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Erik (wrestler)
Erik (wrestler)
Erik (wrestler)
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Raymond Rowe (born August 21, 1984) is an American professional wrestler. As of January 2018, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Erik. He is in a tag team with Ivar called The War Raiders. He is a former two-time World Tag Team Champion with Ivar and are former one-time NXT Tag Team Champion.

Key Information

Rowe is best known for his work in Ring of Honor (ROH), where he and Smith (formerly Hanson), then known as War Machine are former ROH World Tag Team Champions and made appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where they are former two time IWGP Tag Team Champions, as well as having won tag team championships in various independent promotions in the U.S. and UK.

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early career (2003–2013)

[edit]

Rowe was trained by Josh Prohibition and Lou Marconi. He debuted on the independent circuit in May 2003.

On June 9, 2006, episode of Smackdown!, Rowe competed against Mark Henry in a losing effort.

Ring of Honor (2013–2017)

[edit]

Rowe made his Ring of Honor debut on June 1, 2013 in a losing effort against Bobby Fish. Following this, he returned to ROH on January 4, 2014, as part of that year's Top Prospect Tournament and defeated Kongo in a first round match. After managing to advance to the finals, Rowe ultimately lost the Tournament to Hanson. Despite this, Rowe began regularly performing for ROH following the tournament in addition to forming the tag team War Machine with Hanson on April 4, 2014.

In August, Rowe was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and was out of action for several months.[6] On March 1, 2015, Rowe made his return to ROH at the promotion's 13th Anniversary Show by assisting his partner Hanson after the World Championship main event.[7] On August 22, War Machine defeated Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) in a non-title match and afterwards challenged them to a match for their GHC Tag Team Championship, a title owned by the Japanese Pro Wrestling Noah promotion.[8] War Machine received their title shot in Japan on September 19, but were defeated by the Killer Elite Squad.[9] On December 18 at Final Battle, War Machine defeated The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett) to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship.[10] They lost the title to The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) on May 9, 2016, at War of the Worlds.[11] War Machine finished with ROH on December 16, 2017.[12]

Japan (2015–2018)

[edit]
War Machine in January 2017

On September 14, 2015, Rowe and Hanson made their Japanese debuts for Pro Wrestling Noah, teaming with Takashi Sugiura in a six-man tag team main event, where they defeated Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki).[13] This led to a match five days later, where War Machine unsuccessfully challenged Smith and Archer for the GHC Tag Team Championship.[14]

In November 2016, War Machine made their debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) by entering the 2016 World Tag League.[15] They finished the tournament on December 7 with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.[16]

On April 9, 2017, at Sakura Genesis 2017, War Machine defeated Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[17] They lost the title to Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) on June 11 at Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall,[18] regaining it in a no disqualification match on July 1 at G1 Special in USA.[19] They lost the title to Killer Elite Squad in a three-way match, also involving Guerrillas of Destiny, on September 24 at Destruction in Kobe.[20]

WWE (2018–present)

[edit]
Main article: War Raiders (professional wrestling)

On January 16, 2018, WWE announced that Rowe had signed a contract with the company and would be reporting to the WWE Performance Center.[5] On the April 11 episode of NXT, he and Hanson, now called the War Raiders, made their television debuts, attacking Heavy Machinery (Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight) and the team of Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli. On the October 17 episode of NXT, they challenged The Undisputed Era (Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong) for the NXT Tag Team Championship, but won by disqualification after Bobby Fish attacked them with a steel chair; thus, they did not win the titles.[21] The War Raiders would go on to main event NXT TakeOver: WarGames II, teaming with Ricochet and Pete Dunne against The Undisputed Era in the WarGames match with The War Raiders, Dunne and Ricochet winning the match. At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, Rowe and Hanson defeated The Undisputed Era to win the NXT Tag Team Championship. They successfully defended their tag team championships at NXT TakeOver: New York against the team of Ricochet and Aleister Black. After having successful defenses with the NXT Tag Titles, both Rowe and Hanson would relinquish the titles after both men believed no team in NXT could beat them for the titles.

