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What's the story?
Sheamus and Cesaro celebrated their RAW Tag Team Championship win once the cameras stopped rolling last night, but former champions Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose made sure things didn't get out of hand.
In case you didn't know...
This week, both RAW and SmackDown Live are being taped in Manchester, United Kingdom. WWE is currently on tour in Europe, although this hasn't stopped the continuation of the build towards Survivor Series. For the second year in succession, the final 'Big Four' event of the year will be a RAW vs. SmackDown event, following the blue brand's ruthless invasion of the Monday show two weeks ago.
That invasion has since proven to be a one-off, until last night at least. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose defended the RAW Tag Team Championships in the main event against former champions Sheamus and Cesaro. SmackDown Superstars The New Day arrived at the arena, distracting everyone long enough to allow Sheamus to Brogue Kick the titles out of Rollins and Ambrose's hands.
Sheamus and Cesaro are your new RAW Tag Team Champions.
The heart of the matter
Once RAW went off the air, Sheamus and Cesaro continued their celebration inside the ring. The two had previously come to the ring wearing Liverpool FC shirts, a move guaranteed to rile up the vehemently anti-Mersey Manchester crowd. The European duo subsequently started a Liverpool chant, ramping up the heat even further.
Rollins and Ambrose responded to the new champions from the ring but did so in a largely respectful manner. The Shield members gave kudos to Sheamus and Cesaro on their success and ability, before transferring the praise to the British members of the WWE Universe.
The two teams did not come to blows following the show, as Rollins and Ambrose left with positive words hanging in the air.
What's next?
Sheamus and Cesaro will now take on SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions The Usos if the brothers are successful against Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin this evening. The Shield are left with nothing to do at the event, leading many to assume that the trio will do battle against The New Day on November 19.
Author's take
Moving the titles onto Sheamus and Cesaro is an interesting move, not least because the reformed Shield story seemed destined to end with Ambrose costing the duo the championships. If The Shield vs. The New Day does come to pass, it should be a fun match, to say the least.
More interestingly, Sheamus and Cesaro and The Usos are set to come full circle following their barnstorming match-within-a-match at the 2016 Survivor Series. That is going to be great.
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