The Viking Raiders
Real name: Todd Smith
Height: 6’3
Weight: 293 lbs.
Date of birth: March 3, 1984
From: Lynn, Massachusetts
Pro debut: 2001
Trained by: Killer Kowalski
Finishing move: Sin City Plunge
Biography
– In his early career, Smith competed as Todd Hanson and Handsome Johnny in various northeastern promotions
– On June 25, 2004, Pretty Psycho (Handsome Johnny & Psycho) defeated The Lost Souls (Brian Buffett & Pete Mulloy) to win the CW Tag Team Titles
– On August 21, Pretty Psycho defeated The Logan Brothers (Nick & Bryan) to retain the CW Tag Team Titles
– A week later, Pretty Psycho defeated Omega Security (Tony Omega & Max Mailhot) to retain the CW Tag Team Titles
– On September 17, Pretty Psycho defeated George Caesar & Roman to retain the CW Tag Team Titles
– On October 8, Pretty Psycho again defeated George Caesar & Roman to retain the CW Tag Team Titles
– On October 29, Pretty Psycho defeated The Valedictorians (Rob Eckos & Billy Bax) to retain the CW Tag Team Titles
– On January 8, 2005, Pretty Psycho defeated The Valedictorians in a Ladder Match to regain the CW Tag Team Titles, having lost them in November
– On February 18, Pretty Psycho defeated The Logan Brothers (Bill & Bryan) to retain the CW Tag Team Titles
– On September 9, Handsome Johnny defeated Mike Kruel to win the CW Heavyweight Title
– On September 30, Johnny defeated Max Bauer to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On October 21, Johnny defeated Mike Kruel to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On November 11, Johnny defeated Josh Daniels to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On December 9, Johnny defeated Chase Del Monte to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– Later that week, Todd Hanson made an appearance on WWE Velocity, losing to Doug Basham
– On February 3, 2006, Johnny defeated Mike Kruel in a Cage Match to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On February 25, Johnny wrestled an ROH dark match, defeating Pelle Primeau
– On March 10, Johnny defeated Arch Kincaid to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On March 31, Johnny defeated Billy Kryptonite to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On April 21, Johnny defeated Luis Ortiz to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– In September 2006, Smith (under his real name) appeared on Smackdown, losing to Sylvester Terkay
– On January 12, 2007, Johnny fought CW New England Champion Fred Sampson to a double-countout
– In June 2007, Johnny returned to ROH for another dark match, teaming with Bobby Dempsey to defeat Alex Payne & Ernie Osiris
– In October 2007, Johnny wrestled a third ROH dark match, defeating Rhett Titus
– On February 16, 2008, Johnny defeated Brandon Locke to win the NECW Television Title. The belt was immediately vacated due to a disputed finish
– On June 1, Johnny defeated Nick Amaral, Davey Loomis & Chase Del Monte to win the vacant NECW Television Title
– On August 16, Johnny fought Brandon Locke to a time-limit draw to retain the NECW Television Title
– On September 20, Johnny fought Brandon Locke to another time-limit draw to retain the NECW Television Title
– On November 1, Johnny fought Locke to a double-countout to retain the NECW Television Title
– On May 1, 2010, Johnny defeated Alex Payne, Scott Levesque & CG Afi to win the NECW Iron 8 Tournament
– On June 24, 2011, Johnny defeated Brian Fury & Brian Milonas to win the CW Heavyweight Title
– On July 15, Johnny defeated Tommaso Ciampa to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– On August 12, Johnny defeated Chase Del Monte, Mikaze & Max Bauer to retain the CW Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Smith (as Johnny Hayes) defeated Brandon Locke to win the PWF Northeast Heavyweight Title
– Smith sat out most of 2012 with a back injury. He returned to action as Todd Hanson, having dropped the Handsome Johnny character
– On November 3, Hanson defeated Jason Blade & Ryan Bisbal to win the PWF Unified Heavyweight Title
– In July 2013, Hanson made his first televised ROH appearance, losing a 4-Way Match to Brian Fury
– Hanson won the 2014 ROH Top Prospect Tournament, defeating Cheeseburger, Andrew Everett & Raymond Rowe
– In February 2014, Hanson & Rowe began teaming together. Over time, the duo would become known as War Machine