During the Superstar Shakeup event, Rowe and his partner Hanson would debut on Raw and be renamed Ivar and Erik. They also would be repackaged with the new name "The Viking Experience". The following week the team was renamed to The Viking Raiders. On the October 14, 2019, episode of Monday Night Raw Erik would capture the Raw Tag Team championships alongside his partner Ivar as "The Viking Raiders" by defeating the team of Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. At TLC, The Viking Raiders would host an open challenge for the Raw Tag Titles and The O.C would answer the challenge, but the match would end in a double countout. Erik and Ivar would lose the titles to the team of Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy on the January 20, 2020, episode of Monday Night Raw after their reign lasted for 98 days. During the summer, The Viking Raiders would feud with the Street Profits which would lead to a match between the two teams at Backlash At the event, the match had never started because both teams would begin fighting in the parking lot and eventually team up as "the Viking Profits" to take out Akira Tozawa and his Ninja's.[22] On September 7 episode Raw, The Viking Raiders teamed up with Apollo Crews and Ricochet in an eight-man tag team match against The Hurt Business in a losing effort, where Cedric Alexander scored the pinfall over Ricochet. The match was forced to an abrupt ending due to Ivar suffering a legitimate cervical injury during the match.[23][24] On October 7, Erik would announce that he would be out of action after having surgery on his bicep.[25]

On the April 13 episode of Raw, Erik along with Ivar, would return and defeat the team of Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. On the June 7 episode of Raw, The Viking Raiders would win a battle royal to determine to #1 contenders for the Raw Tag Titles. It would be announced that The Viking Raiders would face the Raw Tag Team champions, AJ Styles and Omos at Money In The Bank.[26][27] At the event, The Viking Raiders would be unsuccessful, as Styles and Omos would retain their titles.[28] On the July 19 episode of Raw, The Viking Raiders, alongside Riddle, would defeat the team of John Morrison, AJ Styles and Omos. Later that night, it would be announced that The Viking Raiders would face AJ Styles and Omos for the Raw Tag Titles in a rematch on next weeks episode of Raw.[29] On the July 27 episode of Raw, The Viking Raiders would fail to win the Raw Tag Titles, as Styles and Omos retained.[30]

As part of the 2021 Draft, both Erik and Ivar were drafted to the SmackDown brand.[31][32] As part of the 2023 WWE Draft, both Erik and Ivar were drafted to the Raw brand.[33] In October 2023, it was announced that Erik was injured and would not be appearing for the foreseeable future.[34] On November 2, 2023, Erik announced on Instagram that he had undergone successful neck fusion surgery.[35] After a year-long hiatus Erik returned from injury alongside Ivar In October 2024, cryptic messages began airing on Raw featuring Nordic characters that translate to "WAR" to promote the team's return. On the October 14th episode of RAW, Ivar and Erik returned defeating Alpha Academy reverting back to their War Raiders name and gimmick. Two weeks later they defeated the LWO and The New Day in a Triple Threat Tag Team match to become No'1 Contenders to the World Tag Team Championships held by The Judgment Day's Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh. On the November 25 episode of Raw, they failed to win the titles from Bálor and McDonagh after interference from Dominik Mysterio and Carlito.[36] On the December 16 episode of Raw, The War Raiders defeated Bálor and McDonagh to become two-time Word Tag Team Champions.[37]

Personal life

[edit]

Rowe, along with his teammate Todd Smith, are adherents to the straight edge lifestyle.[38]

During his time with WWE, Rowe began dating fellow wrestler Sarah Bridges (then known as Sarah Logan and later Valhalla). The pair were married on December 21, 2018, in a Viking themed wedding.[39] On February 9, 2021, Bridges and Rowe welcomed a son named Raymond Cash Rowe.[40][41] On April 26, 2024, Rowe announced his wife's second pregnancy.[42] On November 28, 2024, Bridges and Rowe welcomed a second son.

