SmackDown Live’s Tag Team division will be getting back a big piece to the puzzle. PWInsider reports that The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) have been cleared to make their in-ring returns. The former SDL Tag Team Champions will be back on the road with WWE as early as next week’s episode for the blue brand in Wichita, Kansas. Earlier this week, Rowan was spotted at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.
He suffered a bicep tear back in August that forced him to be shelved. As for Harper, he was seen wearing a cast on his left hand for the past several months. However, he’s now ready to get back to work inside the ring as well. The Bludgeon Brothers were forced to drop their SDL Tag Team Titles the Tuesday after SummerSlam last year. Due to Rowan’s injury, he and Harper were defeated by The New Day to drop the titles before going on hiatus.
With The Bludgeon Brothers now back in the fold, they’ll re-join SDL’s Tag Team division, which is currently championed by The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro). It remains to be seen how long it’ll take before they get back into the title mix.
What do you think about The Bludgeon Brothers returning to the SDL Tag Team division?
Former WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion, and one half of the Bludgeon Brothers, Erick Rowan, has been spotted at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
According to PWInsider.com, Rowan was there to utilize the training facilities available at the PC.
The Bludgeon Brother has been out of commission since August 2018 due to a torn bicep. That injury required surgery, and since then Rowan has been healing and rehabbing in order to rejoin Luke Harper and get back to in-ring competition.
Rowan suffered the torn bicep during a matchup for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at last year’s SummerSlam event. The Bludgeon Brothers would go on to lose to The New Day via DQ. It was only afterwards that the extent of the injury was discovered.
This revelation would see the Bludgeon Brothers drop the championships to The New Day on SmackDown Live, two days after SummerSlam.
Coinciding with his time at the Performance Center, Rowan sent out the following Tweet, confirming he was in Florida:
“When One is journeying to a place which is called @UniversalORL in the land of Orlando. Which is Best?”
When One is journeying to a place which is called @UniversalORL in the land of Orlando. Which is Best?
Are you looking forward to Rowan’s return? Do you think the Bludgeon Brothers can make an impact when he does, or do you think it would be better to disband the team?
Earlier this year, one-half of The Bludgeon Brothers, Erick Rowan, suffered a bicep injury during SummerSlam. Rowan and Luke Harper successfully retained their SmackDown Live Tag Team Titles against The New Day. Due to Rowan’s injury, however, they were forced to drop the titles two days later on SmackDown Live.
The Bludgeon Brothers lost a No Disqualification match to The New Day. Rowan was praised for working the grueling match while hurt. Nonetheless, he soon underwent surgery to repair the injury. He was initially given a timeframe of four to six months for his return to the ring.
PWInsider now reports that Rowan is in Birmingham, Alabama and will meet with doctors for a post-surgery check-up. No further details were given on when fans can expect him back. We’re left with the initial four to six months timeframe given. Once healthy, however, it will be interesting to see if WWE retains Rowan and Harper as The Bludgeon Brothers.
Perhaps WWE will have something different in mind for them instead.
What do you want to see from Rowan upon his return to WWE?
We noted before how Erick Rowan suffered an injury during his SummerSlam match with the New Day though at the time, WWE was yet to officially confirm that he was injured.
The company confirmed his status after Bludgeon Brothers’ No Disqualification match with The New Day on SmackDown with the following statement, revealing that he is scheduled for a surgery later this week:
“Rowan of The Bludgeon Brothers has suffered a torn right bicep, WWE.com has learned. The former SmackDown Tag Team Champion is currently scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the injury this week.”
Charlotte Made History At SummerSlam
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte made history when she defeated Carmella and Becky Lynch in a triple threat match at the SummerSlam PPV for the title, by becoming the female Superstar with the most Women’s title reigns.
Flair is on her 8th reign now after winning the Women’s title 4 times on Raw, 2 times on SmackDown, 1 time in NXT and winning the Diva’s title one time as well.
Hall Of Famer Trish Stratus also has 8 title reigns, but one of them was with the Hardcore Title. With her win, Charlotte now also holds the record for the most PPV wins at 24.
Unfortunately, a new report has surfaced that has revealed Erick Rowan suffered an injury.
As seen at Sunday’s (August 19, 2018) WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center on the WWE Network, The New Day was able to beat The Bludgeon Brothers (Luke Harper & Rowan) in a SmackDown Tag Team Title match by DQ once Rowan hit the challengers with a mallet hammer that they carry down to the ring as part of their entrance.
Mike Johnson of PWinsider.com is reporting that Rowan suffered an arm injury while working the match. It was noted that Rowan was not backstage at Monday’s live event in Atlantic City but rather is getting the injury evaluated.
