Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Dynamite from Wednesday, Vince McMahon and the War Raiders, New Japan upcoming shows, all the news and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Tag: viking raiders
Ivar ‘out of action indefinitely’ following attack by Gallus on WWE NXT
WWE has announced that Ivar will be out of action indefinitely.
Gallus attacked him and Wes Lee in the closing moments of NXT on Tuesday. WWE has since revealed Ivar was injured in the attack and will miss multiple upcoming scheduled matches.
“BREAKING: As a result of the heinous attack by #Gallus at the end of #WWENXT, @Ivar_WWE has suffered an injury and will be out of action indefinitely.”
Ivar was scheduled to wrestle Tyler Bate on WWE Speed next Wednesday. However, WWE announced today that due to Ivar’s injury, Apollo Crews will replace him in the match. Ivar defeated Crews in the first round of a number one contender’s tournament for Ricochet’s Speed Championship two weeks ago.
“With @Ivar_WWE sidelined due to injury, @WWEApollo has received a second chance in the No. 1 Contender’s Tournament and will face Tyler Bate in the Semifinals this Wednesday on #WWESpeed.”
Ivar was also scheduled for a triple-threat match on WWE NXT next week. However, the episode was taped earlier this week and he was replaced by Gallus’ Joe Coffey in the match. Spoilers from the taping are available here.
Ivar also missed a scheduled match against Andrade in March after he wasn’t medically cleared to perform. He returned the following Monday and dropped a match to Sami Zayn on Raw.
WWE’s Valhalla & Erik expecting their second child
WWE’s Valhalla (Sarah Logan) and Erik (Raymond Rowe) are expecting their second child.
The couple made the announcement in a social media post on Thursday with the caption:
November of 2024NEW ROWE BOY INCOMING
We are so unbelievably happy.
The couple welcomed the birth of their first child in 2021.
Valhalla and Erik make up two-thirds of the Viking Raiders act on WWE’s Raw brand. Erik has been out of action after undergoing neck fusion surgery, with his ast WWE match coming in September. Valhalla was last in action at this year’s Royal Rumble event in January.
With Erik and Valhalla off TV, Ivar of the Viking Raiders has been featured as a singles star both on the Raw and NXT brands, and is set to challenge Oba Femi for the NXT North American Championship at Tuesday’s Spring Breakin’ week two.
As a duo, Erik and Ivar have held both the NXT Tag Team titles and the Raw Tag Team titles during their WWE run as The War Raiders in NXT, then the Viking Raiders on the main roster.
https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6M305XL7rM
WWE’s Erik recovering following successful neck fusion surgery
Erik of the Viking Raiders announced he has undergone successful neck fusion surgery.
In a post on Instagram, he revealed that he recently underwent neck fusion surgery for his C6/C7 vertebrae. He thanked the doctor and the staff at Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama as well as WWE.
The full post can be seen below:
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 now.
I’m excited for all the possibilities once my cybernetic upgrades come fully online.
Erik last wrestled in September, where The Viking Raiders defeated Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin on Main Event.
In the last month, his tag team partner Ivar has continued to feud with The New Day as a singles wrestler, defeating Kofi Kingston in a Viking Rules match. On next week’s Raw, he will compete in a four-way match between Ricochet, The Miz, and Bronson Reed that will determine the next contender for Gunther’s WWE Intercontinental title.
WWE Main Event results: Viking Raiders vs. Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
This past week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, before Monday’s Raw.
There were decent matches on display this week with talent who can work these kinds of curtain-jerker matches with ease. As usual, however, there’s little here to go out of your way to seek out.
Bronson Reed defeated Riddick Moss (5:48)
This one was hard-hitting as you might expect. They did well to tease a Moss victory, but Reed continued his undefeated streak on this show.
Last week, Reed was reasonably comfortable in his win against Akira Tozawa on Main Event, but his matches are too evenly contested to be considered even extended squash matches. This one was broadly the same with Moss posing much more of a likely match for Reed than Tozawa would have.
Moss spent most of the match trying to get Reed off his feet and when he did, Reed cannily rolled to the outside. They did a chase and run outside with Moss getting smashed into the apron and nailed with an elbow drop.
