Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson def. Cesaro & Sheamus to win the Raw Tag Team Championships

SAN ANTONIO – The Royal Rumble 2017 Kickoff proved ”Too Sweet” for the duo of Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson. The good brothers laid claim to the Raw Tag Team Championship after laying waste to reigning champions Cesaro & Sheamus.

The victory marks the first-ever tag team title reign in WWE for the bruisers in black. Though, to be fair, it certainly didn’t come easy. The duo’s recent run-in with The Swiss Superman and The Celtic Warrior on Raw Jan. 16 showcased just how unruly and contentious their rivalry had grown. After Sheamus accidentally knocked out the match’s referee, John Cone, a second referee entered to administer the three-count. Unfortunately for Gallows & Anderson, Cone regained consciousness and ruled the championship match a disqualification, thus denying Gallows & Anderson the titles.

As a result of the chaos, two referees were assigned to the Raw Tag Team Championship Match at the Royal Rumble Kickoff. Good thing, too, as it didn’t take long for the pandemonium to set in. The Swiss Superman leveled Anderson with an uppercut and nearly ended the match early before his opponent kicked out at two. Cesaro then executed a Swiss-One-Nine for another opportunity to retain, only to have Anderson kick out once again at two.

In a strange twist, history nearly repeated itself when Sheamus again accidentally knocked referee John Cone from the ring. Luckily, the second official, Darrick Moore, was quick on his feet; he leaped into the ring to oversee the match just in time to witness Gallows & Anderson hit The Celtic Warrior with the Magic Killer. Though Cesaro clotheslined Gallows out of the ring before he could pin the Irishman, the move left The Swiss Superman vulnerable. Anderson took advantage, rolling up Cesaro and grabbing a handful of tights for the three-count.

As a result, Cesaro & Sheamus’ 42-day reign came to an abrupt end. And though the reign of Raw Tag Team Champions Gallows & Anderson may have just begun, their attitude of “being mean and making green” continues with no sign of letting up.