Although this has yet to be confirmed, it was mentioned in the report that the word going among WWE talents is that it might be a bicep injury.
With the DQ finish of their SummerSlam match, the original belief was that a rematch between the two teams will go down on an upcoming episode of SmackDown Live or even at the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event that takes place on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas at the AT&T Center.
We hope to have more information on this situation and will pass it along once we learn more.
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan didn’t always get along with one another.
The pair began working together in WWE as members of The Wyatt Family. Harper and Rowan even had a run with the NXT Tag Team Titles before being called up. The faction debuted back in 2013 by attacking Kane on an episode of Monday Night RAW.
Harper recently joined Edge and Christian’s podcast, E&C’s Pod Of Awesomeness, to discuss his professional wrestling career. While discussing his early days in WWE as a member of the Wyatt Family, Luke Harper reveals some early beef with Erick Rowan.
We Hated Each Other
It turns out that Harper and Rowan actually hated one another when they initially began working together. Harper revealed that they were forced to room together and it wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences.
Now, of course, they’ve made things work and are successful because of it:
“When we first started, me and Rowan hated each other. I don’t know what it was. We just didn’t get along. We were forced to room together. He’s taller than me.
“If you look at some of my old pictures, I clearly tried to put weight on and it didn’t work well. He’s a f*cking giant and he snores. So, I didn’t sleep a lot. We just didn’t get along.
“Slowly came the realization of, ‘Hey man, we are stuck together. Are we gonna fight against it or are we just gonna do it?’ It took me a long time to realize that; but, when I did, we made it work way better”
A new title match has been officially announced for the WWE Money in the Bank PPV
As seen on this week’s episode of SmackDown Live in Worcester, MA at the DCU Center on the USA Network, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson beat The Usos on the show to become the new #1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, which are held by The Bludgeon Brothers.
Rowan and Harper will defend the straps against Anderson and Gallows at MITB.
The Money in the Bank pay-per-view event takes place on Sunday, June 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois at the Allstate Arena and will air on the WWE Network and some traditional pay-per-view outlets. Both Raw and SmackDown brands will be featured. Here is the updated card:
– Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz vs. Rusev vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode
– Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match: Ember Moon vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Lana vs. Naomi
As seen at Sunday night’s WWE Fastlane pay-per-view, the title match between The New Day and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos ended in a no contest after The Bludgeon Brothers, Harper and Rowan, came to ringside and destroyed both teams.
WWE noted after the show that Woods was suffering from a thoracic spine injury, contusions to the spine, and that he was being taken to a local hospital to be checked out. This is likely a storyline injury but Woods was stretchered away from ringside while the others were helped to the back by officials.
It appears Rowan and Harper are up for some sort of title match at WrestleMania 34, perhaps a Triple Threat with The New Day and The Usos or a Fatal 4 Way with another blue brand tag team.
WWE announced Woods suffered an injury to his thoracic spine due to The Bludgeon Brothers’ attack.
“Our preliminary diagnosis is multiple thoracic contusions,” explained WWE medical personnel of Woods’ injury. “We’re currently in the process of having him evaluated with X-rays and possibly an MRI for any further damage, such as ruptured discs or fractures of the thoracic spine.”
WWE stated that we should have an update on Woods’ condition on Monday.
Guess who didn't want to see #TheNewDay and The @WWEUsos finish their rivalry…
– Above is the new WWE Shop Black Friday/Christmas ad with SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos. Below is the WWE Shop ad that premiered on last night’s RAW with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.
– The dark match before tonight’s WWE SmackDown tapings in Houston saw WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne and Mark Andrews defeat Tyler Bate and Trent Seven in a battle of WWE UK Superstars.
– Erick Rowan and Luke Harper returned to WWE TV on tonight’s SmackDown as The Bludgeon Brothers. They easily defeated The Hype Bros, Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley. Below are photos and videos from the match:
In recent weeks WWE has been running vignettes for SmackDown Live stars Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, who are now known as the Bludgeon Brothers. The duo returned to the ring earlier this week as the Bludgeon Brothers. They had a new theme song, new matching ring gear and a new finishing move.
At Wednesday night’s WWE live event from Leeds, England, Harper and Rowan were back in action, but there was no sign of the Bludgeon Brothers gimmick.
Coming out to Luke Harper’s entrance music, the team was introduced simply as Erick Rowan and Luke Harper and competed in their classic ring attire.
It remains to be seen why they dropped the Bludgeon Brothers gimmick so abruptly. We’ll keep an eye on this story and will post an update after their next match on the tour.