Reed went up top but got toppled so that Moss could hit the SOS for a near fall. You could tell they had managed to get buy in from the crowd at this point as they thought that was it.
In the end, it was a missed charge to the corner that allowed Reed to hit his Tsunami for a huge pop and another W — his sixth straight on Main Event since January.
The Viking Raiders (w/ Valhalla) defeated Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin (7:32)
This was a solid tag bout here that was a bit dull in the early going. Benjamin was the star of the show, despite the loss, with the crowd super into his hot tag.
Benjamin and Alexander haven’t been together on Main Event since back in February. They have been working six-man tags at the live shows in August with Austin Theory against AJ Styles, Gallows & Anderson. I have no problem believing that those would have been a ton of fun.
This was a match in four parts: Alexander took the early going, then Erik and Ivar slowed it down and then Benjamin got the hot tag, but Valhalla used the distraction to get the Viking Raiders the win.
Although this one went too long for my liking, it certainly picked up after the commercials as these matches tend to. Benjamin came in full of energy, using a series of splashes before hitting Erik with an Angle Slam. He even used an ankle lock. This is definitely the way to book Benjamin at 48 years old.
In the end, just as Alexander and Benjamin looked in control, Valhalla came up onto the second rope and to speak to Benjamin. He was bundled out of the ring and Alexander was caught with a knee as he came off the top rope with a springboard. This allowed Erik and Ivar to hit Ragnorak for the win.
WOR Video: Vikings, Ronda Rousey, and a WWE Tag Team title match
Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer talked about the last few segments of WWE Raw on Tuesday’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
After a Seth Rollins/Finn Balor promo that set up their match for SummerSlam, The Viking Raiders defeated Alpha Academy in a Viking Rules match where the ring morphed into a viking ship. Although it started slow, the match picked up toward the end, with both Alvarez and Meltzer enjoying the match.
“This was a good match,” Alvarez said. “Very, very good payoff to this thing.”
Following that match was a promo featuring Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. Rousey challenged Baszler to a match at SummerSlam, refusing to come to the ring and meet Baszler. Both Meltzer and Alvarez presumed that Rousey was a heel.
“Last week, Ronda’s the babyface,” Meltzer pointed out. “This week she’s very clearly a heel.”
“And Shayna is very clearly the babyface,” Alvarez added.
The main event had Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeat Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles.
“This match ended up being a great main event,” Alvarez said. “Last few minutes were awesome.”
Mysterio ended up taking the pinfall despite challenging Wes Lee for the NXT North American title the next night on NXT. Both Alvarez and Meltzer wondered if it was a sign that Mysterio could win the title from Lee.
Brock Lesnar return, Viking Rules match set for next WWE Raw
Brock Lesnar’s return, a Viking Rules match, a Women’s Tag title match, plus Gunther vs. Matt Riddle are set for the July 17 WWE Raw.
After Cody Rhodes issued a challenge to Lesnar for SummerSlam on this week’s Raw, Lesnar will return to the show next week. Lesnar last appeared on the July 3 Raw from Baltimore where he brawled with Rhodes.
Erik & Ivar of The Viking Raiders will take on Chad Gable & Otis of Alpha Academy in a Viking Rules match on next week’s Raw. After Gable, Otis & Maxxine Dupri defeated The Viking Raiders & Valhalla on last week’s Raw, The Viking Raiders crashed Dupri’s Alpha Academy graduation ceremony on this week’s episode to set up the stipulation match for next week.
The Women’s Tag Team Championship will also be on the line next week, as Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defend their titles against Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green. Deville & Green won a number one contender’s gauntlet match last week to set up the contest.
Also announced for next week, Matt Riddle will face Gunther in singles competition with Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser of Imperium banned from ringside.
The lineup for next week’s Raw at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia:
- Brock Lesnar returns
- Viking Rules match: The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis)
- Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defend against Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green
- Matt Riddle vs. Gunther (Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser banned from ringside)
Eight-man tag team match set for WWE Raw
An eight-man tag team match has been made official for Raw’s WrestleMania 39 go-home show.
