The Bloodline will be back in full force very soon after a recent injury scare threatened the group’s solidarity at a critical time. Jacob Fatu recently burst onto the scene as the newest member of The Bloodline.
The former MLW World Champion immediately aligned with Solo Sikoa, adding another highly combustible element to the group. Fatu wasted no time, winning the World Tag Team Championships with Tama Tonga and playing a significant role in Sikoa’s WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.
Jacob Fatu’s WWE Return
Unfortunately, Fatu’s high-risk offense backfired at SummerSlam when he dove off the top rope onto Cody Rhodes, who was sprawled on the announcer’s table at ringside. Fatu connected, but it was immediately apparent that something went wrong. He was writhing in pain, assisted backstage by WWE officials, and later spotted wearing a protective boot on his foot in the hours following the event.
According to PWInsider, Jacob Fatu is scheduled to return to WWE television by the end of this month. This is excellent news because a more serious diagnosis could have necessitated surgery, derailed storylines, and jeopardized his future mobility. Fatu and Tonga won’t have to surrender the tag titles, and The Bloodline will have ‘all hands on deck’ as they deal with Roman Reigns, the recently returned Original Tribal Chief (OTC).
The Bloodline, the most dominant wrestling stable in WWE, has been a tour de force on the SmackDown brand since its formation in 2021. The group, primarily composed of members from the Anoa’i family, has seen numerous internal conflicts, culminating in what is now becoming the “Bloodline Civil War.”
This timeline explores the key events leading up to and during this tumultuous period, including the formation of the group and the creation of Bloodline 2.0.
Formation of The Bloodline (2020–2021)
The Return of Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns returned to WWE at SummerSlam 2020 after a five-month hiatus, aligning himself with Paul Heyman.
This marked the beginning of his heel turn and the establishment of his character as the “Tribal Chief.”
Reigns vs. The Usos
Reigns’ first major feud was against his cousins, Jey and Jimmy Uso. At Clash of Champions 2020, Reigns defeated Jey, establishing his dominance and forcing Jey to acknowledge him as the head of the family.
This storyline continued with a Hell in a Cell match at the eponymous event, where Jey again lost to Reigns.
The Bloodline’s Official Formation
In October 2020, Jey Uso aligned with Reigns, officially forming The Bloodline.
Jimmy Uso joined the group in May 2021, after recovering from an injury, despite initial reluctance. This solidified The Bloodline as a dominant faction in WWE.
The Bloodline’s Dominance (2021–2022)
Championship Reigns
Reigns’ reign as the Universal Champion began at Payback 2020 and continued through 2022, making him one of the longest-reigning champions in WWE history.
The Usos also captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, further cementing the group’s dominance.
Sami Zayn’s Inclusion
In 2022, Sami Zayn began aligning himself with The Bloodline, eventually becoming an honorary member.
His inclusion added an intriguing dynamic to the group, especially with his initial struggles to gain full acceptance.
The Bloodline Civil War (2023–2024)
Dissension Begins
Tensions within The Bloodline started to surface in late 2022 and early 2023.
At the Royal Rumble 2023, Zayn turned on Reigns, signaling the beginning of internal conflicts. Jey Uso’s loyalty wavered, and he walked out during the group’s attack on Zayn.
WrestleMania 39 and Aftermath
At WrestleMania 39, The Usos lost their tag team titles to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Reigns retained his title against Cody Rhodes with help from Solo Sikoa, adding to the group’s internal tension with gold now not around the waist of nearly every member.
The Usos’ Betrayal
The Usos’ discontent culminated at Night of Champions 2023 when Jimmy Uso attacked Reigns, costing him and Sikoa the tag team titles.
This act of defiance marked the official start of the Bloodline Civil War.
The Bloodline Splits
In June 2023, Jey Uso sided with his brother Jimmy, effectively leaving The Bloodline.
This led to a match at Money in the Bank 2023, where The Usos defeated Reigns and Sikoa, handing Reigns his first pinfall loss in over three years.
The Rock’s Temporary Alliance
The Bloodline briefly reformed somewhat with The Rock joining the group in February 2024.
However, this was short-lived as both Reigns and The Rock took hiatuses following WrestleMania XL, where Reigns lost his titles to Cody Rhodes.
Sikoa’s Leadership (2024–Present)
The New Bloodline
With Reigns and The Rock on hiatus, Solo Sikoa assumed leadership of The Bloodline.
The group saw new members, including Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu, joining forces under Sikoa’s command.
Continued Rivalries
The new iteration of The Bloodline has continued to engage in high-profile feuds, including rekindling rivalries with Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes.
The Bloodline once again holds tag team championship gold after Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga won the WWE Tag Team Championships on SmackDown. On the go-home show before WWE SummerSlam, the two teams competed in the main event of the show which also happened to be in Johnny Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
As seen in previous Bloodline matches, this bout saw interference as Solo Sikoa hit Ciampa with a Samoan Spike at ringside while Gargano was trying to fight off everyone else. In the end, it was Fatu who got the win for his team to bring The Bloodline its first taste of gold since WrestleMania 40.
This marks the end of DIY’s time as WWE Tag Team Champions. The pair had held the gold since the July 5, edition of SmackDown where they dethroned A-Town Down Under. Ciampa and Gargano had just one successful title defense, that being against A-Town Down Under on the July 12, episode.
With the WWE Tag Team Titles now with the Bloodline, all eyes are on Solo Sikoa and tonight’s Undisputed WWE Championship match. Sikoa has vowed to win the gold Cody Rhodes captured at WrestleMania by defeating Roman Reigns. On this week’s SmackDown, it was announced that their title match will be under Bloodline Rules, and Sikoa once again had some choice words for Roman Reigns, calling his cousin “weak.” Comments like these and others have led many to speculate that Reigns will return tonight at SummerSlam.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced.
