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Erik (wrestler)

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"Raymond Rowe" and "Ray Rowe" redirect here. For other people, see Raymond Rowe (disambiguation).

Erik
Erik in 2017
Birth nameRaymond Rowe
Born (1984-08-21) August 21, 1984 (age 40)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2018)​
Children1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Erik
Raymond Right[1]
Ray Rowe[1]
Raymond Rowe[1]
Rowe [1]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2][3]
Billed weight247 lb (112 kg)[2][3]
Billed fromCleveland, Ohio
Trained byJosh Prohibition
Lou Marconi[4]
WWE Performance Center[5]
DebutMay 2003[4]

Raymond Rowe Jr. (born August 21, 1984) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Erik. He performs in a tag team with Todd Smith (best known as Ivar) called The War Raiders, managed by his real-life wife, who performs as Valhalla. 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 across the USA and England.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (2003–2013)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Main article: The Viking Raiders

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 beome No'1 Contenders to the World Tag Team Championships held by The Judgment Day's Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh.

Personal life

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Rowe, along with his teammate Todd Smith, are adherents to the straight edge lifestyle.[36]

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.[37] On February 9, 2021, Bridges and Rowe welcomed a son named Raymond Cash Rowe.,[38][39] on April 26, 2024, his wife Rowe, announced her second pregnancy.[40]

Championships and accomplishments

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "OWW profile". Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Rowe". WWE.
  3. ^ a b "Raymond Rowe". NJPW.
  4. ^ a b "Erik « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "WWE Performance-Center signs War Machine". WWE. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  6. ^ "ROH STAR INJURED IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "COMPLETE ROH 13TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW REPORT: JAY BRISCOE DEFENDS THE TITLE AGAINST THREE TOP CHALLENGERS, SAMOA JOE COMES HOME, ALBERTO EL PATRON GETS HIS SHOT AT THE TV TITLE, THE BUCKS AND REDRAGON RENEW THEIR FEUD, AND MUCH MORE | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Ring of Honor tag team heading to Pro Wrestling Noah". August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. ^ "Great Voyage 2015 in Osaka". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Meltzer, Dave (December 18, 2015). "ROH Final Battle 2015 live results: Jay Lethal vs. AJ Styles, Roderick Strong vs. Bobby Fish". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  11. ^ Johnson, Mike (May 9, 2016). "Bullet Club reigns supreme: ROH War of the Worlds tour coverage from Dearborn, Michigan". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  12. ^ Johnson, Mike (December 19, 2017). "Three new signings expected in new year". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  13. ^ Shiny Navig.2015～第9回日テレG+杯争奪ジュニア・ヘビー級タッグリーグ戦～. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Great Voyage 2015 in Osaka". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  15. ^ 『World Tag』“初出場”外国人チーム決定!! ROHから“凶獣”ウォー・マシンが参戦！WLWからブライアン・ブレーカー＆リーランド・レイスもエントリー！【WT16】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). November 4, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  16. ^ 戦国炎舞 -Kizna- Presents World Tag League 2016. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (April 8, 2017). "NJPW Sakura Genesis live results: Okada vs. Shibata". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Rose, Bryan (June 10, 2017). "NJPW Dominion live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  19. ^ a b Witner, Arya (July 1, 2017). "NJPW G1 Special live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Cody". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  20. ^ Rose, Bryan (September 23, 2017). "NJPW Destruction in Kobe live results: Kenny Omega vs. Juice Robinson". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  21. ^ "War Machine Debut New Name at NXT TakeOver Pre-Show Taping". Pro Wrestling Sheet | Insider Wrestling News and Reports. April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  22. ^ Terror, Jude (June 14, 2020). "Street Profits vs. Viking Raiders: WWE Backlash Live Results". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  23. ^ "WWE Raw 9/7/20 Results | Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com.
  24. ^ "Ivar injured during eight-man tag match on WWE Raw". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. September 7, 2020.
  25. ^ "Erik Out Of Action After Undergoing Surgery Today". Wrestling Inc. October 6, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  26. ^ "Viking Raiders Win Battle Royal, Earn RAW Tag Title Shot". Wrestlezone. June 7, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  27. ^ "WWE Moves Title Match To money In The Bank". Wrestling Inc. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  28. ^ Chiari, Mike. "AJ Styles, Omos Beat Viking Raiders, Retain Tag Team Titles at Money in the Bank". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  29. ^ "WWE Announces Title Match For Next Week's RAW". Wrestling Inc. July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  30. ^ "WWE Raw Results (7/26) - Raw Tag Team Championship - AJ Styles and Omos (c) Defeated The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) by Pinfall via 450 Splash; Veer w/Jinder Mahal Defeated Drew McIntyre by Disqualification". The Overtimer. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  31. ^ "See all the results from the 2021 Draft".
  32. ^ Powell, Jason (October 4, 2021). "10/4 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of the WWE Draft night two, Goldberg returns, the build to WWE Crown Jewel continues". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  33. ^ "See all the results from the 2023 Draft". WWE. April 28, 2023.
  34. ^ "Erik Sidelined Due To Injury 'For The Foreseeable Future'". Wrestling Headlines. October 3, 2023.
  35. ^ "Erik Of WWE's Viking Raiders Announces He Has Undergone Neck Fusion Surgery". Wrestlinginc. November 2, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  36. ^ Moorehouse, John (July 29, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: Thrown Together, War Machine Reach Championship Success". Fightful.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  37. ^ Satin, Ryan (October 27, 2017). "NXT Wrestler Sarah Logan And Raymond Rowe From War Machine Got Engaged (Photos)". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  38. ^ "After 44 hrs of labor He was worth every second. Raymond Cash Rowe 8lbs 11oz. 21.75". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  39. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (February 9, 2021). "Sarah Logan And Erik (Raymond Rowe) Welcome A Baby Boy Into The World". Fightful.
  40. ^ "Valhalla (Sarah Rowe) Announces She Is Pregnant With Second Child". WrestleZone.com. April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  41. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "ACW Unified Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  42. ^ "Show results – 12/17/06 AIW in Cleveland, Ohio". AIW. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  43. ^ "Show results – 5/23 AIW J.T. Lightning Tournament Night 2 in Cleveland, Ohio: Samoa Joe wrestles post-NXT debut, Ray Rowe wins, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. May 24, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  44. ^ cite web|url= https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=13212
  45. ^ a b "Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling". onlineworldofwrestling.com. May 13, 2023.
  46. ^ "Solie's Title Histories: IWC - INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING CARTEL". www.solie.org. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  47. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  48. ^ "HAAS BACK IN THE RING, HEADLOCKED UPDATE, LES THATCHER, SUNNY, NECW ANNIVERSARY NEXT WEEK AND MORE NEWS - PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  49. ^ "Lone Star Tag Team Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  50. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  51. ^ cite web|url= https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=171376
  52. ^ cite web|url= https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=3927
  53. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "VIP Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  54. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "VIP Limitless « Events Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  55. ^ "WCPW Tag Team Championship". What Culture Pro Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  56. ^ "WWE 24/7 Championship". WWE.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  57. ^ "NXT Tag Team Championship". WWE. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  58. ^ "Raw Tag Team Championship". WWE. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
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