Solo Sikoa failed to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam last month but, due to Roman Reigns' role in his loss, the new "Tribal Chief" remains resolute in his belief that he's entitled to a rematch.
Last night's SmackDown kicked off with the American Nightmare bringing out the entire Bloodline; he acknowledged that next week's season premiere (which will see the blue brand move to the USA Network) should have a title match and heaped praise on the faction's enforcer who has so successfully overshadowed the Tribal Chief.
However, Rhodes was offering Jacob Fatu a title shot, not Sikoa! He was quick to say the champion can't sew dissent among the group and, when the heels attacked Cody, he was saved by #DIY and The Street Profits.
With that, Nick Aldis set an eight-man tag team match for the main event and booked Rhodes vs. Sikoa in a title match for next Friday...inside a Steel Cage!
When The Bloodline battled #DIY and The Street Profits, Sikoa's new group emerged victorious and the stage is now set for a huge bout to kick off the next era of SmackDown. Some fans were concerned that WWE might have this take place at Bad Blood, but with any luck, the plan is for Rhodes to move on from The Bloodline.
There's been a lack of viable challengers on SmackDown for Rhodes from the start and the sooner WWE pits him and Randy Orton against each other, the better.
"If you're also someone in the Bloodline perhaps named The Rock, I hope you will be watching," Rhodes said before his SummerSlam match while vowing to defeat Solo. "Because if you claim ‘The Tribal Chief' mantle next, same thing will happen to you."
Check out some highlights from SmackDown below and stay tuned for more on this Steel Cage match when it rolls around next week.