Former Raw and NXT Tag Team Champions the Viking Raiders dominated in a surprise NXT 2.0 appearance!
The Viking Raiders haven’t been seen on NXT since they vacated their NXT Tag Team Championships on the May 15th, 2019 episode. The team made their way to Monday Night Raw, where they won the Raw Tag Team Championships from Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode the next October.
On the April 26th episode of NXT 2.0, however, the team made a surprise return to NXT. During a backstage segment, Roderick Strong gave a speech to his fellow Diamond Mine members about being tired of hearing excuses; he wants the team to start winning. At the behest of Strong Erik and Ivar appeared after Strong was done speaking and faced off with the Creed Brothers, who nodded in acknowledgment. The two teams will face off at NXT Spring Breakin’.
Ahead of their match with the Creeds, the Viking Raiders returned to the NXT ring tonight to face the team of Edris Enofe and Malik Blade. Before the match, Blade was doubting himself and nervous about facing the former champions, but Enofe gave him a pep talk and the two hyped each other up.
The #VikingRaiders look right at home on #WWENXT!
Can @Edris_Enofe & @MalikBladeWWE pull off a huge win against the former #WWENXT Tag Team Champions? @Erik_WWE@Ivar_WWEpic.twitter.com/PcWn1yNfpD
— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2022
The NXT crowd welcomed their former NXT Tag Team Champions with resounding “Welcome back” chants as they made their entrance. Despite their best efforts and belief in themselves, Edris Enofe and Malik Blade were no match for the Viking Raiders and Blade was pinned by Ivar in the end.
Elsewhere on NXT 2.0, an NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament was announced and will start on the May 10th episode. One of the participants will be Arianna Grace, formerly known as Bianca Carelli, who is the daughter of former Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella.
Full results from the April 26th episode of NXT 2.0 can be found here.