The next challengers for the WWE tag team titles have been determined.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown included a massive tag team gauntlet, a matchup that featured Apollo Crews & Baron Corbin, Legado del Fantasma, The Street Profits, Pretty Deadly, The OC, and The Bloodline. Whoever emerged victorious would earn a shot at DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) at a future date, perhaps even at SummerSlam on August 3rd.
The action began with Corbin & Crews scoring a victory over Legado De Fantasma. Unfortunately, the unlikely duo’s run didn’t last long as The Street Profits would knock them off, with the former tag champs then running through Pretty Deadly and The OC. However, The Bloodline, represented by Tama Tonga and the Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu, was the final team in the gauntlet and put on a dominant display on their way to victory. Fatu scored the win after hitting a pop-up Samoan drop, followed by his signature top rope moonsault.
Fatu has quickly risen as one of the WWE’s biggest threats ever since he debuted on the June 21st episode of SmackDown. He led The Bloodline to victory over Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens at Money In The Bank, and now has a change to capture his first gold since signing with the company earlier this year.
WWE later confirmed The Bloodline will get their opportunity at the tag team on the August 2nd SmackDown.
WWE released this video of the champions reacting to the news that The Bloodline will be their opponents next week.
EXCLUSIVE: After Jacob Futu and Tama Tonga emerge victorious in a Gauntlet Match to become the new No. 1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championship, #DIY claim that they are the best tag team in this business!#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/w446FhxMDu
Meanwhile, The Bloodline’s new leader, Solo Sikoa, has his own chance for glory when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam next weekend.
Solo Sikoa has laid out the challenge for Roman Reigns to try and take back the position as the Tribal Chief of The Bloodline.
Reigns hasn’t been seen since his WrestleMania 40 loss to Cody Rhodes which saw the latter become Undisputed WWE Champion. In his absence, Sikoa has been acting as the leader of The Bloodline and has made several changes to the group. It was under Sikoa’s leadership that Jimmy Uso was ousted from the group, while Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu have been brought in.
Sikoa’s latest change to The Bloodline saw Paul Heyman ejected from the group last week after the WWE Hall of Famer refused to acknowledge Sikoa as the Head of the Table. This attack came mere weeks after Sikoa told Heyman that Roman Reigns will never return to the group he founded four years ago.
On the July 5, edition of WWE SmackDown, a video package aired of Sikoa and his Bloodline. Solo, clutching the Ula Fala, made clear he never sought to be the Tribal Chief, but this is what his family needs. Sikoa added that Reigns was no longer ‘man enough’ to be the Tribal Chief after his loss in Philadelphia, and added that “If Roman Reigns wants that back, he can try and take it from me.”
"If Roman Reigns wants that back, he can try and take it from me"
In the video, Sikoa also set his sights on the Undisputed WWE Championship and vowed that The Bloodline will take it back under his leadership. Three members of the group will face Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens in six-man-tag action at WWE Money in the Bank on July 6.
September 3, 2022. A bevy of wrestlers, both independent and of the TNA ilk filter in and out of a conference room at The Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg, IL. A live stream of WWE Clash At The Castle plays on a projector. Conrad Thompson is there. As is David Crockett. As is Jeff Jarrett. As is Road Dogg. As is Jacob Fatu.
It’s main event time. Drew McIntyre looks to make music against Roman Reigns and Glasgow is the Scotsman’s soundtrack. Everyone, mark and mat expert alike are glued to the action, but an explosion of emotion comes from the right side of the room when Solo Sikoa debuts, infamously costing Drew his shot at WWE gold and adding another inning to The Bloodline story. That energy burst came from Fatu, elated for his cousin. His Uce.
Now that kinship is full circle. Jacob Fatu is in WWE and it’s been a long time coming. The son of The Tonga Kid is getting that chance to shine under Paul Levesque’s watch and we are all in store for something special.
The Samoan Dynasty Epitomized In Jacob Fatu
‘The Samoan Werewolf’ made a debut that would make Lon Chaney Jr. blush as he tore top babyfaces apart protecting Solo Sikoa on SmackDown. This further adds to the chaotic and violent element that Wiseman Paul Heyman has been so fearful of, but behind the scenes Roman’s main counsel has to be grinning like a butcher’s dog at Fatu’s limitless ceiling. Fatu carries the pure presence of Umaga, the cool factor of a “Main Event” Jey Uso, and the pro wrestling acumen of Afa and Sika. He’s got the x-factor to the extreme and will elevate anyone who works with him.
Fatu had the opportunity to show his versatility against an array of talent in Major League Wrestling, most notably feuding with Alex Hammerstone over that World Title gold. He was really put in that top position starting off as the head soldier in CONTRA Unit, dominant as Brock Lesnar was during that same time with no one taking the title off him until he clashed with Hammerstone. Anyone that fell to his wrath were lucky if they literally weren’t body-bagged by his Sentai Death Squad insurgents, but it was a great way to position a monster of many talents.
Fatu’s menace made his eventual babyface all the more meaningful. After his loss to Hammerstone, fans got to see the human side of the San Fran Samoan. Instead of shying away from it, Fatu and MLW embraced Jacob’s troubled past, diving in deep to what made the monster tick. The peeling back of the page put Fatu in an even better spot of connecting with fans. Aside from Cody Rhodes, there may not be one person better at it.
Connection With Legacy & With Fans
Jacob Fatu is as real as a real one comes. Back in 2022, Fatu was in the aforementioned Shaumburg (a suburban purgatory outside of Chicago) for Josh Shernoff’s Premier Wrestling Showcase, a tournament highlighting a who’s who of indie names. Fatu didn’t win, but the fans sure did. The event was paired in tandem with Conrad Thompson’s AdFreeShows’ Top Guy Weekend while also being the same weekend of the infamous All Out 2022. Fatu went out of his way to make himself apart of the festivities in the surrounding area. Instead of partying with the boys, Fatu partied with the fans. He invited them to do whatever he was doing, made them feel included and apart of something special.
