Solo Sikoa soars to become the new “Tribal Chief” on SmackDown, turning on Paul Heyman. With that, the future of the missing Roman Reigns now seems clear
For months, WWE fans have been baffled by the disappearance of top star Roman Reigns – now a major shocker has clarified the situation.
On the latest edition of the TV show Friday Night SmackDown, the wrestling league took the big storyline surrounding the newly formed group Bloodline to a new turning point: Solo Sikoa, the previous number 2 in the clan, has proclaimed himself the new “Tribal Chief” – and turned on Reigns’ closest confidant with an attack.
Just a few days after the death of Reigns’ father Sika, it is clear that an intra-family mutiny is underway against the former champion, who has been on hiatus since his WrestleMania defeat to Cody Rhodes – with far-reaching consequences for the storyline in the months and years to come.
WWE SmackDown: Solo Sikoa takes over the Bloodline
The storyline surrounding Sikoa began shortly after WrestleMania, when Sikoa kicked his own brother Jimmy Uso out of the Bloodline and gradually built a new incarnation of the grouping – with Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, the sons of legend Haku / Meng, and Sikoa’s cousin Jacob Fatu.
Who was behind the upheaval remained in the dark for a long time – until recently, Sikoa only ever said that the “Tribal Chief” had ordered the rebuild. That he wasn’t referring to Reigns, but himself, was hinted at last week when Sikoa announced to Reigns’ manager and advisor Paul Heyman that Reigns would not be returning.
Now Sikoa and his comrades-in-arms went one step further: at the end of the show at New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden, Sikoa had himself proclaimed the new head of the tribe in a “Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony” and turned on Heyman.
Paul Heyman beaten to hospital
WWE Hall of Famer Heyman had tried to present himself as a voice of reason in recent months, trying to put the brakes on Sikoa but remaining loyal.
On Friday, that was echoed when Heyman talked Sikoa into taking the newly debuted Fatu off the Bloodline again. Heyman felt that Fatu was dangerous and would jeopardize the cohesion of the family.
Sikoa went along with this, saying that Heyman wasn’t called “Wise Man” for nothing and that he would take the advice into consideration. It turned out to be a situation: Fatu did show up and the entire Bloodline beat Heyman up after Sikoa – to loud cheers from the fans – refused to recognize him as “Tribal Chief”. After the show, Heyman was carried off on a stretcher in front of the fans in the arena.
Roman Reigns likely to change roles again
The latest twist in the Bloodline epic, which has been running since 2020, makes it clear what has been speculated for some time: Reigns may be on the verge of another “turn” four years after his successful reinvention as an arch-villain and becoming a crowd favorite once again.
All signs point to Reigns returning as the acclaimed Avenger and starting a feud against the new Bloodline. The new constellation also opens the door for a reunion of Reigns, Jey and Jimmy Uso, this time in the hero role.
At the same time, the Bloodline mutiny is now also the next career step for the up-and-coming Sikoa, who has also been hinting for some time that WWE has big plans for the younger brother of the Uso twins – such as his clear victory over legend John Cena last year.
What role does The Rock play?
It will also be exciting to see whether megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will also play a role in the story in the medium term: Johnson had joined the Bloodline before WrestleMania and tried – in vain – to help Reigns defend his title against Rhodes.
That The Rock will return is a foregone conclusion – and that he will sooner or later make up for his postponed “Dream Match” against Reigns alongside a duel with Rhodes seems equally clear (at WrestleMania, an inadvertent spear by Reigns against Rock was a hint). It’s also possible that breaking the Bloodline in its current form is part of the script for this.
At the upcoming big event Money in the Bank next weekend, the new Bloodline will face WWE Champion Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens – possibly to set up a title match between Rhodes and Sikoa at the summer highlight SummerSlam in early August.
