Tag: The Viking Raiders

Erik & Ivar Return To WWE Raw As The War Raiders

The War Raiders’ Erik and Ivar made their triumphant return from injuries on “WWE Raw” on Monday, defeating Alpha Academy’s Otis and Akira Tozawa to advance in the recently-announced tournament for the World Tag Team Championships. “Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce had just announced the tournament to champions JD McDonagh and Finn Balor earlier in the night, and the returning War Raiders (previously known as the Viking Raiders) won the first match of the tournament, their first win together since September 2023. Their return had been alluded to in video teasers featuring the runic alphabet in weeks prior.

Otis and Ivar started off the match before Tozawa was tagged in. Erik slammed Ivar on top of Tozawa and the returning team took control of the match. Erik and Ivar took turns sending the smaller man into one another’s knees. Otis attempted to turn the match back around, but Ivar interrupted his caterpillar attempt. Tozawa tried to hit a missile drop kick, but was caught by Ivar. The War Raiders hit their new finishing move on Tozawa, with Erik throwing his opponent into the line of fire of Ivar’s splash from the top rope, for the victory. The bracket for the tag team tournament had not yet been revealed as of this writing, but the War Raiders are moving on for a shot at the World Tag Team Championships.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Mysterious Runic Graphic On WWE Raw Suggests Potential Return Of Injured Tag Team

A cryptic video on Monday’s episode of “WWE Raw” may be alluding to the return of a popular tag team that has been on the shelf for quite some time.

During the broadcast, a video vignette was shown of a burning circle, similar to a shield, with runes burning inside. The only audio in the promo outside of the crackling flames was a man’s voice saying, “Fate is woven.” Social media users translated the runes from the oldest form of the runic alphabet into “WAR,” leading many fans to believe the video was a teaser for the return of Erik and Ivar, the Viking Raiders.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1838397500165701761

It was revealed back in May that Ivar’s future in wrestling was uncertain. He had been working on “WWE NXT” before being written off TV for the injury, to the confusion of many of the legitimacy of the injury. Ivar clarified on social media at the time he was indeed injured, and that is was “very serious,” but he had not had surgery at that point in time. However, it was revealed by Andrews Sports Medicine on X (formerly Twitter) that Ivar had undergone surgery on his spine in May. Erik underwent neck fusion surgery, prior to his partner’s injury, in September 2023. The pair’s last match together came on an episode of “WWE Main Event” that year. A timetable was not provided for either of the Viking Raiders’ injuries.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Valhalla & The Viking Raiders’ Erik Expecting A Baby

Congratulations are in order for Valhalla and The Viking Raiders’ Erik.

In a joint statement via Instagram, Valhalla (Sarah Rowe) and Erik announced that they are expecting their second child together. Valhalla is pregnant with their second son, with the child set to enter the world in November.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6M305XL7rM/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=6d11bb1b-678d-425d-9398-4bef0ac47553&img_index=1

Erik Of WWE’s Viking Raiders Announces He Has Undergone Neck Fusion Surgery

WWE star Erik of The Viking Raiders has revealed that he underwent neck fusion surgery after being sidelined with the injury in September of this year.

The former Raw Tag Team Champion disclosed on social media that he has had fusion surgery on his C6 and C7 cervical spine at St Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He thanked the doctors at the hospital and WWE for their support and care, and shared several photos in the post, including an X-ray of his injury, a photo with his wife and WWE star Valhalla, and a selfie.

