Solo Sikoa, the Bloodline's current Tribal Chief, brutally calls out the former Tribal Chief on WWE Smackdown... and hints to fans that the rumor of Reigns making his grand return at SummerSlam 2024 are more than just rumors.
As Excitement Grows In The Week Leading Up To SummerSlam, Solo Sikoa Adds More Fuel to the Fire By Taking Roman Reigns' Name In A Promo.
Roman Reigns' wrestling career has been on and off for years, marked by long absences and epic comebacks.
In October of 2018, Reigns shocked wrestling fans by announcing that he had Leukemia. According to The Sportster , Reigns brought "even the most hardened wrestling fans to tears" by revealing that this was not his first battle with Leukemia. He revealed that he'd first been diagnosed with cancer in 2007 when he was playing football with the Minnesota Vikings. After this devastating announcement, Reigns surrendered the Universal Title and took a hiatus from WWE to begin treatment. This hiatus lasted until February 2019 when Reigns returned to Monday Night RAW to announce that he was in remission.
One year after his triumphant return, Roman Reigns had earned the title of Universal Champion and was scheduled to defend that title against Braun Strauman at Wrestlemania 36. Unfortunately for Reigns, this was right when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Reigns, who was immunocompromised due to his battle with Leukemia, was forced to withdraw from Wrestlemania 36. According to The Sportster, Reigns decided to take another hiatus from WWE to protect his health.
Reigns' return at Summerslam in August 2020 was no less than showstopping. Just when it seemed as though Bryan Wyatt "The Fiend" had won the Universal Championship against Braun Strowman, Reigns jumped into the ring, attacked both The Fiend and Strowman, picked up the Universal Title, and held it over his head. According to Inside the Ropes , Reigns secured the Universal Title a second time after defeating Wyatt and Strowmann at WWE Payback in August 2020, thus beginning his 1,316-day reign as the Universal Champion. According to The Sportster , this bold comeback also started his reign as the "Tribal Chief."
The Sportster reports that, in the early days of his reign as the Undisputed Universal Champion, Reigns appeared on every live event to defend his title. But since early 2022, Reigns has made fewer and fewer appearances. The Sportster reveals that, in early 2022, Reigns signed a new contract with WWE. As part of this new contract, Reigns decided to work on a reduced schedule. Reigns told the Sports Illustrated Media podcast that he made this decision because a reduced schedule would enable him to spend more time with his family. Reigns said "Someone who has five children, we're in a critical portion of their lives where they are so young and this is where we build these relationships and bonds and they get to know who their dad is. For me, it was extremely important that I can build my fatherhood as the priority and the number one hat that I wear."
In 2023, Reigns only wrestled 11 matches , 9 of which were to defend the title. As of July 2024, Reigns has not wrestled since Wrestlemania 40 in April, where he lost his title of Undisputed Universal Champion to Cody Rhodes. In Reigns' absence, Solo Sikoa has stepped up and become the Bloodline's new Tribal Chief. According to The Sportster , Sikoa has made significant changes to the Bloodline, including the addition of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa and the removal of Jimmy Uso.
Since Reigns lost his title at Wrestlemania 40, fans have been eagerly awaiting an epic Roman Reigns Comeback. However, there has been speculation among WWE fans about when (and even if) Reigns will return.
In late June, Solo Sikoa, the new Tribal Chief himself, shocked fans and Paul Heyman with a bold statement regarding Reigns' return. The main event of that episode of WWE Smackdown was a match between Sikoa and Cody Rhodes. However, before the match, there was a backstage segment of Sikoa talking to Heyman. According to Wrestletalk , Heyman told Sikoa about some instructions he'd received from Roman Reigns after Wrestlemania 40. Among these rules , Heyman stated that Reigns wanted Sikoa and the rest of the Bloodline to simply keep Cody Rhodes "under control" so Reigns could go after him when he returned. Sikoa responded by telling Heyman that Reigns is "not coming back." Though Sikoa didn't elaborate on this devastating news or where he'd learned it, Sikoa claimed that he told Heyman "because he loved him."
Bleacher Report states that, in early July, many wrestling fans speculated that Roman Reigns would make his grand return at Money in the Bank. But, unfortunately, that didn't happen and fans walked out of Money in the Bank still not knowing if or when Roman Reigns would be back.
According to Wrestling Flash , even though fans fill the arena with chants of "We want Roman!" every week, Triple H might postpone Reigns' much-anticipated return to ensure that the current WWE storylines will progress a certain way. Wrestling Flash quotes The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, saying "'Cody Rhodes is a -5000 favorite to retain the WWE title over Solo Sikoa. The real story is whether or not Roman Reigns returns at the end of or after this match. It's inevitable this happens, and the timing feels right, but they also could easily save this for months down the line as Reigns vs. Sikoa feels like a Wrestlemania match to go with Rhodes vs. the Rock.'"
However, there is still hope that fans will get to see Roman Reigns make his grand return to the ring.
On last week's episode of WWE Smackdown, Solo Sikoa, along with the other members of the family stable, issued a warning to Roman Reigns during a promo. In this promo, Sikoa called out Cody Rhodes, who he will be facing at SummerSlam 2024. Sikoa said "'Cody, I will see you face-to-face next week. The same night that my Tonyas will bring back the tag team titles to the Bloodline, before I bring back the undisputed WWE title to the Bloodline at your expense. In one weekend, the Bloodline will handle family business.'" Calling out the former tribal chief, Sikoa added "'Roman Reigns, you have a problem with me, you know where to find me. So you can end up like Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes. And acknowledge me!'" According to Pinkvilla , the phrases "'in one weekend, the Bloodline will handle family business'" and "'you know where to find me'" hint that Roman Reigns will be making his grand return at SummerSlam 2024 on August 3rd.
On July 27th, the official WWE X account posted a preview of an all-new episode of Biography focusing on Roman Reigns and the "special bond" between him and Paul Heyman. X user TjRredwolf pointed out that WWE posting this might also be a hint that Roman Reigns will be returning at SummerSlam 2024.
As Summerslam 2024 grows closer, fans have taken to social media to express their excitement for the long-awaited return of Roman Reigns.
SummerSlam 2024 is certainly shaping up to be exciting. Between CM Punk's return to the ring after 6 months, Solo Sikoa going up against Cody Rhodes to bring the Universal Champion Title back to the Bloodline, and the rumored returns of Roman Reigns and AJ Lee, there is no doubt that SummerSlam 2024 will have wrestling fans on the edge of their seats.
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