Fatu didn’t just respect the fans that weekend, but the legacy of the business as well. In addition to Jeff Jarrett being in the building, so was his father, the late Jerry Jarrett. Fatu had me track down Jerry to make sure he got his photo taken with the Memphis legend. Jerry was grateful and Jacob was beaming. There was no cooler moment to witness seeing two names in the business, separated by several generations make that unique connection – one that will never happen again.
Schaumburg, IL, September 2002. Jacob Fatu stands with the late great Jerry Jarrett. (Photo Credit: Dominic DeAngelo)
From a locker room perspective, Fatu is one to lead by example. He never rah-rahed the troops, but he didn’t need to. Everything he did seemed effortless yet always full of passion and energy. His sense of humor kept the busy environment light-hearted and fun to be around. He should fit right in with what WWE is aiming to cultivate.
Something that will always stand out too is Fatu’s instinct within the ropes. During a match in Philadelphia, Fatu appeared to legitimately hurt his leg doing a move, but worked the whole bout nonetheless. It wasn’t until after the fact where everyone discovered he just did that to sell the match even further. It’s in his blood.
When it’s all said and done, that “Head Of The Table” designation in WWE could very well go to Jacob Fatu. And he’s earned it.
WWE returned to their home turf in Madison Square Garden, NYC for the latest episode of SmackDown with the new Bloodline being in front and center of the show.
The opening segment of tonight’s show saw Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton attacking The Bloodline after Jacob Fatu took them out in his debut last week. Nick Aldis had to bring in a lot of security to break things up and the babyface trio were then escorted out of the arena.
The main event of the show was the announced Bloodline Acknowledgement ceremony, where Solo Sikoa first introduced his enforcer Jacob Fatu and then demanded that the MSG crowd acknowledge him.
Sikoa then asked each member of the group to acknowledge him separately and they all obliged. Finally, he placed a lei in Heyman’s hands to officially declare him the new Tribal Chief.
However, Heyman was attacked brutally when he refused to do so. The show ended with Fatu putting the lei on Sikoa and the Bloodline standing tall.
WWE has since released a video of Heyman being escorted out of the arena in a stretcher after this week’s SmackDown went off air:
Apart from the Bloodline chaos, tonight’s show only featured three triple-threat matches in which, Naomi, LA Knight, and Tiffany Stratton all qualified for their respective Money In The Bank matches.
WWE also paid tribute to Hall of Famer Sika Anoa’i, who passed away earlier this week. You can check out more details on it here.
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns may well go down as one of the greatest feuds of the modern era. Few, if any, rivalries in recent years have captured quite the same emotional investment as this program, rooted in strong in-ring and mic work alike from both principal players. Perhaps the most important ingredient to the program’s success was each man’s backstory.
Even going into the first WrestleMania main event between the two, The Tribal Chief was riding a historic wave of momentum as a long-reigning, dominant champion—a dynamic that had only intensified going into WrestleMania 40. Meanwhile, The American Nightmare embraced a story of redemption both for his own unconventional career path and for his family.
Indeed, the story set such a high bar that the title reign Rhodes has embarked on since has felt a bit anticlimactic for not living up to how it got started. The key challenger to get this run back on track is none other than Solo Sikoa.
There Hasn’t Been Drama To Any Cody Rhodes Title Defenses Thus Far
One can’t fault AJ Styles or Logan Paul as challengers to Cody Rhodes. Both men are skilled performers who more than carried their ends of excellent WWE Championship PLE matches against The American Nightmare. However, there’s also an undeniable truth: no one thought Styles or Paul had a legitimate chance of taking the title off Rhodes.
Indeed, WWE has found itself in a confounding situation of a great main event face coming off an incredibly dramatic story with no sense he’s in any jeopardy of losing his title right away. As credible as Styles is as an all-time great in-ring worker, it’s hard to imagine him winning a world title in WWE again unless a string of injuries to other top stars make the company “break glass in case of an emergency.” Meanwhile, Paul is well-established as an upper mid-card player, but it’s hard to imagine him carrying the top prize in the business anytime soon.
WWE may well have made the right call in feeding Rhodes challengers who aren’t believable but could give him very good matches while fans wouldn’t believe he’s dropping the title anyway. That will have to change soon, though, for this title reign not to feel flat.
The New Bloodline Has Heat
The new Bloodline, running under Solo Sikoa’s leadership, has been a provocative part of WWE programming since WrestleMania. The faction and its defining family are over with the WWE audience. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are fresh faces who’ve added intrigue to faction, and insiders make it seem like only a matter of time before Jacob Fatu joins the mix.
With Sikoa declaring himself the leader in the absence of Roman Reigns, there’s also intrigue around what will happen when The Tribal Chief does return, or what things will look like when The Rock is back on WWE television. All of that sets up buzz around the Bloodline again, without over-exposing them too dramatically (including going so far as to leave the group off the King and Queen of the Ring PLE altogether).
A time will come sooner than later when Sikoa will be ready to take his rightful place as a bona fide main eventer. Cody Rhodes will be waiting.
Solo Sikoa Is Well Protected
Yes, Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa has happened before. It occurred on numerous house shows and in dark matches, and even once on Raw as The American Nightmare got ready to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. Nonetheless, their issue feels far from played out, as the two haven’t collided on a PLE before, and their one televised bout was long enough ago not to be fresh on fans’ minds.
