Roman Reigns Gets Destroyed By The Bloodline On Smackdown

So, is SmackDown just phoning it in because they have grand plans to boost ratings on their future network, or is WWE showing FOX that a lack of ‘loyalty’ gets you week in and week out? It is difficult to say to what degree SmackDown is apathetic in its booking, but it seems fair to at least suggest that SmackDown’s best days are yet to come. But then WWE cannot blame fans when they paraphrase GreenDay by responding: ‘Wake me up when September begins.’

Acknowledging The Fans-Reading The Room

We got our first hint at a potential shift in direction with Solo at the helm of the Bloodline. The first segment for the Bloodline took place backstage, with Toma Tonga telling Solo he would handle Roman if he got in the ring.

Solo was quick to dismiss Toma’s sentiments, and he instead claimed that if Roman took the Ula Fala from him, then he would be the Tribal Chief (good thing the fans don’t have a vote in Bloodline politics because the entire Orlando crowd was chanting “O.T.C”). Solo then surprisingly admitted that if Roman Reigns were to take it, he (Solo) would acknowledge him—adding that he expects Roman to acknowledge him if he’s unsuccessful in usurping the usurper.

What was not clear until the final segment of the night was that Tama and Solo were the only members of the current Bloodline in attendance. With Jacob Fatu donning a boot on his injured leg, the lack of initial backup plays into Solo’s earlier comments as he contends with the difference between desire and realistic expectations. Solo came out dressed to fight, literally in his gear, and that underscored the moment for him. And that was in direct contrast to Roman the vet, Roman the leader, dressed casually in a cutoff hoodie branded OTC (I’m sure available on WWE’s Shop) and some joggers. For Roman, this was not a fight; it was simply him setting things right.

Then, Roman took out Solo and Tama Tonga with ease (too much ease), and what seemed like a sequence of events was reduced to a single moment. That moment was seeing Roman in the ring with the crowd behind him going nuts as he grabbed the Ula Fala and placed it over his head. Before he put it on, you expected something or someone to stop him, but it was around his neck and instantly felt right again in the Universe©. The best of SmackDown over the past several years looked exactly like what we saw once again in the ring—Roman on top.

However, it was all a misdirection because the Bloodline was not alone, and the moment we had been waiting for happened, the one we thought we’d have to wait to see on the USA Network in September: Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu were in the same ring, but only one was prepared for it. As it seemed like we were in store for a total changing of the guard, we instead got to see the first glimpse of perhaps the toughest challenge to the ‘old guard.’ SmackDown ended with all three men dominating Roman and standing tall over him, a familiar scene, sure, but not like this. And not since Paul Heyman has the Bloodline felt so authenticated.

It was not the big guns-blazing showdown between Roman and Fatu, but it was a taste of the best that’s yet to come. What do you get when you’re not forced down the fan’s throats on the main stage year after year when you make a fighter earn everything they have in the toughest indie circles around? You get Jacob Fatu.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade

The feud that spans this year’s MITB continued this week as both Hayes and Andrade geared up for singles action against one another yet again, though Andrade holds a 2-0 record against the first-round SD pick in this year’s draft. The rivalry was raised last week after Hayes cost Andrade, the current ‘SPEED’ champion, a shot at the US title, and that loss was Andrade’s first in singles action since he returned seven months ago—a perfect way to simply raise the stakes. There is a Booker T-Benoit “Best of Seven Series” from their WCW run circa ’98 as they intensify the feud only to have it reflect their performances and show their desperation to win. We know both Hayes and Andrade are great and both are potential champions, but their competitive nature raises each other’s game and makes the fans feel like the win matters.

Tonight, Hayes pulled off the victory with an Owen Hart ‘sneak pin’ on an Andrade caught off-guard. They would end up getting into a brawl after the match, and now there is a meaningful match without a title that the fans are reacting to—the Orlando crowd chanted ‘let them fight’ after WWE officials pulled them apart.

Queen For The Day(s)… Until September 13

SmackDown opened tonight’s episode live from Orlando, Florida, with Queen of the Ring winner and current champ Nia Jax receiving (another) celebratory segment—kayfabe decorated by Tiffany Straton. Straton has been the women’s division’s ‘summer darling’; her stock has hit all-time highs based on her work over the past several months. Beginning at Money in the Bank for many, her performances have catapulted her to a fan favorite despite her placement as a heel.

The story brewing between Nia and Tiffy is, ‘When will the “friendship” deteriorate enough to get an MITB cash-in?’ However, for now, the program is going through the motions – taking its lead from the show itself – and Mia Yim came into the ring to ruin the unicorn-themed party with Pretty Deadly as the entertainment. She cleared the ring with a kendo stick, and the fans seemed happy enough to have Prince and Wilson stop singing.

Tidbits/In-Ring Action

• Kevin Owens, the number one contender for the richest prize in WWE, wrestled Grayson Waller in a hybrid comedy match. It was solid action, and KO was in great form all around, but how did this build the championship match for ‘Bash in Berlin.’ There was an interesting moment when KO screamed at Waller, “You wanted the old KO,” as A-Town Down surrounded him. That is when Cody’s music hit, and he came in for the save. With the chair in his hands and Cody’s back to him, KO hinted at a potential turn. Then, he swiped the title belt as Cody went to grab it, but KO ultimately handed it back to Cody, and things stayed cordial… for now.
• TAG TEAM WRESTLING is back, and the match between DIY and Street Profits highlighted different eras of tag team excellency from within the NXT promotion. At a time when tag team wrestling was nearly nonexistent on WWE TV, NXT was the company’s tag team renaissance, and both teams span that era. The match was an insanely good TV match, Street Profits pulled off the win and are now the number one contender to the Bloodline champs.
• Jaleen Brunson (Knicks) was asked during the first day of the “Fanatics” show that has been heavily promoted on WWE programming for the past couple of months if he would consider getting in the ring with Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton in a more official capacity in WWE. The pair shared a viral moment in the ring earlier this summer, and many fans caught vibes of Dennis Rodman (Rodzilla) and Carl Malone’s program in WCW decades ago with excitement for a potential program between current stars. Brunson had a knack for expressions, and Haliburton just looked like he was having fun. Both of their energies could be a useful boost to WWE’s pop culture platform. “I’m never going to say never, but um, maybe we can speak it into existence,” Brunson told the panel.
• Blair Davenport defeated Naomi in singles action despite a backstage segment hyping her up.
• WWE paid tribute to the late Afa Anoai (Wild Somans). He is a legendary talent who paved the way for some of today’s biggest superstars, including Roman Reigns and The Rock, Afa, and his tag partner Sika.
• LA Knight will defend his US title against Escobar
• Trick Williams was shown in the crowd, and commentary promoted him as a highlight of NXT’s move to CW. He will certainly be on a fast track when the time comes.