After the2016 Draft, WWE started a storyline where Heath Slater was a free agent since he wasn't assigned to Raw nor SmackDown. As part of the storyline, on the August 9 episode ofSmackDown Live, the two wrestled each other with the stipulation that if Slater won, he would be signed to theSmackDown roster; however, Rhyno defeated Slater. On the August 23 episode ofSmackDown, Slater was offered a spot in the tournament for the newly instatedSmackDown Tag Team Championship if he found a partner. After struggling to find a partner, Rhyno approached Slater and agreed to be his partner for the tournament.[2] Rhyno and Slater defeatedThe Headbangers in the first round and TheHype Bros in the semi-finals to advance to the finals atBacklash,[3] where they defeatedThe Usos to become the inaugural champions, while also granting Slater a contract.[4][5]
On the September 13 episode ofSmackDown Live, Rhyno and Slater defeatedThe Ascension to successfully retain the titles in their first defense following Slater's official live contract signing.[6] AtNo Mercy, Rhyno and Slater retained the titles against The Usos. AtSurvivor Series, Rhyno and Slater were the team captains for Team SmackDown in the10–on–10 Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination match, where they were defeated by Team Raw.[7] AtTLC on December 4, Rhyno and Slater's tag team championship reign came to an end at 84 days after they were defeated byThe Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt andRandy Orton).[8] Two days later onSmackDown Live, Rhyno and Slater received their rematch, but failed to regain the titles. AtElimination Chamber on February 12, 2017, the duo were the first entrants into the tag team turmoil match for the titles, eliminating Breezango and TheVaudevillains before being eliminated by The Usos.[9]
On the December 3 episode ofRaw, General Manager Baron Corbin created a match between Rhyno and Slater, where the loser would be fired from Raw. Rhyno lost the match and was subsequently forced to leave the brand.[12] However, after Corbin was removed from power, he returned to Raw to aid Slater against an attack fromJinder Mahal on the December 24 episode ofRaw.[13] The following week onRaw, Rhyno and Slater faced Mahal andThe Singh Brothers in a losing effort.[14] On July 17, their team ended after Rhyno left WWE.[15][16]
After Rhyno left WWE, he signed withImpact Wrestling and changed the spelling of his name to Rhino (as WWE owns the trademark with the "y" spelling). Slater was released from WWE in April 2020 due to budget cuts as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic. He then made his debut in Impact on July 18 atSlammiversary, now using the shortened name Heath. The duo then began a storyline where Heath did not have a contract with Impact and tried to obtain one, similar to the storyline in WWE that resulted in the two becoming a team in the first place. Their first match as a team with the promotion took place atVictory Road, where Heath and Rhino defeatedReno Scum (Adam Thornstowe and Luster the Legend).[17]
On October 24 atBound for Glory, both Heath and Rhino took part in anIntergenderCall Your Shot Gauntlet match, where the winner could choose any championship match of their choice; however, if either Heath or Rhino won, Heath would earn a full-time contract with Impact Wrestling, but if they both lost, he would be fired. Rhino would go on to win, thus winning Heath an Impact contract; however, Heath suffered an injury during the match.[18]
In March 2021, while Heath was injured, Rhino turnedheel and joinedViolent By Design (Eric Young,Deaner, andJoe Doering).[19][20] In September, Rhino would be kicked out of VBD.[21][22] On the September 30 episode ofImpact, Heath would make his return after nearly a year, saving Rhino from a potential attack by VBD, and Heath then looked to give Rhino a hug afterwards, but Rhino would walk out of the ring.[23][24][25] In the following weeks, Rhino was not sure which side to take,[26][27] and Heath asks Impact EVPScott D'Amore to make a match pitting him and anyone else against Violent By Design atBound for Glory, which was accepted.[28][29][30]
On October 23, 2021, atBound for Glory, Rhino appeared as Heath's tag team partner, where they defeated VBD, thus turning Rhino into aface again.[31][32]
On October 10, 2020 at Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling (XICW), Heath and Rhino defeated DBA and Jaimy Coxxx to become XICW Tag Team Champions.[36] On February 17, 2022 at the 'St. Valentine's Day Mayhem' event for Insane Wrestling Revolution (IWR), the duo defeated Aaron Orion & Jack Price to become the inaugural IWR World Tag Team Champions.[37]
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