The WWE Title match between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa at SummerSlam is quasi-official. The new Bloodline finishes off Rhodes’ mentor Randy Orton on SmackDown
After Money in the Bank at the latest, the direction was clear – now the next title defense of WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is quasi-official.
At the summer highlight SummerSlam on August 3, the “American Nightmare” will put his belt on the line against Solo Sikoa. In the closing segment of the TV show Friday Night SmackDown, Rhodes offered the match on his own initiative. An official confirmation has not yet been made, but it should be a formality.
WWE SmackDown: Cody Rhodes grants Solo Sikoa title match
The confrontation arose after the final match of the show, in which DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) defended their newly won tag team titles against A-Town Down Under.
The new Bloodline of Sikoa and his enforcer Jacob Fatu then attacked Gargano and Ciampa. Sikoa took the floor and once again laid out his claim to dominate WWE. He was the new “Tribal Chief” and even his old boss Roman Reigns would have to bow to him if he made the mistake of returning to WWE again
Rhodes responded that Sikoa – who pinned him at MITB in a 6-man tag team match – was welcome to face him at SummerSlam. If he had his way, the match could even go ahead now.
A brawl ensued, with Rhodes’ old mentor Randy Orton coming to the champion’s aid, but the Bloodline’s numerical superiority proved to be their undoing: the Bloodline tied Rhodes to the ropes, forcing him to watch as Orton was dispatched.
The looming clash – which looks set to be the main event of the summer climax at Cleveland’s NFL stadium – has taken on added poignancy.
SummerSlam: LA Knight challenges Logan Paul
Officially confirmed for SummerSlam are the World Title match between Damian Priest and Gunther and the WWE Women’s Title match between Nia Jax and Bayley. Also confirmed seems to be a match between crowd favorite LA Knight and wrestling YouTube superstar Logan Paul.
Knight challenged US Champion Paul, with whom he has been at loggerheads for some time, to a title match in his hometown on Friday.