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]
Rowe (right) and Hanson as the IWGP Tag Team Champions
Rowe and Hanson as NXT Tag Team Champions

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Erik (wrestler)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Erik is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand as one half of the tag team The War Raiders (formerly known as The Viking Raiders) alongside Ivar. Born Raymond Rowe on August 21, 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio, he is billed at a height of 6 feet 1 inch and a weight of 247 pounds. Rowe began his professional wrestling career in 2003 on the independent circuit, initially competing under his real name and later as Ray Rowe. He gained prominence in Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2013 onward as part of the tag team War Machine with partner Hanson (now Ivar), where they captured the ROH World Tag Team Championship twice, first on December 18, 2015, by defeating The Kingdom at Final Battle, and again on April 1, 2017, by defeating The Briscoe Brothers at Supercard of Honor XI. The duo also achieved international success by winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in April 2017. In January 2018, Rowe and Hanson signed with WWE and were reintroduced in NXT as The War Raiders, quickly establishing themselves as dominant forces by winning the NXT Tag Team Championship on January 26, 2019, at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix against The Undisputed Era. They made their main roster debut on the April 15, 2019, episode of Raw, rebranded as The Viking Raiders to emphasize their Norse warrior gimmick. The team captured the Raw Tag Team Championship (later unified as the World Tag Team Championship) for the first time on October 14, 2019, defeating Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. Throughout their WWE tenure, The Viking Raiders/War Raiders have been recognized for their hard-hitting, power-based style, with signature moves like the Viking Experience (a seated senton from the top rope by Ivar) and Rowe's Fallout (a spinning ). They reclaimed tag team gold in December 2024 by defeating to become World Tag Team Champions for a second reign. As of November 2025, Erik remains an active competitor despite undergoing neck fusion surgery in November 2023 following an , marking a resilient career spanning over two decades.

Early life

Childhood and education

Raymond Rowe was born on August 21, 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio. Little is publicly known about Rowe's family background or early education, as he has maintained a low profile regarding his pre-professional life.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2003–2013)

Rowe began training for a professional wrestling career in 2003 under Josh Prohibition and Lou Marconi at a facility in Cleveland, Ohio, where he developed the fundamentals of his in-ring style. Drawing from his background in physical conditioning, he adopted a powerhouse approach emphasizing brawling and explosive suplexes, which became hallmarks of his performances. His military discipline further enhanced the intensity he brought to matches, allowing him to endure grueling schedules early on. He made his professional debut on May 18, 2003, for Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling (CAPW), competing as Raymond Rowe in a losing six-man match alongside Ironman and Dick Trimmins against BasketNazi, , and The Canadian Bad Boy. Quickly establishing himself in the Midwestern independent scene, Rowe secured the CAPW Heavyweight Championship on March 21, 2004. Later that year, he transitioned into competition, partnering with Jason Bane as the Suplex Machines to win the CAPW Championship on May 7, 2006, in a match highlighting their coordinated power offense. Expanding beyond CAPW, Rowe worked for several key independent promotions, including Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), where he teamed with trainer Josh Prohibition in a 2005 tournament semifinal loss to The Unknown and , gaining exposure in competitive environments. He also competed for the (IWC), facing off in high-stakes bouts that built his reputation for resilience, and made appearances in during 2004. Additionally, Rowe toured with NWA-affiliated groups such as NWA Houston and NWA Battle of the Belts, accumulating experience through multi-match cards and regional events. Over the decade, Rowe focused on singles competition under names like Raymond Right and later Ray Rowe, refining his powerhouse persona through consistent booking on the indie circuit. This period allowed him to participate in tours across the Midwest and Northeast, where he engaged in notable feuds centered on his unyielding aggression, such as rivalries in CAPW that solidified his status as a top draw before shifting toward collaborative dynamics.