The Street Profits will team up with Ricochet & Braun Strowman as they face Chad Gable, Otis & The Viking Raiders on Raw this Monday night. It’s a preview of the men’s Showcase match that will be taking place at WrestleMania 39.
The men’s WrestleMania Showcase four-way tag match will be The Street Profits vs. Ricochet & Strowman vs. Gable & Otis vs. The Viking Raiders. There will also be a women’s Showcase match at WrestleMania 39 involving Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya & Shotzi, Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler, and one more team that has yet to be announced.
Though they’ll be teaming together on Raw, The Street Profits and Ricochet & Strowman got into a backstage confrontation on SmackDown last night.
Monday’s Raw is taking place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The updated card for the episode is listed below:
- Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
- WrestleMania weigh-in with Brock Lesnar and Omos
- Miz TV with Becky Lynch, Lita, and Trish Stratus
- The Street Profits, Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Chad Gable, Otis & The Viking Raiders
WWE reveals teams for men’s WrestleMania Showcase match
WWE has revealed the teams entered into the men’s Showcase Fatal Four-way tag team match at WrestleMania 39.
Braun Strowman & Ricochet, The Viking Raiders, The Street Profits, and Alpha Academy will be the four teams showcased in the match.
Men’s and women’s fatal four-way tag matches were announced for WrestleMania on Friday’s SmackDown. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez qualified for the women’s match by defeating Emma & Tegan Nox on the show.
WWE posted a video of Byron Saxton revealing the teams on Monday:
EXCLUSIVE: @ByronSaxton has a massive #WrestleMania announcement while inadvertently rubbing salt in the wounds of @WWEGable.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/QkRhBUvrHx
— WWE (@WWE) March 20, 2023
WWE WrestleMania 39, Saturday, April 1 & Sunday, April 2, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —
- Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
- SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair defends against Rhea Ripley
- Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair defends against Asuka
- United States Championship: Austin Theory defends against John Cena
- Intercontinental Championship triple threat match: Gunther defends against Drew McIntyre & Sheamus
- Hell in a Cell match: Edge vs. Finn Balor
- Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
- Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
- Trish Stratus, Becky Lynch & Lita vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai & IYO SKY)
- Women’s four-way tag team showcase match: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. TBD vs. TBD vs. TBD
- Men’s four-way tag team showcase match: Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. The Viking Raiders vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy
Viking Raiders return with Sarah Logan on WWE SmackDown
Sarah Logan has returned to WWE and the Viking Raiders are back on Smackdown.
Logan appeared on the stage area during a segment involving Hit Row and Legado del Fantasma on SmackDown Friday night. The Viking Raiders then came through the crowd to attack members of both factions. Logan hit B-Fab with a headbutt before she stood tall with Erik & Ivar to end the segment.
Logan was released from WWE on April 15, 2020. That June, she announced that she was temporarily stepping away from wrestling. Logan then returned to the ring in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match.
The Viking Raiders have been out of action since Erik suffered a foot injury in the main event of the September 2 edition of SmackDown. They defeated the New Day in a “Viking Rules” match on the show.
Logan and Erik (Raymond Rowe) were married in a Viking-themed wedding in late 2018. The couple announced the birth of their first child, Raymond Cash Rowe, on February 9, 2021.
Valhalla is here@Erik_WWE @Ivar_WWE @SarahRowe #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KTe4W3teed
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2022
Viking vignette airs on WWE SmackDown, reportedly for Sarah Logan
A Viking vignette aired on Friday’s WWE SmackDown, reportedly signaling the impending return of Sarah Logan to the company.
With the tagline “Valhalla awaits,” a video aired with a character dressed in fur and wearing a headdress with their back to the camera, standing in front of The Viking Raiders shields. One male and one female voice narrated the vignette, with Fightful reporting that the video is to hype the return of Logan.
"Valhalla awaits"
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/BADgfEXpV5
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022
Logan was with WWE from 2017 to 2020. She worked briefly on the NXT brand, and participated in the 2017 Mae Young Classic, but her most prominent run with the company came as part of the Riott Squad. The Riott Squad, with Logan, Liv Morgan, and Ruby Riott, debuted on the main roster on SmackDown in November 2017.
