Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, clearly more familiar with surviving than actually defending titles, managed to retain their WWE World Tag Team Championship against the Viking Raiders on “WWE Raw.” Despite only their second defense in 155 days (do these belts have a vacation policy?), the champs barely escaped with the titles thanks to a heaping dose of Judgment Day interference and a roll-up that was sneakier than a referee’s “accidental” slow count.
The Viking Raiders, fresh off a four-match winning streak since their October return, looked primed to send Balor and McDonagh back to the drawing board. Erik and Ivar dominated early until Balor and McDonagh used their tag team strategy: isolation, desperation, and possibly a magic eight ball predicting when distractions would work best.
Erik survived long enough to make the hot tag to Ivar, and things got very Viking, very quickly. Dominik Mysterio and Carlito stormed the ramp to “help” their Judgment Day buddies, but instead got flattened by a flying Viking. Cue the “how does gravity even work?!” chants from the crowd.
The War Raiders hit their devastating War Machine finisher on McDonagh, but Mysterio saved the day by placing McDonagh’s foot on the ropes like a true meddling villain. In the final moments, Ivar climbed the ropes for a breathtaking top-rope maneuver, only to be tripped by Balor using the world’s most perfectly timed distraction. McDonagh capitalized with a roll-up pin that could rival a payday loan for shadiness, ensuring Judgment Day slinked away still champs.
Survivor Series looms this Saturday, and while Judgment Day is still draped in gold, it’s clear their reign is built on chaos, teamwork, and some serious rope-grabbing finesse.