For several weeks, there have been reports that Luke Harper and Erick Rowan would be returning to WWE television soon with a repackaged gimmick. On Tuesday’s SmackDown Live, we got our first look at what’s in store for the former Wyatt Family members.
They’re still going by Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, and Rowan still has his disturbing sheep mask. Toting sledge hammers, the duo is now known as the Bludgeon Brothers.
Harper and Rowan declared, “There is no conscience. There is no moral compass.” They’re threatening broken bones and severed spines. If there’s anybody that can back up these claims, it’s these two. We’ll find out soon if the Bludgeon Brothers will be a force to be reckoned with on SmackDown or if this is The Ascension 2.0.
Check out the first Bludgeon Brothers promo:
Luke Harper & Erick Rowan are ready to punish the wicked.
– Two new tandems formed at Saturday’s WWE live event in Montreal, Quebec and tonight’s show in Ottawa, Ontario as Luke Harper and Sin Cara teamed up against another odd pairing in Erick Rowan and Aiden English.
In Montreal, Harper and Cara went over English and Rowan.
– On Twitter, Mike Kanellis responded with the following to a fan who wrote, “Do you appreciate that WWE have turned you into a jobber? Because I don’t.”
Kanellis also posted this flashback photo on Instagram in response to fans who said he would never amount to anything when he joined Ring of Honor seven years ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXdPrWllj5d/
– Celebrating a birthday today is 1996 WWE Hall of Fame inductee “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, who turns 75.
– Batista has reportedly signed on to appear in the upcoming film “Escape Plan 2” starring Sylvester Stallone and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. For more on the film, check out Deadline.com.
– Erick Rowan is scheduled to return to television very soon, as early as this week’s tapings. He’s has been out of action rehabilitating a torn rotator cuff and was spotted at the WWE Performance Center several times over the past month.
WWE posted this video of Cathy Kelley doing her best detective work to decode Luke Harper’s recent string of cryptic tweets.
– Prior to Tuesday’s SmackDown, American Alpha teamed with Heath Slater and Rhyno to defeat The Ascension, Tyler Breeze and Fandango in a dark match.
– NXT Women’s Champion Asuka will be appearing at more WWE live events leading up to WrestleMania weekend. In addition to the 3/12 house from Madison Square Garden, Asuka is now advertised for the upcoming shows in Charleston (3/13), Johnson City (3/25), Raleigh, NC (3/26), and Norfolk, VA (3/27).
– WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens will be Jonathan Coachman’s guest on tonight’s “Off the Top Rope” segment on ESPN SportsCenter.
– WWE Legend The Honky Tonk Man enjoys a night out in this new video from Hannibal TV. Watch the former WWE Intercontinental Champion hang with fans after a recent indy event in Canada.
Erick Rowan is returning to action soon after recovering from shoulder surgery back in October. During that time, Rowan has been training at the WWE Performance Center and posting cryptic videos on social media.
Earlier today, Rowan posted another video that displays the word “alone” towards the end. Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Rowan has been medically cleared.
Many people considered the match between AJ Styles and John Cena the best match of the night during the Royal Rumble. It was the only match Smackdown had on the main card. Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan took to twitter to brag about stealing the show and congratulated John Cena and AJ Styles on their match.
Tye Dillinger was interviewed last night after his surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble. Tye called it one of the greatest night’s of his life and that he has no idea how is going to be able to top it in the future. Check out the full interview below.
Erick Rowan has been out with an injury for some time but he continues to post cryptic things on social media. Last month it was this video and now Rowan has posted a new photo this morning. Rowan may be returning soon and that would only add more intrigue to the Wyatt Family storyline we have seen on Smackdown.
– There are currently no plans to have the 2016 WWE Slammy Awards on any platform, TV or the WWE Network, according to a new report from PWInsider. It was noted that plans could change and the awards could be brought back next year but it doesn’t look like we will get the 2016 edition. Following last year’s Slammy Awards it was reported that officials had discussed the idea of bringing the awards to WrestleMania week, but that’s the last we heard of that. We will keep you updated on the return of the awards if they’re brought back.
– Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan has been out of action since September with a torn rotator cuff but on more than one occasion he’s taken to social media to tease slight changes to his character, at least a new mask. Rowan posted this video to his own YouTube account this week, titled “THE GIFT,” the video once again teases a new mask for Rowan.
According to ProWrestling.net Rowan had surgery on a torn rotator cuff today in Birmingham, Alabama. According to TopRopePress.com, he sustained the injury at a recent live event and may be out of action until March.
Rowan or WWE have yet to comment on the injury.
