☆Ran) | Pin | Ran Yu-Yu Toshie Uematsu | Ran Yu-Yu Toshie Uematsu | 10:03 | | | |
| Hikaru Nanae Takahashi | Hikaru Nanae Takahashi | 18:05 | | | | | | |
| Hikaru Nanae Takahashi | Hikaru Nanae Takahashi | 18:05 | | | | Kumiko Maekawa Saki Maemura | Kumiko Maekawa Saki Maemura | Pin |
| | | | | | | Kana Yumiko Hotta | Kana Yumiko Hotta | 21:14 |
| The Bloody Fang Suzuki | The Bloody Fang Suzuki | DQ | | | | | | | Kana Yumiko Hotta | Kana Yumiko Hotta | 21:14 |
| Dump Matsumoto Sasori | Dump Matsumoto Sasori | 10:41 | | | | | | |
| Dump Matsumoto Sasori | Dump Matsumoto Sasori | 10:41 | The Bloody Fang Suzuki | The Bloody Fang Suzuki | Pin | | | |
| | | | Kana Yumiko Hotta | Kana Yumiko Hotta | 14:32 | | | |
| Emi Tojo Tomoko Watanabe | Emi Tojo Tomoko Watanabe | Pin | Kana Yumiko Hotta | Kana Yumiko Hotta | 14:32 | | | |
| Kana Yumiko Hotta | Kana Yumiko Hotta | 14:31 | | | | | | |

## 2011

Following the folding of AJW in 2005, Tag League the Best was dead for six years, before being picked up by JWP, which held its first tournament, overall the twentieth, between January 16 and March 6, 2011. The tournament featured eight teams split between two blocks, dubbed "Blue Zone" and "Red Zone". Due to a three-way tie at the top of the Blue Zone, February 20 saw two matches taking place between the three teams to determine who would get to face the winner of the Red Zone in the finals. During the opening day of the tournament, Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki put their Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship on the line in their match against Hailey Hatred and Kaori Yoneyama. Haruyama and Kuragaki entered the tournament as not only the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Champions, but also as the JWP Tag Team Champions, and as they were able to win the tournament it did not result in any direct title matches.
Final standings :
| Blue Zone | Blue Zone | Red Zone | Red Zone |
| Leon and Misaki Ohata (Shishi no Ana) | 4 | Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki (Harukura) | 6 |
| Kazuki and Sachie Abe (The☆Wanted!?) | 4 | Hailey Hatred and Kaori Yoneyama (Queens Revolution) | 4 |
| Aoi Yagami and Command Bolshoi (Rainbow Dragon) | 4 | Hanako Nakamori and Tomoko Morii (Dog Lock Be) | 2 |
| masu-me and Tsukasa Fujimoto (Cutie Pair) | 0 | Sakura Hirota and Senri Kuroki (Hiroki) | 0 |
| Blue Zone | Yagami Bolshoi | Kazuki Abe | Leon Ohata | masu-me Fujimoto |
| Yagami Bolshoi | — | Kazuki Abe (15:29) | Yagami Bolshoi (7:35) | Yagami Bolshoi (8:24) |
| Kazuki Abe | Kazuki Abe (15:29) | — | Leon Ohata (16:44) | Kazuki Abe (10:21) |
| Leon Ohata | Yagami Bolshoi (7:35) | Leon Ohata (16:44) | — | Leon Ohata (9:52) |
| masu-me Fujimoto | Yagami Bolshoi (8:24) | Kazuki Abe (10:21) | Leon Ohata (9:52) | — |
| Red Zone | Hatred Yoneyama | Nakamori Morii | Haruyama Kuragaki | Hirota Kuroki |
| Hatred Yoneyama | — | Hatred Yoneyama (12:46) | Haruyama Kuragaki (20:43) | Hatred Yoneyama (13:44) |
| Nakamori Morii | Hatred Yoneyama (12:46) | — | Haruyama Kuragaki (12:53) | Nakamori Morii (16:33) |
| Haruyama Kuragaki | Haruyama Kuragaki (20:43) | Haruyama Kuragaki (12:53) | — | Haruyama Kuragaki (17:01) |
| Hirota Kuroki | Hatred Yoneyama (13:44) | Nakamori Morii (16:33) | Haruyama Kuragaki (17:01) | — |
| Finalist Decision Match #1 | Finalist Decision Match #1 | Finalist Decision Match #1 | Finalist Decision Match #2 | Finalist Decision Match #2 | Finalist Decision Match #2 | Final | Final | Final |
| BZ1 | Leon and Ohata | Pin | | | | | | |
| BZ3 | Yagami and Bolshoi | 4:15 | | | | | | |
| BZ3 | Yagami and Bolshoi | 4:15 | BZ1 | Leon and Ohata | Pin | | | |
| | | | BZ2 | Kazuki and Abe | 7:26 | | | |
| | | | | | | BZ1 | Leon and Ohata | Pin |
| | | | | | | RZ1 | Haruyama and Kuragaki | 21:59 |

