The Usos’ SmackDown Tag Team Title reign could be about to face its biggest test.
Although it could be argued that the pair have faced more accomplished teams, but with doubts over Jey Usos’ status in The Bloodline, there might never be a better time to face them.
That unlikely team of Braun Strowman and Ricochet barely made it into the tag team tournament, but they were determined to take their chance. By contrast, Imperium have been teaming together for years, and have a history of winning tag team gold, capturing the NXT Titles twice.
The bout saw Imperium attempting to ground the high-flying Ricochet and keep Strowman out of the action. But the turning point seemed to come when after a clash with Ricochet, Gunther was banished from ringside by the referee.
The end of the match came after Strowman finally got the hottest of hot tags. The former World Champion delivered a Monster Bomb to Ludwig Kaiser before Ricochet hit a Senton Bomb from his shoulders onto his rival to grab the win.
It's the finals of the #TagTeamTournament and these men are willing to do whatever it takes to get their shot at the #SmackDown Tag Team Titles! 🙌
Who will earn the right to challenge @WWEUsos? #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/5FXM6Y92Tn
— WWE (@WWE) February 4, 2023
Imperium had advanced to the finals after defeating the Brawling Brutes and Legado Del Fantasma while Braun Strowman & Ricochet were late additions to the semi-finals after Drew McIntyre and Sheamus were taken out by the Viking Raiders.
After being handed a last-minute entry into the tournament Ricochet and Braun Strowman defeated Hit Row to book their date with Imperium.
How Long Have The Usos Been Champions?
The Usos have held the SmackDown Tag Team Titles for almost 570 days making them the longest-reigning Tag Team Champions in WWE history. The brothers added the Raw Titles to their collection back in May 2022.
In recent weeks it appears that WWE are splitting the currently unified Tag Team Titles, as The Usos defended only the Raw Championships against the Judgment Day on January 23rd.