Ring of Honor (2013–2017)

Rowe made his debut on June 1, 2013, competing in a losing effort against at a television taping in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the following months, he appeared sporadically as a singles competitor, drawing on his experience to establish a reputation for hard-hitting, power-based wrestling. By early 2014, Rowe began transitioning toward competition, particularly after crossing paths with fellow powerhouse Hanson during ROH events. In March 2014, Hanson defeated in the final of the ROH Top Prospect Tournament, a victory that propelled their partnership forward as the duo adopted the name . Their chemistry as a team quickly elevated them within ROH's tag division, characterized by Rowe's explosive —such as the Fall from Grace spinning —and Hanson's complementary brute force, creating a dynamic of relentless aggression. 's early momentum included victories over teams like The Decade and The House of Truth, positioning them as contenders in ROH's competitive landscape. On April 11, 2016, both and Hanson signed full-time contracts with ROH, solidifying their status as cornerstone performers. War Machine engaged in high-profile feuds that highlighted their rise, including intense rivalries with The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett), whom they faced in multiple disqualification finishes and brawls during mid-2015 tours, often escalating into chaotic multi-man matches. Their confrontations with the Bullet Club contingent in ROH—particularly Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson—intensified around the Global Wars events, culminating in a marquee 10-man tag at Final Battle 2015 on December 18, where War Machine contributed to ROH All-Stars defeating Bullet Club members in a defining interpromotional clash. These storylines showcased War Machine's role as ROH's premier brawling team, with Rowe's individual contributions—emphasizing suplexes and strikes—adding a layer of technical brutality to their overall dominance. The pinnacle of War Machine's ROH tenure came at Final Battle 2015, where they captured the ROH World Tag Team Championship from The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett) in the main event, ending the champions' reign with their signature Fallout combination move. As champions, they made several defenses throughout 2016, including a hard-fought victory over The Briscoe Brothers at Global Wars in May, solidifying their status as workhorses of the division. However, their reign ended on May 9, 2016, when The Addiction reclaimed the titles at the same Global Wars event via a roll-up after interference. War Machine continued as top contenders into 2017, feuding with teams like The Motor City Machine Guns and achieving a symbolic redemption win over at 2017 on December 15, marking their final major ROH appearance as a unit. This match underscored Rowe's pivotal role in the team's power-oriented style, but with contracts expiring and external opportunities emerging, War Machine departed ROH shortly thereafter, leaving a legacy of intense, fan-favorite warfare.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–2018)

In late 2016, —composed of Raymond Rowe and Hanson—debuted for (NJPW) through the established partnership with , where the team had already established itself as ROH World Tag Team Champions. Their first matches occurred during the World Tag League tournament in November and December, placing them in Block A against prominent Japanese teams like G.B.H. ( and ) and ( and ). The duo secured three victories in the round-robin format, earning 6 points and gaining attention for their hard-hitting, power-oriented style that resonated with Japanese audiences. Following their tournament performance, positioned themselves as title contenders in early 2017 by defeating (Matt and Nick Jackson) in a non-title match on February 20 during the Honor Rising: Japan event, a co-promoted show with ROH. This victory propelled them toward the , which they captured for the first time on April 9 at by overcoming long-reigning champions TenKoji ( and ) in Tokyo's Ryogoku Hall. Their 63-day reign included defenses against teams like Guerrillas of Destiny ( and ), showcasing their aggressive offense before losing the titles to the same Bullet Club duo on June 11 at . War Machine regained the IWGP Tag Team Championship on July 2 at the G1 Special in the U.S. event in , defeating Guerrillas of Destiny in a no-disqualification match that highlighted their resilience and brawling prowess. During this 85-day second reign, they defended the belts against challengers including members EVIL and SANADA in multi-team bouts and participated in high-profile tours that further elevated their status as fan favorites in . The team made their Wrestle Kingdom appearance on January 4, 2018, at in , competing in a gauntlet match for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Championship alongside against units like and , though they did not capture the titles. Their NJPW run concluded shortly after, with final appearances at New Year's Dash on January 5, 2018, marking the end of their international exposure that had honed their war-themed presentation through intense, physically demanding encounters.

