The spectacular alliance between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and old nemesis Roman Reigns is causing noticeable tension in Rhodes’ circle of friends on SmackDown.
What exactly is going on in WWE?
In the latest episode of the TV show Friday Night SmackDown, the wrestling league pushed the story of the new alliance between champion Cody Rhodes and former titleholder Roman Reigns against the Bloodline – and made strong suggestions that it could lead to a rift in Rhodes’ other alliances.
While Reigns was absent from the Friday show this time, the question of how Rhodes’ friends Randy Orton and Kevin Owens feel about him teaming up with the “Original Tribal Chief” in Bad Blood, who until recently was an enemy for all three, came to the fore in his absence.
WWE SmackDown: Randy Orton confronts Cody Rhodes
The show began with Rhodes’ mentor Orton asking his long-time companion for an explanation for joining forces with Reigns.
Rhodes replied that he knew he was taking a risk by trusting Reigns – but he wanted to take that risk in order to finally put an end to his rivalry with Solo Sikoa and his new Bloodline. In reference to Orton’s nickname “The Legend Killer,” the “American Nightmare” added, “More than anyone, you should understand that this bloodline’s legend has become so great that it’s time to kill it.”
Orton was satisfied with Rhodes’ explanation and shook his hand, but not without a subtle threat: “I have no problem with it – unless you make one.”
Cracks are appearing between Rhodes and Kevin Owens
Tensions increased when Owens and then the Bloodline joined the conversation. Sikoa added fuel to the fire when he told Rhodes that it was no wonder he was pinning his hopes on Reigns now that Orton and Owens had let him down every time.
Owens then challenged Sikoa and his enforcer Jacob Fatu to a match against him and Orton. When Rhodes also offered himself, Owens declined: Rhodes shouldn’t take it personally, but he would rather take matters into his own hands with Orton. In a later backstage segment, Owens also explicitly asked Rhodes to stay out of the fight.
It happened as it had to: Rhodes did end up stepping in to fend off the unfair interference of the other Bloodline colleagues – and thus unintentionally initiated Owens’ and Orton’s defeat: Rhodes was pushed against the referee when Owens was actually close to winning after a stunner against Sikoa, and Sikoa and Fatu were then able to take advantage of the confusion to score the win.
Owens angrily shouted at Rhodes after the match before Orton brought him to his senses: the show ended with “K.O.” calming down and hugging Rhodes. Nevertheless, it is obvious that cracks are opening up between the three audience favorites and that these are likely to play an even bigger role in the coming months.
