Breaking Down The Ascension's Potential as Part of WWE Tag Team Division

WWE's tag team division is set to get a major boost in the form of two gladiators when The Ascension debuts.

Viktor and Konnor dominated the NXT tag landscape for the last year-plus. They now get their shot on the main roster, the duo scheduled to debut on Monday's Raw, per WWE.com.

The Ascension have the look, cohesiveness and brute force to quickly become one of the division's highlights. Their physical tools will have to contend with WWE Creative, though, as the company seems unclear how to present these two bruisers.

How that battle plays out, what direction WWE sends them in and The Ascension's ability to thrive in less one-sided bouts will determine just how high they climb. 

Strengths, Weaknesses

Konnor is a wide-shouldered, sneer-wearing beast. At 6'4'', 265 pounds, he's an intimidating presence.

He has used that girth to bowl over opponents and fling them around the ring. He has a straight-ahead in-ring style, a wrecking ball knocking down bricks. 

Viktor is a good brawler as well, but he anchors the team with mat wrestling skills. He's the better in-ring technician and has the explosiveness and agility to provide the team's matches with bursts of excitement.

He may look small compared to his partner, but size isn't an issue for him at 6'2'', 219 pounds.

They complement each other well, forming a thunder-and-lightning duo. Over the course of their time at NXT, their chemistry has become one of their biggest draws. They aren't just two guys paired together; they fit as a team.

On the mic, Viktor has the edge as well. He's a solid talker whose throwback-style promos are usually intense. Konnor is much more one-dimensional, a roaring animal.

The look they sported at NXT was a blend of ancient Egyptian symbols and dark leather. Officials have tweaked the gimmick several times over, ending up with a vaguely occult influence, fog accompanying them as they enter the ring and a clear desire to hurt people.

That's a gimmick that is easy for fans to absorb and one that will elevate them. Without it, they are both solid wrestlers who may not make much of an impact. With it, they are far more interesting and memorable.

The biggest question mark regarding their ring work is how they will fare in longer, even matches.

For the majority of their NXT tenure, they tore apart inferior competition. WWE pitted them against thrown-together teams and no-name duos. The Ascension looked impressive in these squash matches, but they can't subsist on those types of bouts at the WWE level.

Against Hideo Itami and Finn Balor at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution, they composed an engaging match.

Their power meshed well with Itami and Balor's high-energy and speed. As both aggressors and victims, they looked good.

It's unclear whether they can do that consistently. Their resume is light on standout matches. They have relied mostly on their aura thus far.

Both Viktor and Konnor are talented enough to believe it a safe bet that they improve with experience in bigger matches. It's not going to happen immediately, though. This is new territory for them.

Keys to Success

• Provide top-tier rivals.
• Lean on Viktor in the ring and on the mic.
• Don't overdo gimmick.

Should The Ascension battle Los Matadores for a long stretch, fans will lose interest. WWE needs to treat them like a threat to the tag team titles and give them rivals who will bring the best out in them.

The bullfighters don't have a lengthy list of high-quality bouts. The company would be far wiser to send them after The Usos early on.

When those teams collided at NXT, it was one of the more exciting clashes in The Ascension's run.

The chemistry between them was reminiscent of what The Wyatt Family had with The Usos. Going to a similar blend of high-flying and brawling will result in success for The Ascension. 

Plus, a feud between the newcomers and The Usos announces that Viktor and Konnor are worthy of our attention. Messing around with the struggling New Day faction or the low-card Matadores act will have The Ascension come off as bottom-feeders.

When they do go to battle, The Ascension need to showcase Viktor more.

He's the more versatile performer. He can be the foundation of their matches while Konnor provides the muscle from time to time.

That's true when the group speaks as well. Just as WWE had Roman Reigns say little when The Shield ran roughshod over the roster, it should have Konnor be a supplementary part of the promos while Viktor takes the lead. Viktor is the more compelling speaker and should be treated as such.

The biggest danger that The Ascension face, though, comes before they step between the ropes or grab a mic.

WWE cannot push their gimmick toward science-fiction territory. The glimpses we have seen of The Ascension in their recent vignettes has them wearing eye makeup and red war paint. Their clothes look more dark wizard-like than they should.

Keep the gimmick stripped down. Focus on their intensity. Otherwise, they will become a joke.

The currently thin tag division needs a pair of hard-hitters. There are so many zany and silly acts right now that a dark, edgy group will find an easy path to the top. 

Should they not veer into overly gimmick territory and get some high-profile matches opposite The Usos, look for The Ascension to become a key part of the tag division. The tag team titles are well within their grasp and so is becoming the next hot WWE squad.