– At Death Before Dishonor XII, Hanson defeated Roderick Strong
– At Glory By Honor XIII, Hanson defeated BJ Whitmer, Mark Briscoe & Moose
– At Final Battle ’14, Hanson defeated Caprice Coleman, Mark Briscoe & Jimmy Jacobs
– At Global Wars ’15, War Machine, The Briscoes (Mark & Jay) & Roderick Strong defeated The Bullet Club (AJ Styles, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)
– At Best In The World ’15, War Machine defeated C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander)
– On June 27, Hanson defeated JT Dunn to retain the XWA Heavyweight Title
– On July 19, Hanson defeated Chris Dickinson in a Cage Match to retain the XWA Heavyweight Title
– In September 2015, War Machine made their first Japanese appearances, working a short tour with the NOAH promotion
– On November 7, Hanson defeated Dalton Castle, Randy Shawn & TK O’Ryan to win the NEW King of Bethany Tournament
– At Final Battle ’15, War Machine defeated The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Michael Bennett) to win the ROH Tag Team Titles
– On January 30, 2016, Hanson defeated Brian Anthony to win the NEW Heavyweight Title
– At ROH’s 14th Anniversary Show, War Machine defeated The All Night Express (Rhett Titus & Kenny King) in a No-DQ Match to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– The next day, War Machine defeated Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Beretta) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– On March 4, Hanson defeated Dijak to retain the NEW Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Hanson defeated Jym Anderson to retain the NEW Heavyweight Title
– At Supercard of Honor X, War Machine defeated Silas Young & The Beer City Bruiser to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– On April 16, Hanson defeated Mike Bennett to retain the NEW Heavyweight Title
– On May 6, Hanson again defeated Bennett to retain the NEW Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Hanson defeated Ron Zombie to retain the NEW Heavyweight Title
– At Global Wars ’16, War Machine defeated The Briscoes (Mark & Jay) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– At War of the Worlds ’16, War Machine defeated Gedo & Kazuchika Okada to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles before losing them to The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian)
– On August 25, Hanson defeated Donovan Dijak to retain the NEW Heavyweight Title
– On November 11, War Machine defeated The Vet Club (Tim Storm & Apoc) to win the VIP Tag Team Titles
– Later that month, War Machine entered the NJPW World Tag League, beginning a recurring relationship with the promotion
– On January 13, 2017, War Machine defeated Hardcore Impact (Hardcore Craig & Pauly Thomaselli) to win the BCW Tag Team Titles
– At Sakura Genesis ’17, War Machine defeated TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At Wrestling Dontaku ’17, War Machine defeated TenKoji and The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On July 1, War Machine defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny to regain the IWGP Tag Team Titles, having lost them about 3 weeks before
– On July 7, War Machine defeated The Swords of Essex (Scott Wainwright & Will Ospreay) to win the WCPW Tag Team Titles
– Later that month, War Machine defended the WCPW Tag Team Titles against Liam Slater & Moose and The Kings of the North (Damien Corvin & Bonesaw)
– In August 2017, War Machine defended the WCPW Tag Team Titles against Jay Lethal & Mark Briscoe, Angelico & Ricochet and Die Jungen Lowen (Tarkan Aslan & Lucky Kid)
– On September 10, War Machine defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) and Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On September 16, War Machine defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny & Killer Elite Squad to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On October 2, War Machine defeated The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) to retain the WCPW Tag Team Titles
– In January 2018, War Machine signed WWE development deals
– The duo (as Raymond Rowe & Todd Smith) made their NXT in-ring debuts on March 22, defeated Adrian Jaoude & Cezar Bononi
