Against all odds, The B-Team defeated “Woken” Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt for the second time, this time in a defense of their Raw Tag Team Titles with a victory that represented the most definitive statement that their run has some legs in it yet. In fact, while The-B-Team’s magic continues to flourish, The Deleters of Worlds’ suffered an unusual glitch. (All this under the watchful eye of The Revival backstage, no less).
The challengers wisely centered their strategy around Bray Wyatt, who started the contest after being neutralized in their earlier loss. Hardy proved adept as a closer, dropping Curtis Axel with the Twist of Fate. But when interference from Bo Dallas brought Wyatt in to even the odds, Bo bounced Bray off the turnbuckle and straight into Hardy, who Axel rolled up in a crucifix pin for the 1-2-3. Though The Deleters seemed to offer a show of respect with a Woken O after the match, the gesture quickly turned hostile as Hardy took out Dallas with a Twist of Fate and Wyatt dispatched The Axe Man with Sister Abigail. Two things remain abundantly clear: The B-Team’s reign is far from OVAH, and their business with the challengers might just be far from finished.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > RAW > July 23rd – Tag Match
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > July 23rd – Tag Match
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > RAW > July 16th – Matt Hardy & Bray Backstage
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > July 16th – Matt Hardy & Bray Backstage
It’s been a rough few weeks for “Woken” Matt Hardy, who has now lost three consecutive matches to each member of The B-Team, though that isn’t to say that Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas’ Cinderella run to a Raw Tag Team Title Match is a closed book just yet.
Dallas (dressed initially in full Bray Wyatt costume) defeated Hardy with a hanging rolling cutter off the rope, a win that’s remarkable in and of itself, but might also carry implications down the line considering The Revival — who have been resurgent of late and might be looking to get in the title hunt — were watching backstage. But The B-Team quickly learned there’s a difference between dress-up and the genuine article after the champions seemingly appeared out of thin air to start the match and seemed to rally instantly at the conclusion of it — twin displays that left the challengers completely overwhelmed both psychologically and physically.
The B-Team’s wins over Hardy are impressive, but it carries the downside that The Deleters of Worlds may well know everything that’s in store for them on Sunday. Judging by their reaction to the champions’ tricks, Dallas & Axel can’t say the same.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > RAW > July 9th – Matt Hardy vs. Bo Dallas
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > July 9th – Matt Hardy vs. Bo Dallas
No Woken O’s this time: Curtis Axel got a good-natured round of applause from “Woken” Matt Hardy last week after what was deemed a “fluke” victory over the Raw Tag Team Champion, but this week produced a much more decisive — and much more upsetting — victory for the “Son of Perfection.”
Not only did the latest bout of B-Team mimicry (they did “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”) leave Hardy much less amused than usual, the absence of Bray Wyatt hurt The Woken One down the stretch when Bo Dallas decided to get involved on Axel’s behalf. Dallas’ brief distraction as Hardy began to close in on the win gave Axel just enough breathing room to rally and take the match. The B-Team didn’t hesitate to partake in one of their now-signature celebrations, though judging by Hardy’s reaction, the fun and games are clearly over for him. Whether B-Team gets that message may well determine the final chapter of their Cinderella story.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > RAW > July 2nd – Matt Hardy vs. Curtis Axel
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > July 2nd – Matt Hardy vs. Curtis Axel
Curtis Axel: Woken Warrior? The former Intercontinental Champion earned the latest in a string of shocking victories for the dark-horse tandem when he toppled one-half of the reigning Raw Tag Team Champions, “Woken” Matt Hardy, in advance of the two teams’ title clash at Extreme Rules.
Literally. Axel earned his victory by reversing a superplex into a crossbody and pinned the stunned Woken One in surprisingly short order. And while it seemed as though a combination of Hardy’s loss and another B-Team cosplay of the champions was going to provoke The Deleters of Worlds into a fight, the titleholders instead offered The B-Team a “Woken O.” Hardy also said the win was a “fluke,” though given B-Team’s recent success, it could well be a harbinger. Three weeks until we find out.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > RAW > June 25th – Matt Hardy vs. Curtis Axel
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > RAW > 2018 > June 25th – Matt Hardy vs. Curtis Axel