“I cannot express the proper gratitude and thankfulness to the amazing Dr Cordover and his incredible staff at @andrews_sports_medicine and St Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, AL and to @wwe for always making sure I have the best care possible. C6 / C7 fusion surgery was successful and recovery begins

Erik last match was on the WWE Main Event show, where he teamed with his Viking Raiders partner, Ivar, to face the duo of Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. The Viking Raiders were originally scheduled to compete in a fatal four-way tag team match in September but were pulled from the match at the last moment., with commentator Michael Cole announcing that Erik was dealing with a foot injury. Since Erik’s injury, his tag team partner has wrestled as a singles competitor and has reportedly impressed WWE management.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Viking Raiders Reportedly Taken Off TV Due To Injury

WWE has been heavily pushing The Viking Raiders in recent months, but the former “Raw” and “NXT” Tag Team Champions haven’t been seen in recent weeks on “WWE SmackDown.” Unfortunately, that is due to an injury, as the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the Raiders have been sidelined for an indefinite period of time due to Erik suffering a foot problem.

The exact details on Erik’s injury, when he suffered it, and how long he is going to be on the shelf, remain unclear at this point, but his tag team partner, Ivar, remains healthy. However, as happens often in the tag team division, it appears that WWE is going to be keeping Ivar off television until his tag team partner is fit to compete, and they can be presented as a team once again. 

Recently, The Viking Raiders have been feuding with The New Day, spending several weeks attacking Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, a storyline that came after several victories against Shanky and Jinder Mahal. Their rivalry culminated in the first-ever “Viking Rules” match, which saw lots of themed weapons, and part of a Viking boat set up around the ring. Ivar and Erik won that match on the August 26th episode of “SmackDown,” but since then have not appeared on television or at live events, suggesting it may have been that match in which Erik injured his foot.

Their absence was notable in the main event of “SmackDown” last week, where The New Day faced The Brawling Brutes, Imperium, and Hit Row in a number one contender’s match for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships. Despite the fact that the Raiders have been dominating Kingston and Woods, it was The New Day who got to be part of the match, while the Raiders went unmentioned in the broadcast.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Announces Injury To Ivar From Last Night’s RAW

WWE has confirmed that Ivar of The Viking Raiders suffered an injury during last night’s RAW episode on the USA Network

As noted, Ivar hit a suicide dive on three members of The Hurt Business during the eight-man match that saw MVP, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin and WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley defeat Ivar, Erik, Ricochet and Apollo Crews. He immediately threw up the “X” symbol to call for help.

WWE issued a post-RAW announcement and confirmed that Ivar suffered a cervical injury while doing the dive. It was noted that he was taken to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. For what it’s worth, PWInsider reported that word going at RAW was that Ivar likely suffered a stinger on the dive.

Stay tuned for updates on Ivar. For those who missed it, below is the original video of Ivar throwing up the dreaded “X” symbol after the suicide dive, along with WWE’s full announcement on the injury:

 

Injury update on IvarDuring the Eight-Man Tag Team Match on Monday Night Raw, Ivar suffered a cervical injury on a Viking Dive to the floor. As a precaution, Ivar was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

https://twitter.com/Dru227/status/1303148959221919744

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Changing The Viking Raiders’ Name Again?

WWE NXT Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders were referred to as The Viking Warriors in the latest WWE Fan Council survey, seen below.

There’s no word yet on if this is just a typo or if WWE has plans to change their name once again. Ivar and Erik won a non-title match on last night’s NXT episode and were still being called The Viking Raiders.

As noted, The Raiders were brought to RAW last week in the 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup and given a new name – The Viking Experience. WWE quietly changed the name this week, likely due to the negative fan reaction to the original name change, and they are now being called The Viking Raiders. Their tag team finishing move is now called The Viking Experience. It was reported that Vince McMahon did not like The War Raiders name, and wanted a new name. At one point the team was scheduled to be called The Berzerkers.

It’s possible that this is just a typo, but we will keep you updated on any other potential name changes.

https://twitter.com/HeelByNatureYT/status/1121138053333098502

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Another Name Change For WWE Tag Team

When the War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) was called up from NXT to RAW last week during the WWE Superstar Shake-Up, they were renamed The Viking Experience (Ivar and Erik). Now after a lot of backlash on social media, they have been renamed yet again as The Viking Raiders.

Tonight on RAW they defeated The Lucha House Party.