Moreover, Sikoa feels ready to main event. His televised losses have been few, far between, and only at the hands of top-tier talents. He also has a decisive victory over John Cena to still hang his hat on. All of this means that it would only take a small push rather than rehabilitation to position him as a credible challenger for the WWE Championship.
Cody Rhodes Vs. Solo Sikoa Can Be A Gateway To Bigger Things
It’s possible for WWE to position Solo Sikoa as a legitimate challenger to Cody Rhodes. Moreover, even in the likely case Rhodes survives that challenge and walks away champion, there’s every potential for WWE to keep a compelling story going.
With The Rock and Roman Reigns each waiting in the wings, The American Nightmare’s continued war with The Bloodline could naturally segue to one of these much bigger matches. While some fans feel Rhodes vs. Reigns is played out, it’s still a bankable main event rematch for WWE to stage at some point. From there, Rhodes vs. The Rock feels like the masterplan—the dream bout that a general consensus of fans has prognosticated to headline WrestleMania 41 and a match that can naturally follow from Rock showing up to backup or perhaps avenge his kin, Sikoa.
Cody Rhodes has made every scenario thrown at him since his WWE return work for him, and the smart money is on his title reign turning out to be very good. The right challenger will really spark something, though, and Solo Sikoa is a prime candidate for that spot.
The Bloodline saga remains one of the most compelling aspects of WWE television, despite Roman Reigns being cast into exile at WrestleMania. With Reigns off in Hollywood and legitimately calling his shots from afar, Solo Sikoa has emerged as The Bloodline’s on-screen figurehead.
The latest incarnation of WWE’s most dominant faction is comprised of Sikoa, the recently-added Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa, and of course, the ‘Wise Man’ Paul Heyman. Our readers know there’s additional enforcements on the way. Over WrestleMania 40 weekend, we reported exclusively that ‘Bloodline’ family member Jacob Fatu was in Philadelphia amid reports that he was WWE bound. Multiple sources have confirmed to SEScoopsthat Fatu is signed and “big plans” are in place for the former MLW World Champion. However, the creative is being kept close to the vest by Triple H Bruce Prichard, Ryan Callahan, Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns.
Jacob Fatu is coming
The Bloodline’s Next Chapter
Everything is not fine with The Bloodline and there’s no saying Jacob Fatu will align with Solo Sikoa and company. He very well could be brought in aligned with one of The Usos, who are bound to reunite eventually. Jacob Fatu would be a combustible element added to the showdown involving the Bloodlines rich lineage, including The Rock, Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa, Fatu, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
The fact Roman Reigns’ name was mentioned to us as one of the few people in the loop about Fatu’s creative direction indicates involvement with The Bloodline in some fashion. As for Heyman, he’s been caught in a few very uncomfortable positions over the past few months as the Bloodline’s leadership has undergone drastic changes. The Wise Man has been part of the group’s foundation since its inception, and has been the greatest influence on the rise of the Tribal Chief Once Fatu debuts, when Reigns and The Rock eventually return, and the Bloodline storyline reaches its ultimate conclusion, you can be sure Heyman will be there
Hall of Famer Rikishi is proud to see Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa’s arrival in WWE.
The Bloodline storyline has taken a unique turn amid the absence of Roman Reigns. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, who are the sons of Haku, have made their way to the company to join the Bloodline. While speaking on the Rikishi Fatu Off The Toppodcast, the WWE legend showered praise on the duo for their hard work in NJPW before making a move to WWE. He is thrilled that Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are finally home. He said:
“Those two kids, Tama and his brother, Tonga Loa, they’re [related] to the family, as far as with Uncle Haku and so forth. These kids, I couldn’t wait for them to come to WWE. They’ve done so much out there, the hard work and building their brand out there in New Japan, that it was awesome to see them finally come home.”
Ever since Roman Reigns dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, he has been on a hiatus and Solo Sikoa has transformed The Bloodline and the stable has undergone drastic changes. He has ousted Jimmy Uso and brought in Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Rikishi loves the fact that the duo was added to the stable because they are family and he is thrilled with the revamped Bloodline.
“The Bloodline, the WWE is home. To be able to see them come and not just go right into an angle, they’re only put there for the simple fact that they belong there. Nothing else, nothing more. You got Roman that’s out the picture now, Jimmy’s out the picture now. Now here comes Solo and his crew, what they like to call The Bloodline 2.0, the brothers, Tama and Tonga Loa, they’re doing a great job. They both look great, they look fresh. So nice to see fresh faces out of there, being involved in The Bloodline, and family at that.”
It has been announced that Tama Tonga will be locking horns with Randy Orton in the semi-finals of the WWE King Of The Ring tournament on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown. While Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa continue to assert dominance on the blue brand, we recently reported that they won’t be using the Gurilla’s of Destiny team name.
Check out their WWE debuts here:
Solo Sikoa enacts sweeping changes to The Bloodline, kicking out Jimmy Uso whilst adding Tama Tonga:
As Kevin Owens seems to clinch victory with a earth-shattering Brainbuster, Tanga Loa makes his WWE debut in an effort to save Solo Sikoa & Tama Tanga from defeat.
Sneaker fans worldwide will be able to acknowledge Roman Reigns and The Bloodline with a new set of shoes set to launch next year.
The new shoes are black with blood-red stylings, according to mock-up photos shared by Sneaker News. The shows will be available at select Jordan Brand retailers in-store, online, and at Nike.com. The snazzy new footwear will retail for $200 USD.
The new Bloodline-inspired Sneakers will retail for $200 USD.
Roman Reigns & Sneakers
The Tribal Chief’s love of sneakers is no secret. In matches, Reigns often wears sneakers instead of traditional wrestling footwear. Speaking to Complex in 2021, Reigns recalled wearing Jordans when he announced that his leukemia was in remission in 2019.