– Now as ‘Hanson & Rowe, The War Raiders’, the duo made their NXT televised debuts on April 18, defeating The Metro Brothers (Chris & JC)
– On October 17, The War Raiders defeated NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) by DQ
– At Takeover: WarGames II, The War Raiders, Pete Dunne & Ricochet defeated The Undisputed Era (O’Reilly, Strong, Adam Cole & Bobby Fish) in the titular match
– At Takeover: Phoenix, The War Raiders defeated The Undisputed Era (O’Reilly & Strong) to win the NXT Tag Team Titles
– At Takeover: New York, The War Raiders defeated Aleister Black & Ricochet to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles
– On April 15, The War Raiders made their main roster debuts as ‘Erik (Rowe) & Ivar (Hanson), The Viking Experience’. They teamed with The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) to defeat Aleister Black, Ricochet, Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
– After much ridicule over their new name, the team became known as ‘The Viking Raiders’ on their second main roster appearance two weeks later
– At Hell In A Cell ’19, The Viking Raiders & Braun Strowman defeated The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson)
– On October 14, The Viking Raiders defeated Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode to win the Raw Tag Team Titles
– On the Survivor Series ’19 pre-show, The Viking Raiders defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) and The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
– On December 9, The Viking Raiders defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
– At TLC ’19, The Viking Raiders fought The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) to a double countout to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
– On January 6, 2020, The Viking Raiders defeated The OC & The Street Profits in a Triple Threat Match to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
– In September 2020, Ivar suffered a neck injury in a match against The Hurt Business. He would remain out of action until 2021
– Ivar would return to action and reform The Viking Raiders shortly after WrestleMania 37
—
Real name: Raymond Rowe
Height: 6’2
Weight: 258 lbs.
Date of birth: August 21, 1984
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Pro debut: May 2003
Trained by: Josh Prohibition & Lou Marconi
Finishing move: Death Rowe
Biography
– In his early career, Rowe sometimes competed as Raymond Right
– On March 21, 2004, Rowe defeated Chad Collyer to win the CAPW Heavyweight Title
– On April 18, Rowe defeated Dios Salvadorr to retain the CAPW Heavyweight Title
– On May 16, Rowe fought Bane to a double countout to retain the CAPW Heavyweight Title
– On June 13, Rowe defeated The Fever by DQ to retain the CAPW Heavyweight Title
– On May 7, 2006, The Suplex Machines (Rowe & Jason Bane) defeated QnA (Virus & The Unknown) to win the CAPW Tag Team Titles
– In June 2006, Rowe made an appearance on Smackdown, losing in short order to Mark Henry
– On June 9, The Cleveland Mafia (Rowe & J-Rocc) defeated The Burning River Brigade (Josh Prohibition & M-Dogg 20) and The Gambino Brothers Moving Company (Marshall & Mickey Gambino) to win the IWC Tag Team Titles
– On July 7, The Cleveland Mafia defeated The Gambino Brothers Moving Company to retain the IWC Tag Team Titles
– On August 5, The Cleveland Mafia defeated Team Catfish (Jason Gory & Shiima Xion) to retain the IWC Tag Team Titles
– On August 8, Rowe defeated Rogue to win the vacant RAW Title
– On September 16, The Cleveland Mafia defeated Sexual Harassment (Eric Xtasy & Justin Idol), Team Catfish (Jason Gory & Shiima Xion) and The Gambino Brothers Moving Company (Marshall & Mickey Gambino) to retain the IWC Tag Team Titles
– On December 17, Rowe won a 30-man Battle Royal to win the vacant AIW Absolute Title
– On January 25, 2007, Rowe defeated Sterling James Keenan, Michael Hutter & Vincent Nothing to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– The next day, Rowe defeated Patrick Hayes to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– On February 16, Rowe defeated Kano to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– On March 9, Rowe defeated Claudio Castagnoli to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– On March 31, Rowe defeated Michael Hutter, Sterling James Keenan & Matt Morgan to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– On April 20, Rowe fought Michael Hutter to a time-limit draw to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– A week later, Rowe defeated Patrick Hayes to retain the AIW Absolute Title