## 2012

The twenty-first Tag League the Best was held between January 9 and April 8, 2012, and was contested for the Daily Sports Women's and JWP Tag Team Championships, which were taken off Hailey Hatred and Kaori Yoneyama on January 9 as punishment for Yoneyama going back on her claim to retire at the end of 2011. Moon Mizuki was injured mid-tournament; as a result, she and her partner Manami Katsu were forced to forfeit their last two matches.
Final standings :
| Blue Zone | Blue Zone | Red Zone | Red Zone |
| Hanako Nakamori and Misaki Ohata (Labradorite) | 6 | Ran Yu-Yu and Toshie Uematsu (Uematsu☆Ran) | 8 |
| Kazuki and Morii (The☆Wanted!?) | 5 | Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki (Harukura) | 6 |
| Leon and Ray (Mascara Voladoras) | 5 | Command Bolshoi and Rabbit Miu (Pikorabi) | 4 |
| Cherry and Sachie Abe (Shishun Kiizu) | 4 | Dash Chisako and Sendai Sachiko (Jumonji Sisters) | 2 |
| Mochi Miyagi and Nana Kawasa (Mocchi 7) | 0 | Manami Katsu and Moon Mizuki (Tsuki no Ue no Poyo) | 0 |
| Blue Zone | Cherry Abe | Nakamori Ohata | Kazuki Morii | Leon Ray | Miyagi Kawasa |
| Cherry Abe | — | Cherry Abe (9:07) | Kazuki Morii (12:43) | Leon Ray (18:52) | Cherry Abe (11:20) |
| Nakamori Ohata | Cherry Abe (9:07) | — | Nakamori Ohata (11:24) | Nakamori Ohata (18:40) | Nakamori Ohata (11:32) |
| Kazuki Morii | Kazuki Morii (12:43) | Nakamori Ohata (11:24) | — | Draw (20:00) | Kazuki Morii (11:00) |
| Leon Ray | Leon Ray (18:52) | Nakamori Ohata (18:40) | Draw (20:00) | — | Leon Ray (11:40) |
| Miyagi Kawasa | Cherry Abe (11:20) | Nakamori Ohata (11:32) | Kazuki Morii (11:00) | Leon Ray (11:40) | — |
| Red Zone | Bolshoi Miu | Chisako Sachiko | Haruyama Kuragaki | Katsu Mizuki | Yu-Yu Uematsu |
| Bolshoi Miu | — | Chisako Sachiko (13:05) | Haruyama Kuragaki (9:12) | Bolshoi Miu (9:32) | Yu-Yu Uematsu (15:32) |
| Chisako Sachiko | Chisako Sachiko (13:05) | — | Haruyama Kuragaki (15:21) | Chisako Sachiko (10:48) | Yu-Yu Uematsu (16:24) |
| Haruyama Kuragaki | Haruyama Kuragaki (9:12) | Haruyama Kuragaki (15:21) | — | Haruyama Kuragaki (forfeit) | Yu-Yu Uematsu (18:44) |
| Katsu Mizuki | Bolshoi Miu (9:32) | Chisako Sachiko (10:48) | Haruyama Kuragaki (forfeit) | — | Yu-Yu Uematsu (forfeit) |
| Yu-Yu Uematsu | Yu-Yu Uematsu (15:32) | Yu-Yu Uematsu (16:24) | Yu-Yu Uematsu (18:44) | Yu-Yu Uematsu (forfeit) | — |
| Final | Final | Final |
| BZ1 | Nakamori and Ohata | Pin |
| RZ1 | Yu-Yu and Uematsu | 20:19 |

