Raw Tag Team Champions Jeff & Matt Hardy electrified the capacity crowd at WWE Payback by overcoming the tough-as-nails combination of Sheamus & Cesaro. However, a brutal post-match assault by The Celtic Warrior and The Swiss Superman left the victorious titleholders completely obliterated.

Despite showing tremendous respect to The Hardy Boyz in recent weeks, the hard-hitting combination of Cesaro & Sheamus came to the WWE Payback pay-per-view determined to prove that “nostalgia act” was not enough for the seven-time tag team titleholders to maintain their place at the top of the mountain.

In the explosive matchup that followed, the No. 1 contenders would come at their high-flying opponents with everything they had, including The Swiss Superman’s Corkscrew Forearm/Cesaro Swing/Sharpshooter combination and an earth-shattering White Noise off the top rope by The Celtic Warrior.

Late in the match, however, Sheamus failed to see that Matt tagged in Jeff, setting up the younger Hardy to hit the Irish Superstar with a Swanton Bomb as he was trying to pin Matt, and Jeff subsequently secured the three-count.

After the match, Sheamus & Cesaro again showed respect to the Raw Tag Team Champions by shaking their hands in the center of the ring. However, that display of honor was completely erased moments later, when the defeated Superstars suddenly attacked The Hardys and laid waste to the victorious titleholders.

In the wake of Cesaro & Sheamus’ ruthless attack, how will The Hardy Boyz respond? Don’t miss a moment of Raw, airing Monday night at 8/7 C on USA Network

Credit: WWE.com