– On May 20, Rowe defeated defeated Romeo Vino to retain the AIW Absolute Title, but then lost it to Steve Corino
– On January 24, 2009, Rowe defeated Shiima Xion to win the IWC World Title, but would lose it back in his first defense
– On July 10, Team Firestorm (Rowe, Starless, The Aftermath & Patrick Hayes) defeated Team Big League (John McChesney, J-Rocc, Shane Taylor & Bill Collier) in a War Games Match. Rowe scored the pinfall to win the Firestorm Pro Title
– On August 21, Rowe defeated Patrick Hayes to retain the Firestorm Pro Title
– On October 2, Rowe defeated Shane Taylor to retain the Firestorm Pro Title
– On November 25, Rowe defeated John McChesney to retain the Firestorm Pro Title
– On December 30, Rowe defeated Necro Butcher in a Street Fight to retain the Firestorm Pro Title
– On February 5, Rowe defeated Lou Marconi to retain the Firestorm Pro Title
– On July 13, 2012, The Path of Resistance (Rowe & Jax Dane) defeated Austin Rhodes & Chaz Taylor to win the NWA Lone Star Tag Team Titles
– On August 10, The Path of Resistance defeated Austin Rhodes & Brent McKenzie to retain the NWA Lone Star Tag Team Titles
– On September 14, The Path of Resistance defeated Rudy Russo & Silky Baines to retain the NWA Lone Star Tag Team Titles
– On October 12, The Path of Resistance defeated Ken Johnson & Brent McKenzie to retain the NWA Lone Star Tag Team Titles
– On January 19, 2013, Rowe defeated Sgt Mo & ACH to win the NWA BOW Title
– On February 9, Rowe defeated Bobby Lambert & James Claxton to retain the NWA BOW Title
– On March 16, Rowe defeated Luke Hawx to retain the NWA BOW Title
– On April 20, Rowe defeated Mike Dell to win the NWA Lone Star Junior Heavyweight Title
– On May 17, Rowe defeated John McChesney to retain the NWA Lone Star Junior Heavyweight Title
– A week later, Rowe defeated Dan Manson to retain the NWA Lone Star Junior Heavyweight Title
– On June 1, Rowe made his first ROH appearance, losing to Bobby Fish. He would become a regular for the promotion later in the year
– On June 21, Rowe defeated Ricky Starks to retain the NWA Lone Star Junior Heavyweight Title
– Rowe reached the final of the 2014 ROH Top Prospect Tournament, losing to future tag partner Hanson
– In February 2014, Hanson & Rowe began teaming together. Over time, the duo would become known as War Machine
– In May 2015, Rowe won the JT Lightning Invitational Tournament, defeating Josh Prohibition, Louis Lyndon, Nick Gage, Tracy Williams & Rickey Shane Page
– At Global Wars ’15, War Machine, The Briscoes (Mark & Jay) & Roderick Strong defeated The Bullet Club (AJ Styles, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson)
– At Best In The World ’15, War Machine defeated C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander)
– In September 2015, War Machine made their first Japanese appearances, working a short tour with the NOAH promotion
– On November 6, Rowe defeated Andy Dalton to win the VIP Heavyweight Title
– At Final Battle ’15, War Machine defeated The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Michael Bennett) to win the ROH Tag Team Titles
– At ROH’s 14th Anniversary Show, War Machine defeated The All Night Express (Rhett Titus & Kenny King) in a No-DQ Match to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– The next day, War Machine defeated Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Beretta) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– At Supercard of Honor X, War Machine defeated Silas Young & The Beer City Bruiser to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– The next day, Rowe defeated Sami Callihan & Andy Dalton to win the vacant VIP Heavyweight Title
– At Global Wars ’16, War Machine defeated The Briscoes (Mark & Jay) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– At War of the Worlds ’16, War Machine defeated Gedo & Kazuchika Okada to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles before losing them to The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian)
– On June 10, Rowe defeated Pentagon Jr to retain the VIP Heavyweight Title