Logan was released by the company in April 2020. She has made two appearances on WWE television this year, taking part in the 2022 Royal Rumble match, then again on SmackDown in August as part of a Viking funeral segment with The Viking Raiders. Logan is married to Erik of the Viking Raiders.
WOL Saturday: Vince’s boomer entertainment
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday is back with Jim Valley.
We have a Money in the Bank preview including the only match that isn’t predictable. WWE SmackDown, meanwhile, had a good old fashion battle royal, the New Vicious Viking Raiders, Maximum Male Models about 15 years too late, and why WWE feels more like World Boomer Entertainment than a product that reflects a changing, new world.
Plus, Rampage, Kenny Omega and more.
Three matches added to WWE NXT Spring Breakin’
Three matches have been added to next week’s Spring Breakin’ episode of WWE NXT.
Main roster talent Natalya will team with Lash Legend against Cora Jade and Nikkita Lyons in a tag team bout. The contest was set up on this week’s NXT episode following a Legend vs. Lyons match. After Lyons won, Natalya ran in to attack her, following up on a backstage interaction the two had on last week’s show. Jade then ran in to make the save.
In another tag match featuring main roster talent, The Viking Raiders will face Diamond Mine’s The Creed Brothers. Diamond Mine’s Roderick Strong invited the Raiders to NXT this week and handpicked them as opponents to challenge the Creeds, who Strong accused of being too satisfied with their achievements.
Also set for next week, Nathan Frazer will make his in-ring debut, facing Grayson Waller. Frazer’s debut was initially announced for this week’s show, but Waller interjected himself before the match began and attacked Frazer’s opponent.
After weeks of tension between the two, a sit-down meeting between Tony D’Angelo and Santos Escobar was also added to Spring Breakin’. D’Angelo introduced two new associates on this week’s episode in Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan and “Stacks” Channing Lorenzo.
Here is the full lineup for next week:
WWE NXT Spring Breakin’, Tuesday, May 3 —
- NXT Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Joe Gacy
- NXT North American Championship: Cameron Grimes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Carmelo Hayes
- Natalya & Lash Legend vs. Cora Jade & Nikkita Lyons
- The Viking Raiders vs. The Creed Brothers
- Nathan Frazer vs. Grayson Waller
Raw, SmackDown & NXT tag champs to face off at WWE Survivor Series
A triple threat tag team match featuring the Raw, SmackDown and NXT Tag Team champions will take place at Survivor Series.
It was announced tonight on Raw that Raw Tag Team champions The Viking Raiders will face SmackDown champions The Revival and NXT champions Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly in a non-title triple threat match at Survivor Series. It plays into the event’s theme of brand supremacy, with NXT joining Raw and SmackDown for the first time.
Viking Raiders do have a history with the Undisputed Era stable as they won their first NXT Tag Team titles by defeating Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly. The Revival are also former NXT Tag Team champions, becoming the first team to win them twice.
Another interpromotional match was announced earlier in the show, with Raw Women’s champion Becky Lynch facing NXT champion Shayna Baszler and SmackDown champion Bayley, also in a triple threat match.
Survivor Series 2019 will take place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on November 24.
The Viking Raiders win WWE Raw Tag Team titles
The Viking Raiders are the new Raw Tag Team champions.
They defeated the team of Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode on tonight’s episode of Raw. After a back and forth match, the finish came after Ivar made a comeback, tagged in Erik, who then pinned Ziggler following the Viking Experience.
After the match, the Viking Raiders cut a promo backstage saying that they are the first undefeated team to become tag team champions. They also specifically mentioned that they are the first team to win the IWGP, Ring Of Honor, NXT and now Raw Tag Team titles.
Despite this, the Viking Raiders are not undefeated, as they have lost matches both on Raw and on house shows.
The two earned a championship match after defeating Roode and Ziggler last week in a non-title match. Ziggler and Roode held the titles for 29 days, defeating Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins back at Clash of Champions on September 15.