WWE (2018–2025)

In January 2018, Erik, along with his tag team partner Ivar (formerly Hanson), signed with and reported to the NXT brand, where they debuted as the War Raiders at : New Orleans in April 2018 by defeating to capture the . Their NXT run established them as dominant forces, highlighted by a successful title defense against Moustache Mountain on the February 27, 2019, episode of NXT, before vacating the titles upon transitioning to the main roster. The War Raiders received their main roster call-up in April 2019, debuting on Raw as The Viking Experience in an eight-man tag match alongside The Revival against , , and . Shortly after, they rebranded to The Viking Raiders to better align with their Norse warrior , which emphasized their aggressive, battle-hardened style honed from prior international experience. The duo quickly rose in the tag division, winning the Raw Championship for the first time on October 14, 2019, by defeating in the main event of Raw. They defended the titles against teams like and The New Day before losing them to Buddy Murphy and Cesaro at TLC in December 2019, marking their inaugural main roster reign that solidified their credibility as top contenders. Throughout 2020, The Viking Raiders engaged in high-profile feuds, most notably a competitive rivalry with over the Raw Tag Team Championship, featuring unique segments like games and axe-throwing contests that showcased their athleticism and built tension leading to a title match at Backlash, where retained. The team also clashed with in multi-team matches, including a fatal four-way at that highlighted their resilience amid the event's unique setup. By late 2024, after a period of injuries, they reclaimed the now-renamed World Tag Team Championship on December 16, 2024, defeating The Judgment Day's and on Raw, embarking on a 124-day reign that included defenses against teams like The Creed Brothers. This successful run culminated at WrestleMania 41 on April 19, , where The Viking Raiders defended the World Tag Team Championship against in a hard-fought match on Night 1, ultimately losing the titles after a intense sequence involving Kingston's Trouble in Paradise, ending their second main roster reign. The loss stemmed from a heated feud with that had simmered since early , involving promos and non-title clashes that positioned the Raiders as resilient challengers seeking to reclaim their spot. Following WrestleMania, the team reverted to the War Raiders moniker to emphasize their original war-themed persona, signaling a fresh push on the Raw brand with victories over midcard teams like Los Americanos and members in subsequent months. Erik's WWE tenure was interrupted by significant injuries, including a fusion surgery in late 2023 to address chronic issues from prior impacts, which sidelined him until his return to in-ring action in mid-2024 alongside Ivar. The procedure allowed for a gradual comeback, with Erik rejoining competition by early 2024 to support their championship pursuits. In October 2025, Erik took a brief absence from Raw episodes, including the October 20 in Sacramento, due to a pre-scheduled vacation, which did not impact the team's momentum as Ivar competed in solo segments. The Viking gimmick evolved with the addition of Valhalla (Sarah Logan) as their mystical seer and manager in 2023, enhancing their otherworldly aura during entrances and storylines on Raw, though she departed in June 2025 when her contract expired without renewal. As of November 2025, The War Raiders remain active on the Raw brand, competing in high-stakes matches such as a November 3 clash against and positioning for another title opportunity against The New Day, with reports indicating potential singles pushes for Erik to capitalize on his recovery and veteran presence.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Rowe, whose real name is Raymond Rowe, met Sarah Bridges—professionally known as Sarah Logan and later Valhalla—on the independent wrestling circuit, where they began dating before joining WWE. The couple announced their engagement in October 2017 and married on December 21, 2018, in a Viking-themed wedding ceremony attended by numerous wrestling peers. Rowe and Bridges share two sons. Their first child, Raymond Cash Rowe, was born on February 8, 2021, following a 44-hour labor. Their second son, Rowe, was born on November 28, 2024. The pair's relationship, rooted in shared wrestling experiences, has included joint appearances that emphasize their mutual Viking heritage. Their careers have offered the stability to nurture family life amid professional commitments.

