TNA Wrestling's launch in 2002 we saw a mix of veterans wrestlers and regional wrestlers that were mostly unknown on the national stage some of which would go on to become TNA's homegrown talent establishing themselves as bona fide wrestling stars. I think many will agree that AJ Styles is the biggest homegrown wrestler to come out TNA, yes he wrestled before TNA was created, and even was signed with WCW but his TNA run is what established him.
In my opinion the first homegrown tag team to come out of TNA, and one of my all time favorite tag teams is the "Wildcat" Chris Harris and the "Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm collectively known as Americas Most Wanted.
James Storm began his pro wrestling career in 1997 in Tennessee and in 2000 was signed by WCW wrestling as an enhancement talent mostly on WCW Worldwide until the promotion folded and he continued wrestling on the independent circuit.
Chris Harris started his journey in 1995 in Kentucky and in 2000 was signed by WCW where he also wrestled primarily as enhancement talent on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Worldwide. His highest profile match was a preshow dark match at the 2001 WCW Superbrawl Revenge PPV where he defeated Kid Romeo.
On June 1, 2002 at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville their paths would cross in the ring for the very first time as James Storm would defeat Chris Harris for his USA North American Heavyweight championship at the USA Wrestling Legendsfest card. This match was a tryout of sorts as Jeff Jarrett was impressed with them enough to invite them to the first set of TNA Tapings on June 19, 2002 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
They would make their debut as a tag team on episode 2 in a storyline that saw the Dupps refuse to wrestle the Rainbow Express: Bruce & Lenny because of their alleged sexuality, nothing you would ever seen doe today. Cut to NWA Vice President Bill Behrens stopping Storm and Harris in the hallway who appeared to be either just arriving or just leaving the venue sending them to the ring in their street clothes to compete in the match.
Storm and Harris would go on to defeated The Rainbow Express when Chris Harris rolled up Lenny in a schoolboy. Don West even mentioned on commentary their match against each other earlier in the month.
The following week on Episode 3 they would compete in a tournament four team tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships. The would defeat The Johnsons in their first match, however were attacked backstage before the finals and would be replaced by the team of Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles.
The first time they are referred to as America's Most Wanted was on September 18, 2002 at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds the same date they captured their first of six NWA World Tag Team Championships. "Primetime" Brian Lee and Chris Harris were the final two competitors in a Tag Team Gauntlet for the Gold Battle Royal, which brought their partners James Storm and Ron Harris back for a traditional tag team match that saw AMW pick up the win in just under 5 minutes.
For the next four years AMW would carry the TNA tag team division on their backs feuding with the Disciples of the New Church, The Harris Brothers, The Hot Shots, Triple X, 3 Live Cru, Team 3D, LAX, and so many more tag teams.
Their feud with Triple X culminated in one of the best Steel Cage tag team matches of all time on December 5, 2004 at the Turning Point PPV in Orlando, Florida. The night that Elix Skipper walked the top of the cage. AMW would pick up the win, and as a result Triple X was forced to break up as a team. This match would also earn the TNA Match of the Year award for 2004.
In October 2005 Gail Kim would join the duo becoming their manager. As 2006 began wind down cracks began to show in the partnership of Storm and Harris. At Turning Point 2006 they lost a Flag Match to LAX when Storm accidentally got glass from a broken beer bottle in Harris eyes. On the December 14, 2006 episode of Impact! AMW lost a match to LAX after Storm hit Harris with a beer bottle intentionally. Per the pre-match stipulation the AMW was forced to break up.
The duo with feud with each other culminating in a Texas Death Match on May 13, 2007 at TNA Sacrifice in Orlando, Florida that saw Harris come out on top.
James Storm would go on to form another successful Tag Team in TNA with Robert Roode as Beer Money INC. He would even win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. In October 2015 he made a surprise appearance in NXT defeating Danny Burch. He would have one more NXT match, before returning to TNA wrestling. In recent years he wrestled for New Japan, NOAH, the NWA and numerous independents.
Harris would leave TNA debuting in the WWE in 2008 for only a few matches as Braden Walker. In 2011 he returned to TNA for 3 matches, teaming with Matt Hardy in losing efforts to Beer Money INC for the tag team championships. Since the 2011 run Harris has only had about 40 matches through June 2025.
In their time together as a team they held the NWA Cyberspace Tag Team Championships for 224 days, the Puerto Rico based WWC Tag Team Championships, and held the NWA World Tag Team Champions for a record 6 times for a combined 517 days. They were the 2003 & 2004 TNA Tag Team of the year, the 2005 Wrestling Observer Tag Team of the Year, and 2004 PWI Tag Team of the year.
America's Most Wanted Reunions
On July 9, 2016 AMW team up for the first time in nearly a decade for USA Championship Wrestling in Gladeville, Tennessee defeated The Naturals: Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens.
On the March 30, 2021 Harris accompanied James Storm to the ring for his 1,000th match in TNA wrestling as he faced Eric Young.
June 19, 2022 at Slammiversary AMW came to the ring to toast the Good Brothers and the Briscoes after the Good Brothers defeated the Briscoes for the TNA Tag Team Championships
July 1, 2022 at Against All Odds at Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia, America's Most Wanted reunited teaming with Heath Slater and The Good Brothers: Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson to defeated Honor No More: Eddie Edwards, Kenny King, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, & PCO.
September 9, 2023 at 1,000th episode of TNA Impact Wrestling America's Most Wanted reunited teaming with Team Canada: Eric Young & Scott D'Amore defeating The Design: Deaner & Kon and Kenny King & Sheldon Jean
March 9, 2024 in Chillicothe, OH at WCPBTW The Reunion 3: Calvacade of Legends Matt Riddle & Rob Van Dam teamed to defeated America's Most Wanted
August 5, 2024 in Chillicothe, OH at WCPBTW Showdown at the Fairgrounds Ricky Morton & "Wildfire" Tommy Rich defeated America's Most Wanted to win the vacant Ohio State Tag Team Championships.
In 2004 TNA released a home video, Best of America's Most Wanted, a two DVD set featuring some of their best matches in TNA to date, including a match with the Rock n' Roll Express.
I remember when I bought this, I was at work checking out the Black Friday Deals on the TNA Shop and saw this for $10, never seen it before and I did not hesitate to pick it up. It's on of the few TNA DVD's in my collection. It's time for a re-watch, that's for sure.
This card is from the 2004 TNA Pacific Trading card series. I mailed this AMW and a solo card to Chris Harris to sign in 2008.
I was able to get James Storm to sign at the only TNA show in Maine today, December 4, 2009 at the then Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. After the show almost all of the wrestlers came back out and walked around ringside taking photos and signing for the fans.
Although there tenure together was short, comparatively to some of the all time greats, there were a very formidable team and were the lifeblood of the TNA tag team division.
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Until next time!
