Two teams that lose a lot fight for a title

Raw Tag Team Championship Match

Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder vs. The Revival (c)

It took a long time for Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson to win gold on the main roster. It’s been a longer time since the former Major Bros. held tag titles.

The Road to WrestleMania

After wowing everyone from smarks to Jim Cornette in NXT, The Revival ran into injuries and bad booking on Raw. It got to where reports hit the duo were asking for their WWE release so they could make their way to All Elite or some other greener pasture. And no one really doubted the reports for a second. They were at that point being scripted to lose to the cruiserweight Lucha House Party team every Monday, after all.

They defeated Chad Gable & Bobby Roode for the titles in February as part of a rumored commitment by WWE to push them, and tag wrestling, in order to get them to stick around for the remainder of their contracts (which allegedly run until next year).

Gable & Roode are pretty much the only team they’ve been able to beat however. Aleister Black & Ricochet seem to have their number. At Fastlane, Dash & Dawson kept their belts in a Triple Threat at Fastlane, but the duo from NXT beat up The Revival after Gable took the pin. Just last week, the champs retained over Ricochet & Black, but only via countout.

Maybe that’s why they accepted a challenge from Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins? The duo were champs back in 2008, but haven’t won a match since teaming back up. And the man from Queens hasn’t one in a looong time, with WWE officially listing Hawkins’ losing streak at 269 matches.

What’s at stake?

Dawson says a win at WrestleMania 35 could mean a “six figure difference” in the Top Guys’ salary. And the idea they could lose to a couple of old Edge-heads is comical to them. The Revival say they’re looking forward to embarrassing Hawkins & Ryder in their hometown (more like home greater metropolitan area, but we’ll allow it).

On paper they should. But as Ronda Rousey will tell you, this stuff is scripted. And WWE’s made a story of Curt’s losses, Zack’s frustration and their determination to win together. That’s the kind of story they’re likely to pay off on the Grandest Stage of Them All, within driving distance of Long Island and New York City.

And, hey. Dash & Dawson aren’t the only guys they have to keep happy. Hawkins & Ryder have a successful podcast, and are valuable hands in their own right.

Somebody’s got to lose, even when two teams that lose each other go head-to-head like they will at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night.