## 2013

The twenty-second Tag League the Best took place between February 17 and April 7, 2013, and was used to determine the number one contenders to the Daily Sports Women's and JWP Tag Team Championships, held by Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki.
Final standings :
| Block A | Block A | Block B | Block B |
| Hanako Nakamori and Morii (Heart Move) | 4 | Dash Chisako and Sendai Sachiko (Jumonji Sisters) | 3 |
| Arisa Nakajima and Command Bolshoi (Aripiko) | 2 | Manami Katsu and Rabbit Miu (Manarabi) | 2 |
| Leon and Neko Nitta (Nekoka Tag) | 0 | Kazuki and Sachie Abe (The☆Wanted!?) | 1 |
| Block A | Nakajima Bolshoi | Nakamori Morii | Leon Nitta | Block B | Chisako Sachiko | Kazuki Abe | Katsu Miu |
| Nakajima Bolshoi | — | Nakamori Morii (13:21) | Nakajima Bolshoi (13:59) | Chisako Sachiko | — | Draw (12:29) | Chisako Sachiko (13:17) |
| Nakamori Morii | Nakamori Morii (13:21) | — | Nakamori Morii (12:36) | Kazuki Abe | Draw (12:29) | — | Katsu Miu (12:19) |
| Leon Nitta | Nakajima Bolshoi (13:59) | Nakamori Morii (12:36) | — | Katsu Miu | Chisako Sachiko (13:17) | Katsu Miu (12:19) | — |
| Final | Final | Final |
| A1 | Nakamori and Morii | Pin |
| B1 | Chisako and Sachiko | 14:10 |

## 2014

The twenty-third Tag League the Best took place between January 5 and March 16, 2014. Kayoko Haruyama and Manami Katsu originally won block B, but were forced to pull out of the final match after Katsu injured her left ankle while training, giving the spot in the finals to Leon and Ray, who had finished second in the block. The winners of the tournament were scheduled to challenge Dash Chisako and Sendai Sachiko for the Daily Sports Women's and JWP Tag Team Championships on April 20, but the match was canceled due to Sachiko suffering a knee injury.
Final standings :
| Block A | Block A | Block B | Block B |
| Rabbit Miu and Tsukushi (Haruusagi) | 4 | Kayoko Haruyama and Manami Katsu (Spring☆Victory) | 5 |
| Arisa Nakajima and Kana | 3 | Leon and Ray (Mascara Voladoras) | 4 |
| Command Bolshoi and Kyoko Kimura | 3 | Hanako Nakamori and Takako Inoue | 3 |
| Kazuki and Rydeen Hagane (The☆Wanted!?) | 2 | Sachie Abe and Yako Fujigasaki | 0 |
| Block A | Nakajima Kana | Bolshoi Kimura | Kazuki Hagane | Miu Tsukushi | Block B | Nakamori Inoue | Haruyama Katsu | Leon Ray | Abe Fujigasaki |
| Nakajima Kana | — | Draw (20:00) | Nakajima Kana (13:57) | Miu Tsukushi (14:38) | Nakamori Inoue | — | Draw (20:00) | Leon Ray (15:02) | Nakamori Inoue (12:52) |
| Bolshoi Kimura | Draw (20:00) | — | Kazuki Hagane (14:21) | Bolshoi Kimura (11:18) | Haruyama Katsu | Draw (20:00) | — | Haruyama Katsu (17:18) | Haruyama Katsu (16:26) |
| Kazuki Hagane | Nakajima Kana (13:57) | Kazuki Hagane (14:21) | — | Miu Tsukushi (12:56) | Leon Ray | Leon Ray (15:02) | Haruyama Katsu (17:18) | — | Leon Ray (12:24) |
| Miu Tsukushi | Miu Tsukushi (14:38) | Bolshoi Kimura (11:18) | Miu Tsukushi (12:56) | — | Abe Fujigasaki | Nakamori Inoue (12:52) | Haruyama Katsu (16:26) | Leon Ray (12:24) | — |
| Final | Final | Final |
| A1 | Miu and Tsukushi | Pin |
| B2 | Leon and Ray | 18:25 |

