WWE RAW (15th April 2019): The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly 

The Ugly - "The Viking Experience"

The Viking Experience f.k.a. War Machine, f.k.a. War Raiders

Where do we begin with this one? NXT's most feared tag team has a new name and it isn't good. It's ugly.

Originally War Raiders, WWE saw it fit to change the name to War Machine, which apparently was more pleasant to the delicate ears of WWE's cultured fan base. It wasn't a major change, so most hardly noticed, but now that the duo are on the main roster, there are share holders to think about and advertisers that apparently take issue with the word "war."

Apparently simulated violence is OK, but a nickname with the "w" word might get people to think a little too much and thinking is bad. When people think, they don't spend their money. They ponder the complexities of Donald J. Trump in the WWE Hall of Fame and propaganda partnerships with the Saudi government. We can't have any of that.

The WWE did this once before to the Bushwackers. It's hard to imagine, but the lovable WWE Hall of Famers were once the most feared duo in wrestling, ruthless in the ring, and known for their brutality. They almost always drew blood. Vince McMahon took one look at the New Zealand natives and thought, "Bushwackers." Once they arrived in WWE, they were turned into lovable children's cartoon characters.

Like it or not, War Machine is getting The Bushwacker treatment and are being transformed into children's dolls, tee shirts, and inevitable WWE Network programming about their viking lifestyle. Before you blink your eyes, there will be Viking cookbooks and wearable horns. Let the marketing ploys begin and enter The Viking Experience.

No, they aren't a cruise line in competition with Norwegian Cruise Ships. Nor are they a new ride at your favorite amusement park. This isn't a Jimi Hendrix album, either. This is the best tag team in NXT and they may have just jumped the shark in their RAW debut.

The Viking Experience was just as brutal in the ring, the same team they've always been, but something was missing.

With a name more fitting of over the top 1990s WWF characters like The Bararian and The Berzerker, War Machine became Vince McMahon's latest cartoon. The name was hated and universally panned, as wrestling fans took to social media to voice their displeasure.

The most feared duo in wrestling instantaneously became a terrible punchline, a cruel joke to all those who adored them in NXT and on the independent circuit. Over night, one of the most promising teams in wrestling became The Ascension.

To add insult to injury, the pair are also no longer Hanson and Rowe. In their place stand Ivar and Erik. Somewhere Triple H is crying and Vince McMahon is laughing at his son in law's expense, laughing all the way to the bank.

This is the kind of DESTRUCTION The #VikingExperience is capable of! #RAW #SuperstarShakeUp pic.twitter.com/dj3LGx6RIE

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 16, 2019