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Since defeating Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler back in October, The Viking Raiders haven't exactly been shy about inviting the competition. They genuinely pose a solid threat to anyone that would ever have the guts to challenge them for the RAW Tag Team Championships. When given the proper feud/fight, it would give fans the mindset of "I wonder who's going to come out on top," and not just "This is just a filler feud for something bigger, the Viking Raiders are obviously going to win this one."
We're going to go over some teams that may not only answer the open challenge, but just might dethrone the current RAW Tag Team Champions in the process, changing the landscape of the RAW tag team division for next year. So here it is, 5 tag teams that could answer The Viking Raiders' open challenge.
5) Breezango
Probably the most unlikely on this list because of their recent NXT return, this team could still have a lot to bring to the table, if they were to ever clash for the RAW Tag Team Titles. The energy that these teams bring inside the squared circle are completely polarizing and that could make for something very entertaining to watch.
Breezango wouldn't even have to win the match. Seeing them come close time after time, while keeping the crowd entertained, would get them a standing ovation by the end of the match. That's something that would make fans the ultimate winners, despite whoever leaves with the gold.
One thing's for sure, the fans would definitely get behind Breezango. Being the clear underdogs in this scenario would create a mismatch that gives fans something to cheer for. Let's face it, watching The Viking Raiders squash jobbers on RAW just isn't cutting it. They're dominant, we know that much, but they need some competition - credible threats and ultimate underdogs alike.
4) Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
Now I know what you're thinking....this wouldn't make for a very exciting match, but it definitely seems like a "WWE move". So, considering the name of this article, these guys being the team to answer the open challenge isn't entirely out of the question. After losing the RAW Tag Team Championships this past summer, Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins haven't had much success in getting anywhere near the titles again.
But this would do for some "decent" laughs seeing them trying so hard to get those RAW Tag Team Championships back. Obviously Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins would be on the losing end of this bout. The Viking Raiders could squash them in literally seconds and that could open the door for a surprise tag team return.
That unfortunately puts Hawkins and Ryder at the short end of this scenario, but let's be honest, they haven't had anything better as of late.
3) The Street Profits
There's this thing that happens sometimes when NXT tag teams get moved up to the main roster: they get lost in the shuffle. At some point achieving greatness in NXT amounts to jobbing out to "better" teams on the main roster. It happened with The Ascension, The Lucha Dragons, etc. But The Street Profits are different. They have the look, they have the energy, and they have the complete package to become RAW Tag Team Champions.
They've already challenged for the championships this past Monday night on RAW, but what if Vince McMahon would've waited to pull the trigger on this match until TLC? It would definitely make for another very entertaining bout and prove the point that The Street Profits' move up to the main roster wasn't in vain.
To do that, they could give the current RAW Tag Team Champions a definite run for their money. If they can become NXT Tag Team Champions in a Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Ladder match, they could more than likely put The Viking Raiders' RAW Tag Team Title reign in jeopardy. We can only hope that this team doesn't get lost in the shuffle, and it looks like they wont - at least not yet.
2) The OC
Even though AJ Styles most likely won't be able to recapture the United States Championship any time soon, there could be hope for Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Factions draped in gold are a thing of beauty. For example, The Shield once held the United State Championship and Tag Team Championships. More recently, The Undisputed Era have captured all the gold down in NXT. Even The OC became an all-champion trio back in July, so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that they could do it again, or at the very least, capture the RAW Tag Team Championships.
This team has absolutely nothing to prove, but it would be nice to see some underdogs that can definitely hold their own defeat overpowering figures such as The Viking Raiders. It's a far from impossible task, as Gallows and Anderson have the experience and chemistry to reclaim the titles, no matter who they have to face to get them.
1) AOP
Though they've already claimed the RAW Tag Team titles before, their run on the main roster hasn't exactly been the most memorable since splitting up with former manager Paul Ellering. Even with Drake Maverick, AOP could still use something else to give their bad-ass characters some recent credibility.
Now aligned with Seth Rollins, fans wouldn't put it past them to see this open challenge as an opportunity to reclaim the titles. Giving Seth Rollins the chance to weasel his way into a mid-card title opportunity would make them an all-champion faction. That would definitely be a sight to see.
This team answering the open challenge would make the most sense, more than any other team on this list and mainly because Seth Rollins' spotlight would rub off on them. More importantly, it would give AOP more watchable TV time than they've gotten since moving up to the main roster.
On top of that, AOP and The Viking Raiders could put on a 5-star match, giving the fans hope for RAW's Tag Team Division. Having big men that are entertaining used to be rare, but now there are people who prove otherwise, like NXT's Keith Lee. These 4 big men could do some damage in the ring. This match is literally neck and neck, so picking a winner beforehand is difficult to say the least. It's that mystery factor that would provide for second-to-none entertainment that may otherwise be used for a bathroom break.