## 2015

The twenty-fourth Tag League the Best took place between January 18 and March 22, 2015. Defending tournament winners Rabbit Miu and Tsukushi were forced to forfeit their opening match in the tournament on February 15, due to Miu being sidelined with dizziness. That same day, Hanako Nakamori suffered a knee injury, forcing her and Arisa Nakajima to forfeit their two remaining matches in the tournament.
Final standings :
| Block A | Block A | Block B | Block B |
| Aoi Kizuki and Kayoko Haruyama (Orange Happies) | 6 | Command Bolshoi and Kyoko Kimura (Wild Snufkin) | 6 |
| Leon and Ray (Voladoras L×R) | 4 | Rabbit Miu and Tsukushi (Haruusagi) | 2 |
| Arisa Nakajima and Hanako Nakamori (Violence Princess) | 2 | Eri and Haruka Kato | 2 |
| Yako Fujigasaki and Yua Hayashi | 0 | Kazuki and Rydeen Hagane (Wanted '14) | 2 |
| Block A | Kizuki Haruyama | Nakajima Nakamori | Leon Ray | Fujigasaki Hayashi | Block B | Bolshoi Kimura | Eri Kato | Kazuki Hagane | Miu Tsukushi |
| Kizuki Haruyama | — | Kizuki Haruyama (forfeit) | Kizuki Haruyama (18:23) | Kizuki Haruyama (12:56) | Bolshoi Kimura | — | Bolshoi Kimura (16:06) | Bolshoi Kimura (18:03) | Bolshoi Kimura (forfeit) |
| Nakajima Nakamori | Kizuki Haruyama (forfeit) | — | Leon Ray (forfeit) | Nakajima Nakamori (15:50) | Eri Kato | Bolshoi Kimura (16:06) | — | Eri Kato (17:33) | Miu Tsukushi (13:59) |
| Leon Ray | Kizuki Haruyama (18:23) | Leon Ray (forfeit) | — | Leon Ray (14:49) | Kazuki Hagane | Bolshoi Kimura (18:03) | Eri Kato (17:33) | — | Kazuki Hagane (15:43) |
| Fujigasaki Hayashi | Kizuki Haruyama (12:56) | Nakajima Nakamori (15:50) | Leon Ray (14:49) | — | Miu Tsukushi | Bolshoi Kimura (forfeit) | Miu Tsukushi (13:59) | Kazuki Hagane (15:43) | — |
| Final | Final | Final |
| A1 | Kizuki and Haruyama | Pin |
| B1 | Bolshoi and Kimura | 25:27 |

## 2016

The 2016 version of the Tag League the Best was the second contested in a single-elimination format. Taking place between January 31 and February 21, the tournament was used to determine the number one contenders to the Daily Sports Women's and JWP Tag Team Championships, held by Best Friends (Arisa Nakajima and Tsukasa Fujimoto).
| First round | First round | First round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| Akane Fujita Leon | Akane Fujita Leon | Pin | | | | | | |
| Konami Syuri | Konami Syuri | 13:53 | | | | | | |
| Konami Syuri | Konami Syuri | 13:53 | Konami Syuri | Konami Syuri | Pin | | | |
| | | | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane | 10:24 | | | |
| Kazuki Rydeen Hagane (Wanted '14) | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane (Wanted '14) | Pin | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane | 10:24 | | | |
| Meiko Tanaka Sareee | Meiko Tanaka Sareee | 14:26 | | | | | | |
| Meiko Tanaka Sareee | Meiko Tanaka Sareee | 14:26 | | | | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane | Kazuki Rydeen Hagane | Pin |
| | | | | | | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | 16:40 |
| Command Bolshoi Rabbit Miu | Command Bolshoi Rabbit Miu | Pin | | | | | | | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | 16:40 |
| Kagetsu Sawako Shimono | Kagetsu Sawako Shimono | 13:25 | | | | | | |
| Kagetsu Sawako Shimono | Kagetsu Sawako Shimono | 13:25 | Kagetsu Sawako Shimono | Kagetsu Sawako Shimono | Pin | | | |
| | | | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | 13:26 | | | |
| Hanako Nakamori Makoto (Makafushigi) | Hanako Nakamori Makoto (Makafushigi) | Pin | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | Hanako Nakamori Makoto | 13:26 | | | |
| Hikaru Shida Yako Fujigasaki | Hikaru Shida Yako Fujigasaki | 13:28 | | | | | | |