Luke Harper who is returning soon from an injury was slated to go to the Raw brand, it should be interesting to see if they switch that up at all since Bray will now be alone on Smackdown.
In a rare social media post on Thursday, Erick Rowan took to Twitter to post a new video that shows him destroying his old “Sheep Mask” and debuting a newer, slightly modified version.
In the video, which is available above and features no actual talking, Rowan simply puts the mask he has become associated with on a table and smashes it before picking up a new one and putting it on.
Rowan wrote the following about the mask, which WWE.com referred to as, “The new Face of Vengeance.”
“some things are meant to be shattered..”
Behold, the new New Face of Vengeance.
In a rare post to his Twitter account, Erick Rowan transmitted an ominous clip of himself undergoing a bone-chilling transformation. In the video, the former NXT Tag Team Champion takes a bare fist to his signature sheep mask, laid before him on a table. The white wool façade shatters beneath his power, only to reveal a new, mangled-looking mask among its ruins, which Rowan then dons in place of the original.
Are we looking at the reincarnation of the bearded beast? Has Rowan discovered his true self after rounding out the expanded Wyatt Family? Perhaps the Family’s latest war, against the ECW Originals at WWE TLC this Sunday, will provide answers.
– Tommy Dreamer and The Dudley Boyz are featured in the above RAW Fallout video talking about their interaction with The Wyatt Family on Monday’s show.
– The dark match main event following Monday’s RAW at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania saw Tommy Dreamer, Demon Kane and The Dudley Boyz defeat Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan in eight man tag-team action. The match/segment ended when Harper took the finishing moves of all of the babyfaces.
Former WWE Superstar and ECW Original Tommy Dreamer made his WWE return on Monday’s edition of RAW at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Dreamer returned during a promo segment that turned into a match between The Dudley Boyz and The Wyatt Family.
Bubba Ray and Devon were cutting a promo in the ring when the four Wyatt Family members — Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan — hit the ring. The Dudleyz claimed that they too had family on their side, which led to Dreamer making his way out.
The ECW Original made his way to the ring with a trash can full of weapons, which led to he and The Dudleyz teaming on to take on The Wyatt Family in a match on RAW. The match ended up finishing in a no contest, with Bubba Ray putting Bray through a table after the match to end the segment.
After Monday night’s WWE Survivor Series “go-home” edition of RAW went off the air, Bray Wyatt came back out. Wyatt spoke about Survivor Series briefly before calling out Roman Reigns.
This led to an eight-man post-show dark match for the live crowd at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. The match ended up mostly consisting of guys doing their finishers and other big spots.
The match featured Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman taking on Reigns, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose. Ultimately, everyone fought to the back and in the end, Reigns and Ambrose were left alone in the ring.
Ambrose took the mic and said the two would win their matches and meet in the finals to determine the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Reigns agreed and said they’d always be brothers.
WWE is focusing the advertising for the November 22nd Survivor Series pay-per-view on the fact that it will be The Undertaker’s 25th anniversary at the annual event. You can check out the video promo for Survivor Series 2015 below.
Based on the finish of last night’s Hell In A Cell pay-per-view, it looks like Undertaker will be facing the four members of The Wyatt Family in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match.
Last night’s show ended with Taker losing to Brock Lesnar in their “Final Battle” inside Hell In A Cell, and then Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan dragged “The Dead Man” to the back after attacking him.
Erick Rowan was brought back to WWE television this week because the company had booked The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family as the main event for RAW on Monday night in Dallas, Texas.
That was the storyline that they wanted for the show, and while there were some reports that claimed there was a creative decision to replace Luke Harper on the show, that is not the case. Harper actually had a family issue so WWE was forced to replace him.
Rowan was already in the process of training for his WWE return. It was reported back in June that Rowan would be out of action for six months, so the fact that he returned after only four months from a torn biceps is considered an impressive accomplishment.
WWE taped the following matches in Austin, Texas on Tuesday night for this week’s edition of WWE Main Event.
– The Dudley Boyz def. The Ascension in a tag-team dark match put on for the live crowd in Austin, Texas. The Dudleyz picked up the win via pinfall after a 3D.
– Sasha Banks def. Brie Bella in the first match taped for WWE Main Event this week. Banks picked up the win via her submission finisher.
– Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman def. The Prime Time Players in tag-team action for the second match of Main Event. Strowman won the match via bearhug submission over Titus O’Neil.
– Kevin Owens def. Neville in non-title action. The Intercontinental Champion beat Neville after throwing him face-first into the middle turnbuckle and then hitting him with his Pop-Up Powerbomb finisher for the 1-2-3. This was the final match taped for this week’s Main Event.