Health and injuries

Throughout his professional wrestling career, Erik has faced several significant injuries that have tested his physical limits and required extensive rehabilitation. In September 2023, he sustained a severe neck injury during a WWE match, leading to a C6/C7 cervical fusion surgery on November 2, 2023. This procedure addressed damage to his vertebrae, sidelining him for nearly a year as he focused on recovery. Erik returned to in-ring action on October 14, 2024, teaming with Ivar as the War Raiders in their first match since the injury. Prior to the neck issue, Erik underwent arm surgery in October 2020 to remove a surgical screw protruding into his muscle from a previous , which kept him out of action for several months. In 2022, a foot injury further interrupted his run, requiring time away from competition. Earlier in his career, a near-fatal accident in August 2014 resulted in multiple fractures, including his left , nose, and injuries above his left , forcing him out for several months. These incidents, while not involving reported concussions, highlight the cumulative strain of high-impact wrestling on his body. Erik's rehabilitation processes have emphasized innovative treatments to support long-term health. Following his 2023 neck surgery, he and his wife, , pursued in to accelerate healing and reduce inflammation, aiding his gradual return to training. Family support has played a key role during these periods, with providing emotional backing throughout his recoveries. His approach to health draws on a disciplined honed through years in wrestling, prioritizing structured rehab and cautious progression to mitigate future risks, including considerations for post-career physical therapy to manage chronic effects. As of late 2025, Erik has not reported major new injuries, with a brief October absence attributed to scheduled time off rather than health concerns.

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling championships

Erik, alongside his longtime tag team partner Hanson (later known as Ivar), has achieved significant success in professional wrestling's tag team division across multiple promotions, capturing several prestigious titles that highlight their powerhouse style and dominance. Their championship accomplishments began on the independent circuit and extended through major promotions like (ROH), (NJPW), and , where they transitioned from War Machine to the War Raiders and eventually the Viking Raiders. These reigns often featured intense defenses against top teams, solidifying their reputation as one of the most formidable duos in the industry. In ROH, War Machine captured the ROH World Tag Team Championship once, marking a pivotal moment in their ascent. They won the titles on December 18, 2015, at Final Battle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, defeating The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Michael Bennett) in a hard-fought match that showcased their raw power and suplex-heavy offense. The reign lasted 143 days, ending on May 9, 2016, at Global Wars when they lost to The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian). During this period, they successfully defended the championships against notable challengers, including All Night Express (Kenny King and Rhett Titus) on ROH television and The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) in non-title bouts that built their momentum. This victory established War Machine as ROH's heaviest champions and a cornerstone of the tag division. War Machine's international breakthrough came in NJPW, where they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship once across two reigns, though often referenced as a single impactful run due to their consecutive challenges against elite competition. Their first reign began on April 9, 2017, at Sakura Genesis in Tokyo, defeating Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) after a series of grueling exchanges. This 63-day tenure ended on June 11, 2017, at Dominion 6.11 against Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa). They reclaimed the titles on July 1, 2017, at G1 Special in USA in Long Beach, California, in a rematch with Guerrillas of Destiny, holding them for 85 days until losing again to the same team on September 24, 2017, at Destruction in Kobe. Key defenses included victories over local Japanese teams like Tomoaki Honma and Hiro Saito, emphasizing their adaptability in NJPW's strong-style environment. These accomplishments made them the first American team to win the IWGP Tag Team titles in the U.S., bridging ROH and NJPW through their shared talent exchange. Upon signing with WWE in 2018, the duo debuted as the War Raiders on NXT and quickly pursued tag team gold. They won the NXT Tag Team Championship on January 26, 2019, at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, overcoming Undisputed ERA (Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong) in a high-stakes match that ended the latter's dominant reign. The 69-day reign concluded on April 5, 2019, at NXT TakeOver: New York, where they dropped the titles to Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) in a fast-paced encounter. Although brief, this run included defenses such as against Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch on NXT television, establishing their Viking-inspired personas and setting the stage for their main roster call-up. No further NXT pursuits resulted in additional wins during their developmental tenure. On the main roster, rebranded as the Viking Raiders, they captured the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship (later renamed World Tag Team Championship in 2024) twice, each reign featuring marquee defenses and contributing to the division's revival. Their first reign started on October 14, 2019, on Raw, defeating ; it lasted 98 days, ending on January 20, 2020, on Raw against and Buddy Murphy. Defenses included triumphs over teams like (Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows) via countout at TLC. Their second and most recent reign commenced on December 16, 2024, on Raw, defeating ( and ), holding the titles for 124 days until dropping them to (Big E and ) on April 19, 2025, at 41 Night 1 in a blockbuster tag title clash that ended The New Day's WrestleMania drought. During this extended tenure, they defended against Dominik Mysterio and , as well as other contenders like The New Day in non-title previews, underscoring their veteran status and physicality even after years of wear.
ChampionshipReignsDate WonLocation/EventPartnerReign LengthKey Defenses/Loss
1December 18, 2015Philadelphia, PA ()Hanson143 daysDef. All Night Express; lost to (Global Wars)
2April 9, 2017 (1st); July 1, 2017 (2nd)Tokyo, Japan (); Long Beach, CA (G1 Special in USA)Hanson63 days; 85 daysDef. local teams; lost both to Guerrillas of Destiny
1January 26, 2019Phoenix, AZ (: Phoenix)Ivar69 daysDef. & ; lost to Street Profits (: New York)
WWE Raw/World Tag Team Championship2October 14, 2019 (1st); December 16, 2024 (2nd)Various (Raw episodes); Las Vegas, NV ( 41 for loss)Ivar98 days; 124 daysDef. ; lost to & Buddy Murphy (Raw), The New Day ( 41)

