Sheamus and Cesaro Beat Hardy Boyz in Thrilling Ironman Match

08/31/2017 04:31 pm EDT

Fall 1: Pick N' Roll Brogue Kick - 1-0

Fall 2: A Super White Noise with Cesaro aiding - 2-0

Fall 3: Hardy's hit every signature move they possess to pin Cesaro. 2-1, Champs.

- Loud "Delete!" chants from the crowd.

Fall 4: Cesaro runs Matt Hardy's head into ring-post. Count out. 3-1

Fall 5: Hardys hit a backslide to leg cradle: 3-2

- Matt Hardy's hits a huge moon sault for a very close call.

Fall 6: Twist of Fate off the top rope: 3-3

- Dueling acrobatics from the Hardys barely misses their 4th pinfall. Matt is busted open.

Fall 7: Swanton Bomb on illegal man, Sheamus. Cesaro sneaks and n pins Jeff 4-3

The Hardys would try to scramble for a pin but Cesar ran to kill the clock. Jeff hits a twist of fate with 3 seconds left. Not enough time - Champs retain.

This match could not have been better. The four veterans put on a wonderful performance that was detailed oriented and full of drama. It came right down to the wire but in the end, the Hardy's came within 2 seconds of staying alive.

More: Watch Matt Hardy's Son Mark Out Over His Dad's Entrance On Raw

Cesaro and Sheamus were heavily favored to retain their titles tonight but working against WWE royalty like the Hardys is never a forgone conclusion. Adding to the speculation, Sheamus is due to take 6 weeks off in the coming month to film a movie, so WWE removing him off of the tag-team championship seemed logical. In the end, none of this scuttlebutt mattered as the European connection kept their titles.

Cesaro and Sheamus appear to be having fun in the second halves of their careers and, as proven veterans, they deserve to have the titles as long as they like. Surveying the Raw Tag Team division won't take long - there are only 4 teams. It's possible they stick with the Hardy's for a few weeks before finding a new SummerSlam opponent.

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