“I felt so much confidence… That was one of those situations where I was able to come out of the Roman character and just be Joe. And that’s why you saw me the way I was. That’s why I was wearing the Jordans. Just kind of a casual look. For the most part for the Roman character, especially earlier on I stayed in the fatigues and the boots and stuff like that. But from that moment, I took that character armor off and exposed the real me.”
Roman Reigns Out of the Ring
The former Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 but he’s not been taking it easy. The Tribal Chief has been shooting a heist movie that’ll include Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and others.
While Reigns is off WWE TV, his presence continues to be felt. In his absence, Solo Sikoa has become the new leader of a new Bloodline that includes Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Paul Heyman has been noticeably concerned about the change that Sikoa has claimed that the order to take leadership of the faction came from Reigns himself.
Tanga Loa made his WWE debut at last weekend’s Backlash PLE from the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. He reunited with his brother, Tama Tonga, as part of the new and improved Bloodline.
We’ve received questions from readers about whether or lot they’ll be using their old team name from New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Guerrillas of Destiny. SEScoops has confirmed with multiple sources that Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga will not carry over the GoD name into WWE.
Before joining WWE, Tanga and Tonga reigned in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as the Guerrillas of Destiny and held the IWGP Tag Team Championship an impressive seven times
We may see the name referenced in passing, there are no plans for them to use the name regularly or as part of any merchandise. A search of the US Patent & Trademark Office database shows no current owners for the ‘Guerrillas of Destiny’ trademark.
Guerrillas of Destiny Trademark Search
Since Roman Reigns lost the WWE Undisputed World Title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, WWE fans have witnessed a significant transformation in the Bloodline. Loa’s arrival could further reshape the landscape.
WWE Backlash signaled a significant shift for the Bloodline with the introduction of a new, powerful tag team to the WWE Universe, led by Solo Sikoa in Roman Reigns’ absence. Although Paul Heyman may be leery about things, he is still following along.
Gulak Not Gone Yet: While Drew Gulak was rumored to have been released, it is now reported that he remains with WWE, although his contract will not be renewed after it expires next month. Gulak has gained a reputation for targeting the actual injuries of NXT talents during their recovery, which has led others to view him as a bully. This behavior included pressuring talents to remain silent about his actions. Multiple sources from the backstage staff, including producers and the creative team, mentioned that Drew Gulak’s approach in WWE was counterproductive. He was described to me as a poor politician by multiple sources, Gulak tried to maneuver his way to the top but ended up undermining his own position. He was difficult for producers and writers to work with because he believed he was outsmarting everyone. However, once the team started sharing their experiences, Gulak became a subject of mockery among them.
Jessika Carr Made History: During WWE Backlash in France, WWE referee Jessika Carr became the first woman to ever officiate a World Title match as Cody Rhodes defended his gold against AJ Styles. Cody Rhodes also sent out a post to give Carr a spotlight.
Wanted to mention this after the contract signing, (and forgive me if I’m wrong but I don’t think I am…)
Seth Rollins’ New Look:The Messiah showed up at the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and he looked very different. Although he was wearing a classy hat, it appeared that Rollins had his hair trimmed down considerably.
AEW:
Tony Schiavone’s New Ink: The AEW announcer recently mourned the loss of his dog, Bug. This week, he paid tribute to his old friend by getting a tattoo to remember him. The new piece looks great, and you can check it out below. RIP Bug.
JR Loves TK’s Neck Brace: During his Grilling JR podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer announcer gave Tony Khan flowers for rocking a neck brace like he did. Ross considered it “old school,” which was very much appreciated.
“I was waiting to see if Tony was gonna follow through and complete the cycle by wearing a neckbrace and he did. I was proud of him for doing that because it was old school. Now whether you like the angle or you didn’t like the angle, that’s another issue but him following through and wearing the neckbrace…good for Tony Khan on that deal. That was old school like thinking and I’m really glad that he wore the neckbrace.”
Tanga Loa debuted as the newest member of Roman Reigns’ stable during WWE’s Backlash event in France. The Guerrillas of Destiny are now a part of the Bloodline.
Kevin Owens and Randy Orton took on Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga in the opening match of Backlash. They started the tag team match with chaos, which led SmackDown GM Nick Aldis to declare the contest a No DQ match. During the closing moments, Tanga Loa showed up to make his mark.
Loa’s unexpected debut helped the Bloodline secure a victory. Paul Heyman stood alongside the celebrating stable, but he didn’t have the most confident look on his face.
His appearance was a surprise since there were no prior reports of him signing a deal with WWE. Jacob Fatu has also signed a new deal, and it remains to be seen how he will be integrated into the storyline.
Real name Tevita Tu’amoeloa Fetaiakimoeata Fifita, Tanga Loa comes from a prominent wrestling family. He is the son of Haku and the brother of Tama Tonga and Hikuleo.
Guerrillas of dDestiny
Before his WWE debut, Tanga achieved significant success in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times alongside Tama Tonga. So, the two have already done a ton prior to Loa’s Backlash debut.
Additionally, Loa captured the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship three times; twice with Bad Luck Fale and Tama Tonga, and once with Taiji Ishimori and Tama Tonga.
The Bloodline’s new incarnation added a seasoned tag team to the mix with Tanga and Tama. Jimmy Uso was ejected from the stable following WrestleMania XL, and it was later revealed that he suffered an injury that required surgery and a long wait until his return to the ring.
Roman Reigns still has a huge hand in the Bloodline’s creative direction, even though his absence. He is still setting the stage for the head of the table’s return, whenever that comes around.
Welcome to the Daily Drop for Friday, April 19, 2024.Tonight on TV we have WWE SmackDown and AEW Rampage, which will serve as one of the final stops on the road to Sunday’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.