Other accomplishments

As War Machine, Erik and partner Ivar participated in the 2016 ROH Tag Wars tournament, competing in the first round three-way match against and The Beer City Bruiser as well as and , but were eliminated from contention. War Machine also competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's 2016 World Tag League, debuting in the promotion as part of Block A and finishing with four wins and three losses for eight points, highlighted by victories over teams like David Finlay and . The duo returned for the 2017 World Tag League in Block B, recording five wins and four losses to earn ten points, including notable triumphs against and as well as and . Upon joining WWE's main roster in 2019 as The Viking Experience, Erik and Ivar achieved their first victory on the episode of Raw by defeating Raw Tag Team Champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins, Aleister Black and , and The Revival in a fatal four-way . Following a name change to The Viking Raiders and a period sidelined by injuries, the team made an emotional return on the October 14, 2024, episode of Raw, defeating Otis and of in the first round of a .

References

  1. https://www.wwe.com/superstars/erik
  2. https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/26611014/wwe-profile-page-erik
  3. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2725&name=Erik
  4. https://puroresusystem.fandom.com/wiki/War_Machine
  5. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/roh/roh-world-tag-team-championship
  6. https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/19767098/njpw-american-exports-war-machine-taking-new-japan-pro-wrestling-storm
  7. https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/raw-tag-team-championship
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u6uWrVLKiY
  9. https://itrwrestling.com/bio/erik/
  10. https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2023/11/2/23943342/wwe-viking-raiders-erik-neck-fusion-surgery-c6-c7-vertebrae-x-ray-rowe-ivar-singles-push-injury-raw
  11. https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=4419
  12. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Erik
  13. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2725
  14. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4827796/bio/
  15. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/raymond-rowe/
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  17. https://insidepulse.com/2004/12/12/30051/
  18. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/erik-3781.html
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  20. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/war-machine/
  21. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/05/15/roh-new-japan-deliver-a-wild-night-in-toronto/
  22. https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/roh/roh-t.html
  23. https://www.pwinsider.com/article/101932/spoilers-ring-of-honornew-japan-war-of-the-worlds-tour-in-toronto-tv-taping-live-report.html
  24. https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2017/12/15/war-machines-hanson-promises-revenge-at-final-battle/
  25. https://www.pwinsider.com/article/114289/three-new-wwe-signings-expected-in-new-year.html
  26. https://www.njpw1972.com/card_result/o74952
  27. https://www.njpw1972.com/card_result/o5190
  28. https://www.njpw1972.com/champions/iwgp-2tag
  29. https://www.njpw1972.com/o10943
  30. https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/njpw-wrestle-kingdom-12-card-matches-start-time-date-ppv-price-wrestlers/
  31. https://progresswrestling.com/fighter/war-machine/
  32. https://www.wwe.com/videos/war-raiders-vs-moustache-mountain-nxt-tag-team-championship-match-feb-27-2019
  33. https://www.newsweek.com/viking-experience-war-raiders-1397494
