Roman Reigns returned at SummerSlam to lay waste to Solo Sikoa during his Bloodline Rules match with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
The Original Tribal Chief has now set his sights on regaining his status as Head of the Table from Solo, but will need to go through the all-new Bloodline in order to do so. Reigns made short work of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa during last week's SmackDown and once again set his sights on his cousin during last night's show.
Solo was joined in the ring by Tonga to close out the night and demanded that Orlando acknowledge him. He told Reigns to come and get the Ula Fala back if he wants it and the former champion wasted no time in hitting the ring to do so.
A brawl ensued and, after dealing with Solo, Reigns finally placed the ceremonial necklace around his neck.
Unfortunately, it was then that the returning Jacob Fatu laid waste to the OTC. A mauling followed and the new Bloodline closed out SmackDown by powerbombing Reigns through the announce table, Shield-style.
"Up until [SummerSlam 2024], you have never seen Roman Reigns in an extended piece of business on television and not be the champion," Paul Heyman recently said of where this storyline could go next. "He has been the champion this entire run. The entire Bloodline story has been with Roman Reigns as champion."
"We are now in a new era of the Bloodline story with Roman Reigns as not the champion. How does he correct that? How does he take back the name of The Tribal Chief? Who is the Head of the Table, Solo or Roman Reigns?" Heyman continued. "Jimmy is not here. Jey is not here. The Wiseman is not back yet. How does Roman Reigns deal with those on his own?"
"Is this a revenge yarn like an old spaghetti western where one man goes back, cleans up the village, and gets his revenge?" the WWE Hall of Famer mused. "Or it is a revenge yarn where he can't do it by himself, even if he has to? What are the twists and turns that happen then?"
Check out some highlights from SmackDown below.