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What’s the story?
Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley have not been having a lot of luck in the SmackDown LIVE tag team division recently with the Hype Bros picking up a string of frustrating losses. The pair have both been visibly frustrated with each other, leading to rumours of a breakup. Cageside Seats now think the pair will part ways at Hell In A Cell.
In case you didn't know ...
Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley first became a tag team when Ryder was brought down to NXT in 2015 forming an alliance together and naming themselves the Hype Bros. They tagged in NXT until Rawley was called up in the WWE draft in 2016.
They've been around on SmackDown LIVE since then but an injury to Ryder seemed to derail any plans for a push and after he returned they've lost almost all of their major opportunities to earn a tag team title shot.
This has led to the pair getting more and more frustrated at each other in recent weeks after they failed to earn a title shot in June. On the September 12th SmackDown LIVE, Ryder stormed off following a loss to Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable and on the September 26th SmackDown LIVE, Mojo Rawley cost the team a win against the Usos when he accidentally pushed Ryder to the outside during an in-ring argument.
The heart of the matter
The Hype Bros have an opportunity to put all of that behind them on the pre-show for the upcoming SmackDown LIVE pay-per-view, Hell In a Cell, when they take on the newly formed tag-team of Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. The match was formed after an interview with Benjamin and Gable was interrupted by the Hype Bros.
However, the current rumours that are circulating are suggesting that this probably won't be when the Hype Bros turn things around and get back together as a tag team, but rather when they reach their breaking point and the WWE pulls the trigger on finally disbanding them.
What's Next?
We'll have to wait until Hell In A Cell to see if the Hype Bros really do turn on each other or if the WWE have an unexpected swerve planned. For example, we could be in store for a plain old simple heel turn for Ryder and Rawley with them both becoming bad guys.
But if they do go for breaking the tag team up let's not forget that Mojo Rawley is the current Andre the Giant Battle Royale winner, and also one of the few people on SmackDown LIVE to boast a clean win over current champion Jinder Mahal. So there's a chance that the WWE has a singles plan for Mojo.
Author's take
I don't think there's anywhere for the Hype Bros to go as a tag team when they've been surpassed by the Fashion Police, The Usos and The New Day, even if they do turn heel or even if they change their gimmick so I think breaking them up is the right way to go.
However, I don't really see a massive singles future for either Mojo Rawley or Zack Ryder so It'll be interesting to see if WWE does have a plan for these two wrestlers creatively or whether it's just a case of cutting their losses.
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