WWE Confirm Signing Of War Machine
One of the independent scene's most beloved tag teams has landed in WWE.
Jan 16, 2018
Following their announcement about Ricochet earlier today, WWE have confirmed two more additions to the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
War Machine - the tag team consisting of 'Warbeard' Hanson and Raymond Rowe - have now signed with the promotion. The pair are best known for their performances in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning tag gold in both promotions.
WWE.com
's announcement described the pair as follows:
'Weighing more than 550 pounds combined, the burly brawlers are every bit as tough as their War Machine moniker suggests. Smith & Rowe have made smash-mouth collisions their stock in trade, yet they’re more than just thunderous power; deceptively agile and expertly skilled, the pair has perfected an array of double-team moves, helping them achieve success wherever they go. With a gruff exterior that would look right at home beyond the wall in “Game of Thrones,” Smith & Rowe’s appearance alone is enough to strike fear in the hearts of opponents.'
The pair first became a tag team after meeting in the final of ROH's Top Prospect Tournament in 2014. They quickly gained popularity thanks to their blend of power, size, and surprising agility - and enjoyed a feud with the wildly popular Young Bucks.
They are two-time IWGP Tag Team Champions, the same title held by current WWE Superstars Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, and also the Steiner Brothers - as the WWE.com piece points out.
There is no word on whether the pair will debut on the main roster or in NXT, although the latter tag division also boasts the Authors of Pain and Heavy Machinery (as well as SAnitY member Killian Dain). Were they do to debut on Raw, for example, they'd certainly have a host of smaller opponents to throw around. The same could be said of SmackDown, with the notable exception of the Bludgeon Brothers.