– On July 24, Rowe defeated Jojo Bravo to win the ACW Unified Title
– On August 28, Rowe defeated Franco D’Angelo to retain the ACW Unified Title
– On September 8, Rowe defeated Jaxon Stone to retain the VIP Heavyweight Title
– On September 18, Rowe defeated Crazy Mary Dobson to retain the ACW Unified Title
– On November 11, War Machine defeated The Vet Club (Tim Storm & Apoc) to win the VIP Tag Team Titles
– Later that month, War Machine entered the NJPW World Tag League, beginning a recurring relationship with the promotion
– On January 13, 2017, War Machine defeated Hardcore Impact (Hardcore Craig & Pauly Thomaselli) to win the BCW Tag Team Titles
– At Sakura Genesis ’17, War Machine defeated TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At Wrestling Dontaku ’17, War Machine defeated TenKoji and The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On July 1, War Machine defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny to regain the IWGP Tag Team Titles, having lost them about 3 weeks before
– On July 7, War Machine defeated The Swords of Essex (Scott Wainwright & Will Ospreay) to win the WCPW Tag Team Titles
– Later that month, War Machine defended the WCPW Tag Team Titles against Liam Slater & Moose and The Kings of the North (Damien Corvin & Bonesaw)
– In August 2017, War Machine defended the WCPW Tag Team Titles against Jay Lethal & Mark Briscoe, Angelico & Ricochet and Die Jungen Lowen (Tarkan Aslan & Lucky Kid)
– On September 10, War Machine defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) and Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On September 16, War Machine defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny & Killer Elite Squad to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On October 2, War Machine defeated The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) to retain the WCPW Tag Team Titles
– In January 2018, War Machine signed WWE development deals
– The duo (as Raymond Rowe & Todd Smith) made their NXT in-ring debuts on March 22, defeated Adrian Jaoude & Cezar Bononi
– Now as ‘Hanson & Rowe, The War Raiders’, the duo made their NXT televised debuts on April 18, defeating The Metro Brothers (Chris & JC)
– On October 17, The War Raiders defeated NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) by DQ
– At Takeover: WarGames II, The War Raiders, Pete Dunne & Ricochet defeated The Undisputed Era (O’Reilly, Strong, Adam Cole & Bobby Fish) in the titular match
– At Takeover: Phoenix, The War Raiders defeated The Undisputed Era (O’Reilly & Strong) to win the NXT Tag Team Titles
– At Takeover: New York, The War Raiders defeated Aleister Black & Ricochet to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles
– On April 15, The War Raiders made their main roster debuts as ‘Erik (Rowe) & Ivar (Hanson), The Viking Experience’. They teamed with The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) to defeat Aleister Black, Ricochet, Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
– After much ridicule over their new name, the team became known as ‘The Viking Raiders’ on their second main roster appearance two weeks later
– At Hell In A Cell ’19, The Viking Raiders & Braun Strowman defeated The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson)
– On October 14, The Viking Raiders defeated Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode to win the Raw Tag Team Titles
– On the Survivor Series ’19 pre-show, The Viking Raiders defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) and The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
– On December 9, The Viking Raiders defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
– At TLC ’19, The Viking Raiders fought The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) to a double countout to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
– On January 6, 2020, The Viking Raiders defeated The OC & The Street Profits in a Triple Threat Match to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles
– Ivar was sidelined by a neck injury in September 2020, leading to a short solo run for Erik in the 24/7 division
– Ivar would return to action shortly after WrestleMania 37, with he and Erik reforming The Viking Raiders
– In the 2021 Draft, The Viking Raiders were moved to Smackdown