There was a lot of news coming out of this week’s ‘World Congress of Sports’ convention from Los Angeles, including Paul Levesque and Nick Khan talking about WWE changing up its approach to WrestleMania locations and dates. We can also look forward to seeing more International premium live events, but not the ‘Big 5.’
Don’t miss SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman’s write-up of his first visit to the ECW Arena in Philadelphia over WrestleMania 40 weekend. He survived and had a pretty great time visiting the home of ‘extreme’ Here we go:
AEW:
Tonight on Rampage:
Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho & Toni Storm
TNT Championship Match: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Wardlow
Jay White vs. Komander
The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker & Jake Hager
Plus, Chris Jericho confronts Adam Cole and we’ll hear from The Elite and FTR.
Schamberger All Elite? Former WWE ‘artist in residence’ Rob Schamberger appears to be collaborating with AEW.
AJ Styles vs. LA Knight to determine the #1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ WWE Championship
Naomi challenges Bayley for the Women’s Championshi
SmackDown Tag Team Title #1 Contender’s Match: The Street Profits vs. Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Angel & Humberto vs. The Authors of Pain
Cody Rhodes vs. The Rock: On WWE Raw the night after WrestleMania 40, The Rock congratulated Cody Rhodes on finishing his story and assured the new champ they will square off in the ring one day. The ‘American Nightmare’ appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday to promote this week’s UK live events tour. He fully expects ‘Final Boss’ to back up his words and has an interesting reason for why.
Fella Fires Back: Sheamus was a recent victim of ‘body shaming’ from online trolls, but responded to one of the trash talkers directly on social media. ** Not that he has to explain his physical appearance to random people on the Internet, but Sheamus said he was expecting to have several more weeks to get in shape before returning to television.
Bloodline Reunion? Jey Uso said on The Bump that he hopes he can one day reunite with Solo Sikoa, Roman Reigns and his brother.
“All in all though, I would like for us to come back together, but as a healed up family. We fighting right now. All families fight, but I want us to come back as the good guys one time and see how works. But if it wasn’t for The Bloodline, I really wouldn’t be Main Event or sitting here with YEET shirts. I had to go through that whole process to help me grow, and I feel like the people watched my story unfold.”
Roman Reign is off filming a movie while on ‘indefinite hiatus’ from WWE, but he’s remain a driving force behind The Bloodline both on television and behind the scenes.
Reigns’ world came crashing down at WrestleMania 40. Once thought to be invincible, his historic title reign is finished and The Bloodline has undergone a dramatic shakeup. Jimmy Uso is out, Tama Tonga is in and Solo Sikoa is the group’s new on-screen figurehead.
We later learned Tribal Chief made the call for Jimmy to be removed, a sign of how his character will be kept in the mix while he’s off TV. According to WWE insider Wrestlevotes, Reigns “will still have substantial creative input in the evolving Bloodline storyline over the course of the next few months.
Roman Reigns’ creative direction has been closely guarded since his evolution into the Tribal Chief and the rise of The Bloodline. the Bloodline chapter of his career started. Only a select few people have been involved in the Bloodline’s storyline development and that number is even smaller with Vince McMahon’s departure.
The Rock brought in Brian Gewirtz during his road to WrestleMania 40 for the Final Boss storyline. Since the show of shows is in the rearview mirror, Dwayne Johnson and his writer went back to Hollywood.
The Tribal Chief and the Wise Man
Paul Heyman recently spoke about The Bloodline with Jimmy Traina on the SI Mediapodcast. The ‘Wise Man’ says one of their keys to success is their ‘collaborative teamwork’ approach.
“You know the old expression, ‘it takes a team?’ It certainly has with us. There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to make this work. It kind of all filters through Roman Reigns’ field. There are several people that come to me to present things to Roman, and then Roman and I will talk about it and comeback with either something that fits into their narrative or something that we would hope, we could perhaps enhance it or put it in our own words, or come back with, ‘that doesn’t work for us, what about this?’ and start a different process and we’re bouncing ideas off of them.”
Heyman said creative rumblings for the Bloodline storyline began under Vince McMahon’s leadership and continued without disruption when Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over.
He also praised Michael Hayes for his exceptional ability to weave a narrative into wrestling matches, a rare and valuable skill. The SmackDown writing team, led by the often overlooked Ryan Callahan, along with Michael Kirshenbaum, Chad Barbash, and Zach Hyatt, are also involved in these discussions
AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. AZM
Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
Lee Moriarty vs. Katsuyori Shibata
House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Dante Martin, Action Andretti & Matt Sydal
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
WrestleMania is in the rearview mirror, and WWE has been known to re-stack the deck. This week’s SmackDown included a big change for The Bloodline as Jimmy Uso was kicked out to make room for Tama Tonga.
It is a new era for the Bloodline. The Rock is gone after WrestleMania, although he did promise to return for a match against Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns is also taking a break after losing his title.
There is a new Bloodline, and Paul Heyman is reluctantly on board.
Bloodline Changes After WrestleMania 40
The Bloodline took to the ring this week on SmackDown, and they had a lot to address. The Wise Man Paul Heyman spoke about Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE World Title at WrestleMania.
Suddenly, Solo Sikoa cut off WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman’s speech on SmackDown this week to make his own announcement. He called attention to Jimmy Uso and how he should be reprimanded for losing. Then Solo hugged Jimmy in the ring while saying, “you’re my brother, I love you.“
Jimmy Uso is coming off a WrestleMania loss to his brother, Jey Uso. There are punishments for losing, and they made that point very clear when Tama Tonga jumped in the ring to attack Jimmy.
After a brutal beat-down in the ring, which included wrapping a chair around Jimmy’s head in the corner followed by a running hip attack from Solo, brought a new chapter in the Bloodline saga.
Paul Heyman famously said that we were only in the “bottom of the 3rd inning” at SummerSlam last year. We have to wonder where they are in the ballgame after this development after WrestleMania 40.