  34. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-10-14/article/viking-raiders-win-raw-tag-team-championships
  35. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25184406-new-day-beat-war-raiders-win-wwe-tag-titles-wrestlemania-41-after-heel-turn
  36. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2025-05-12/article/war-raiders-american-made
  37. https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2025/6/2/24441890/sarah-logan-wwe-contract-not-being-renewed-released-cut-valhalla-viking-raiders-war-retiring
  38. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2025-05-26/article/new-day-war-raiders-creeds
  39. https://whatculture.com/wwe/10-times-wwe-fired-wrestlers-who-were-dating-wrestlers?page=6
  40. https://411mania.com/wrestling/news-sarah-logan-engaged/
  41. https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/sarah-logan-raymond-rowe-married/
  42. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2812003-wwe-superstars-sarah-logan-raymond-rowe-get-married-in-viking-themed-wedding
  43. https://www.wwe.com/article/erik-and-sarah-logan-welcome-their-first-child
  44. http://www.oklafan.com/news/view/10476/
  45. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/erik-and-sarah-logan-valhalla-welcome-second-child-world/
  46. https://www.ringsidenews.com/wwes-erik-sarah-logan-welcome-baby-no-2/
  47. https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/did-you-know-sarah-logan-of-the-riott-squad-married-another-wrestler/article_6494cbae-15a5-11e9-99be-ef0df08de280.html
  48. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1436524/erik-wwe-viking-raiders-announces-undergone-neck-fusion-surgery/
  49. https://411mania.com/wrestling/erik-viking-raiders-fusion-surgery/
  50. https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/wwe/wwe-raw-the-war-raiders-erik-and-ivar-make-wwe-return
  51. https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/177040-wwe-superstar-erik-of-the-viking-raiders-undergoes-surgery-to-repair-his-arm/
  52. https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2024/12/17/24323252/war-raiders-get-emotional-end-5-year-title-drought-wwe-raw-tag-team-championship
  53. https://prowrestlingmidsouth.com/2014/08/14/get-well-soon-raymond-rowe/
  54. https://www.sescoops.com/news/wwe/erik-of-viking-raiders-speaks-on-undergoing-stem-cell-therapy-during-wwe-injury-hiatus/
  55. https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/11/01/erik-of-the-viking-raiders-undergoes-c6-c7-neck-fusion-surgery/
  56. https://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/96014/Reason-Behind-Xavier-Woods-And-Eriks-WWE-Raw-Absence/
  57. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/njpw/iwgp-tag-team-championship
  58. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/war-machine-capture-iwgp-tag-titles-njpw-g1-special
  59. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/wwe/nxt-tag-team-championship
  60. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2816406-war-raiders-beat-undisputed-era-win-tag-team-title-at-wwe-nxt-takeover-phoenix
  61. https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/17228433/wwe-raw-tag-team-championship-history
  62. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/41-saturday/war-raiders-vs-new-day
  63. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=149483
  64. https://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2017/12/10/njpw-world-tag-league-2017-night-18-results-review/
  65. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-04-15/article/viking-experience-debut
  66. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1688244/erik-ivar-return-wwe-raw-war-raiders-win-first-round-tag-tournament-match/
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