WWE didn't create the gimmick. War Machine's original gimmick included some viking influence but that's it they were never supposed to be vikings. WWE just full blown made them vikings. Why? Because as Becky said 'WWE are masters of subtly'

 

Rowe isn't 6'1 even though he is billed that, I'd say he is close though.
He should be a little taller, this gimmick is talor made for Rowan is my one complaint look at this, I mean fuck:

Most people that know me know the Viking Raiders is one of my favorite teams. I love how they smash jobbers. They need to do interviews talking about their viking clan, how they are bred from past warriors and legends, and how they want to send their opponents to Valhalla. They need to smash people back stage, call out the wenches back stage, and drink meed out of fucking horns. I want to hear them say they are descendants of Ivar the Boneless, and yeah the music is garbage. Wish they could come out to this.

The gimmicks fine....great even, has a high ceiling but they need to follow up with it and not be lazy. I like those helmets too, they need to sell them on WWE shop. Hope they really follow up and just don't bury them in midcard Hel.

 

I like the idea/concept of the gimmick, but dislike the execution. For example, as you said, Erick Rowan would fit way better than Rowe/Erik. The music... there are a lot of options other than generic WWE rock. Look at Sheamus. Or the song you posted. I think the helmets look too, I don't know
how to say it, cartoony or whatever. Why do they have these horns, for example? And they look too much like plastic. I don't know, the way they are right now makes the gimmick look cheap in my opinion.

 

These guys' presentation in NXT was another level. I was very high on them before joining the main roster. You have a couple of big guys that could move like that looking unique.. but of course, they call them up, and they let them use most of their impressive move-set in front of jobbers, and it's 5 months later and they're still squashing jobbers.
Since WWE doesn't care about the tag division, i'd be down to some Revival vs Vikings tag matches, they'd be great.

 

Viking Raiders are jabronis and their gimmick is lame and generic, every violent white guy thinks he's a viking, and like has been said these guys look more like ********. For all the strength and agility these cosplay nerds supposedly possess their offense is rather boring. They come off as goofy instead of intimidating and they don't have any charisma. Like Killian Dain these bums will soon be bust back down to NXT; I can't wait until the hairy, "agile", fat guy era comes to an end.

 

They need a theme like shaemus has because that's a big selling point.

Honestly someone like Rowan can pull it off but you need a specific body type to pull it off.

You can make a gimmick like this work but it needs to come off more as what they represent over what they really are. It should be a representation of the spirit and less "We actually have a longboat outside".

In simple terms if someone wants to represent themselves as a Tiger, then having items and moves and gear depicting it would work. What wouldn't work is coming out dressed in a tiger furry costume. So got to find that balance.

 

These are great points. Sheamus is an example of how to do it, even though WWE never let the Celtic Warrior gimmick properly develop except for a couple times. But the theme and the look are way more on point. And the way you explained how to make that kind of gimmick work is really well thought.

They were cool and dominant on NxT.

Now they're a laughingstock.

I saw the attire they used in one of these NXT PPVs and it looked great. I mean, if you're going to play the vikings gimmick, do it well. If not, it's just a drowngrade of what they were before.

 

They were cool and dominant on NxT.

Now they're a laughingstock.

 

I liked them in ROH, New Japan, and NXT. I really don't like them in wwe because of their presentation. My God, they actually called them The Viking Experience for one week. Just let them be bad asses and they would be doing better than they are now.

 

So the Viking Raiders should be more authentic by being more stereotypical ( tall and blonde) and listen to death metal.... because as everyone knows metal was a popular genre in 8AD!!