The Wise Man looked scared in the corner, fearing that he was next in line. That beatdown on Heyman did not happen, as Solo brought him to join him and Tama as they did the Bloodline sign. Heyman, although a bit hesitant, did the pose alongside them.
Roman Reigns and Tama Tonga are not related, butthey share a connection through their Polynesian heritage. Tonga, real name Alipate Fifita, is of Tongan descent, while Reigns is Samoan, both belonging to the broader Polynesian cultural group. He is son of legendary pro wrestler Haku.
Tama entered WWE after having a lengthy run in NJPW, where he won many titles along the way. He has won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times with Tanga Loa. Tama is a four-time NEVER Openweight Champion and has won the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship four times.
He’s been on WWE’s radar for a while, but NJPW kept him locked in a contract. Needless to say, The Bloodline has a huge boost with Tama in their ranks.
There are other potential future Bloodline members possibly on their way. Jacob Fatu and Zilla Fatu, who is Umaga’s son, are always possibilities. From the way they splintered things off, it looks like Jimmy Uso could use an ally to fight the new Bloodline now.
Tonight’s 4/12 WWE SmackDown takes place from Detroit, Michigan at the sold-out Little Caesars Arena. Over 13,000 wrestling fans will be on hand to witness the fallout from WrestleMania 40 and the start of a new era on Friday nights.
Here’s what WWE is advertising for the show:
Cody Rhodes will appear
Bayley will celebrate her championship win at WrestleMania
Plus, a mini-tournament will also kick off tonight to determine the #1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. We’ll see two triple-threat matches, with the winners squaring off next week to determine the next challenger:
Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles
Santos Escobar vs. LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley
This is expected to be an eventful show. WWE always shakes things up after WrestleMania with new storylines and feuds. The Bloodline is in utter turmoil following WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns has been conquered, The Rock is leaving again and Paul Heyman needs to figure out what to do with himself with the Tribal Chief cast into exiled. Could we see a New Bloodline emerge?
Looking Ahead
WWE DRAFT: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW. So, we only have a limited time left with these current rosters.
BACKLASH: WWE Backlash: France takes place Saturday, May 4 from Lyon, France. Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match on Raw to become the next challenger to new World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. While not confirmed, this clash is expected for Backlash.
Paul Heyman doesn’t know of any hidden intentions behind The Rock’s ‘L’ but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to the fan-led conspiracy.
The Great One returned to WWE earlier this year and was poised to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This didn’t sit well with the WWE Universe, who believed the spot rightly deserved to Cody Rhodes.
The Rock and His L
With the WWE Universe rejecting The Rock, the company changed course, turning the Brahma Bull heel and aligning him with the Bloodline. In segments, Rock has been aligned with his family but his choice of hand gesture has raised some eyebrows.
While the Bloodline points to the sky, The Rock has performed the same gesture with his thumb outstretched, giving an ‘L’ shaped symbol. Fans have speculated as to whether there’s a reason for this. Some have even speculated that it could be a sign of his intent to betray Roman Reigns when the time is right.
Paul Heyman on The Rock’s L
Sitting down with Forbes, Heyman was asked about The Rock’s ‘L’ symbol and whether there’s some meaning behind the gesture. The future WWE Hall of Famer argued that there’s no hidden meaning that he’s aware of, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to it.
“It is a conspiracy. And just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean there’s not a conspiracy behind it.”
“My father always taught me, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the whole world’s not against you.”
Heyman added that he is sure there’s “something to it” and suggested that the only person who knows the truth is the Final Boss himself.
What’s to Come?
The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring at WrestleMania 40: Saturday where he’ll team with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Title match.
If Rhodes & Rollins win, the next night’s match between Rhodes and Roman Reigns will be free of Bloodline interference. Should the Bloodline win the Saturday match, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’
Pro wrestling fans are passionate about the sport, but some go above and beyond. A new wedding video has a lot of attention, and for good reason.
A fan recently acknowledged Roman Reigns on their own wedding day. The groom and his party made their way to the altar to The Bloodline’s iconic entrance music.
The Bloodline Meets Marriage
A fan named Bruins Hogan recently god married, and he used this day of celebration to let everyone know how much of a Bloodline fan he is. With Roman Reigns’ entrance music barring, his party came out, complete with a WWE Championship and an Ula Fala around the groom’s neck.
Wedding guests were encouraged to cheer, and then the groom’s party struck The Bloodline’s pose. They even got some pyrotechnics in the mix. It was quite a show.
You can check out the video below. We’re not sure how the bride’s entrance turned out, but the groom popped those wedding guests in a big way.
Cheap Heat listener @BruinsHogan really took his wedding entrance levels above ☝🏼
We’ve seen fans insert pro wrestling entrances in their wedding reception in the past. Putting The Bloodline’s entrance into the actual ceremony is upping the ante.
It would also be irresponsible of us not to mention the epic table spot that went down during a wedding reception a couple of years ago. That also included the bride laying in some kendo stick shots after coming out to Becky Lynch’s entrance.
Showing your passion for pro wrestling and your spouse on your big day is a theme that we can certainly get behind.
WWE superstar Jey Uso is ready to welcome more members of his legendary family into the company. The company has made a strong effort to showcase the lineage of the Anoa?i Family with the Bloodline stable(Roman Reigns, The Rock, Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso), which fans have gravitated towards in recent years.
As the group continues to be a focal point on WWE TV, Jey has expressed interest in having other family members join the company to get a bigger spotlight.
In an interview with Battleground Podcast, Jey discussed the Bloodline’s success in WWE. He was also asked if he had any advice for other members of his family who may want to join the company and align themselves with the faction. While Jey is no longer in the group, he has no problem seeing unsigned talent from his family sign to be led by the ‘Tribal Chief.’
“Man, come. We family at the end of the day, come. Some of your worst enemies might be in your family, but at the end of the day, we are all still family,” said Jey.
Jey also noted that he likes that several family members wrestle for different promotions and are thriving. However, he wants to see everyone under the WWE umbrella.
“…I feel like if we all come to the big leagues, the WWE, bruh, it’s mindblowing what could happen,” said Jey. He added, “…Man, at least almost ten deep in there, Uce, like what, and let alone some big hitters. So, man, the future is bright is all I’m going to say.”
Popular Free Agents From The Anoa?i Family
Although Jey doesn’t share names, fans have wanted to see former MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu join WWE to side with the group. ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ is a free agent who has expressed interest in joining the company. Whether WWE wants to sign him is unclear, but fans hope a deal will be made soon.
Another famous free agent who could be heading to WWE is Tama Tonga. Although he isn’t related by blood, he is still considered family as the son of Haku. Multiple outlets reported that he is expected to sign with WWE after spending most of his career in New Japan Pro Wrestling. It’s unclear when he could debut, but he’s seemingly on track to be on the roster soon.
Jey may soon get his wish, as the company could make significant moves to sign two famous and accomplished members of the Anoa?i Family. Hopefully, this will lead to more great storytelling in WWE that will last for the next few years.
WWE SmackDown will air live in Memphis, Tennessee next week. Since they are in the heart of country music territory, The Rock is going to apparently play to the crowd in a big way on March 15.
Dwayne Johnson is a man with many skills. He isn’t limited to physical abilities, because he is also a man of artistic talent as well. He flexed his vocal prowess in the past, and this week’s SmackDown may see him put on another Rock Concert.
Spoiler for WWE SmackDown
The Rock has graced WWE fans with concerts in the past. With a guitar in tow, The Great One is known to bust out a song for a promo. Since his return to the fold on the road to WrestleMania 40, The People’s Champ has been on a tear.
Wrestle Votes posted on Twitter/X to reveal that sources have told them that The Rock might have a bit of a musical flare to his segment next week. This is a plan that has apparently been in the pipeline for a while.
According to sources, the much-anticipated return of ‘The Rock Concert’ could light up next week’s SmackDown, live from Memphis, TN. I’m told this idea has been brewing for weeks, with a possible announcement of it tonight on SD.
According to sources, the much-anticipated return of 'The Rock Concert' could light up next week's SmackDown, live from Memphis, TN. I’m told this idea has been brewing for weeks, with a possible announcement of it tonight on SD.
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be on SmackDown this week to answer The Rock’s WrestleMania challenge. A tag team match with Rock and Roman Reigns versus Cody and Seth is in the pipeline, with night two ramifications in play.
If the Bloodline wins that Mania tag match on night one, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for Cody vs Roman in the main event of night two. If Cody and Seth win, then the Bloodline will be barred from the event.
SEScoops will have complete coverage of WWE SmackDown this week. Keep checking back for more updates.
WWE’s dominant Bloodline was represented at House of Glory’s Reckoning event thanks to a member of the Anoa’i wrestling family working the show.
In the fourth match of the night, Lance Anoa’i challenged HOG Crown Jewel Champion Carlos Ramirez. Lance was introduced as “representing the Bloodline” and got many chants and gestures for it. Anoa’i also did moves connected to his family who are dominating on WWE SmackDown. Despite this, Ramirez hit a coast-to-coast headbutt followed by a pump handle driver to retain his title.
House of Glory Reckoning also saw several names from TNA Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling appear on the card. From AEW, fans in attendance saw Danhausen, Penta El Zero Miedo, and reigning HOG Heavyweight Champion Mike Santana on the card. TNA was represented by The Rascalz, Alex Shelley, and the new TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali.
House of Glory Reckoning Results
Here are the results for the House of Glory Reckoning event:#
HOG Cruiserweight Championship Suicidal Six-Way: KC Navarro defeats Nolo Kitano (c) (w/ The Anunnakis), Raheem Royal, Daron Richardson, Jay Armani, and Jay Lyon
Danhausen (w/ Brian Quinn) defeats “Sweet Cheeks” Joey Silver
Kamar Kouture & Kiki Van Gogh defeat Diamond Virago & The Ultra Violette
HOG Crown Jewel Championship: Carlos Ramirez (c) defeats The Bloodline’s Lance Anoa’i
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) defeats Cash Flow Inc. (Ken Broadway & J Boujii)
Charles Mason defeats Midas Black (w/ Jay Lyon)
Mustafa Ali defeats Alex Shelley
HOG Heavyweight Championship: Mike Santana (c) defeats Penta El Zero Miedo
Cody Rhodes may have a burning desire to finish his story at WrestleMania 40, but that doesn’t phase the Bloodline’s newest member The Rock.
Rhodes’ pursuit of a WWE World Championship has been the focal point of his return to WWE. Recently, the ‘We Want Cody’ movement led to WWE backing out of plans for The Rock to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. In response, The Rock has turned heel and has vowed to make sure Rhodes doesn’t finish his story this April.
F*** Your Story
Taking to social media, the Brahma Bull had a message for Rhodes and his ‘crybaby fans. The Brahma Bull explained that Rhodes made a serious mistake by bringing up his family at the WrestleMania kick-off event. The Great One concluded with a clear message to Rhodes and his story.
“Fans wanted to see the biggest WrestleMania event of all time. You took it away. Now, you’re going to pay. Cody Rhodes, from the bottom of my heart, man to man, f*** your story.”
The Rock will be a part of tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Cody Rhodes will also be part of SmackDown as part of his stacked March schedule. It’s unclear if Rhodes will appear during the show as unlike The Rock, he isn’t being advertised for an on-screen appearance.
