WWE SmackDown Top-3 Hits (08/02/24): Bloodline Rules for Summerslam, Knight cooks Logan Paul; more

For the first time in weeks, WWE SmackDown didn’t end with Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline putting Cody Rhodes or one of his compatriots through the announcer’s table and then standing over the carcass holding up the No. 1 — last week’s episode providing a pleasant break from that sitcom of events ahead of Summerslam 2024.

No, seriously, thanks for that.

One day before the premium live event in Cleveland, however, it was anyone’s guess what Sikoa and his band of unmerry men had up their sleeves for the WWE Champion, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens and whomever else wanted to try and aid him and/or what new round of disrespect they’d offer up to the still-absent Roman Reigns.

TOP-3 MOMENTS FROM LATEST WWE RAW

The rest of the men’s division was wrought with drama as well, as LA Knight ramps up to take on the now wildly controversial Logan Paul for the WWE United States Championship, the two mic men preparing to pull out all of the stops on Saturday but, first, what would they have to say to each other on Friday?

The women’s division isn’t any less dramatic, as Bayley continually tries to ward off Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton to remain whole for her title match with the former, as the latter waves her Money in the Bank briefcase around as a constant reminder that she could interfere when it matters most.

A new twist entered that soap opera this week, though.

The Blue Brand has fallen on stale times this summer, unlike the Red or the Black and Yellow Brands, and that means they needed a big show before the Big Show.

3. Sitcom Saturday?

Cody didn’t come dressed for a fight, surprisingly, considering he could find himself involved in one at any given moment when The Bloodline is in the building.

Tailored to perfection on Friday night, he opened this week’s episode of SmackDown with some potent words for Sikoa and Co.; and he did so with his usual level of fearlessness.

“What do we wanna talk about, or rather who do we wanna talk to?” asked Rhodes before answering his own rhetorical question. “Solo Sikoa.”

And though Sikoa isn’t Joe Hendry, his name was said and he appeared.

“You see me, Cody. I’m not weak,” said Sikoa as he, again, found a way to disrespect Reigns in his promo.

And not unlike a sitcom that is syndicated, we were treated to a rerun from the brain of Sikoa by way of a Bloodline Rules Match at Summerslam. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that’s what was originally presented by “The Final Boss” ahead of Wrestlemania 40 so, yeah, it’s been done.

Spoiler: Cody accepted.

“I’m not scared of you, you dumb son of a b-tch,” Rhodes told Jacob Fatu before ultimately turning to Sikoa and ending him with one line. “... And since the Tribal Chief isn’t here, I’ll settle for a wannabe.”

Ether.

The stage is now set for the champion to appear to be on an island at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday, which means he almost certainly will not be.

2. Hometown Jeer-O

The hometown hero isn’t so much that this week, but that’s a story for another article. The bottom line here is that Paul is back in Cleveland and with his title on the line against “The Megastar” LA Knight, and that gives him the distinct advantage.

Well, sorta, considering he was being booed … in his own hometown.

“If you think that you are gonna strip me of my United States Championship in my own hometow—,” said Paul before stopping short due to the jeers to take the next five minutes out of his promo to hurl insults at the crowd.

Sure, that’s how you win them over.

Paul went on to unveil a championship banner to celebrate being “the best that Cleveland” has ever produced, but a big, red “Yeah” was spray painted over it. I wonder who could’ve done such a thing.

“Lemme talk to ya!”

Indeed, it was Knight himself.

“My man, you better get serious. We’re 24 hours from Summerslam. We’re 24 hours from you losing that title and, considering last week, you’re lucky that’s the worst that’s happening to you right now,” said The Megastar as the crowd chanted his name … in Cleveland.

Knight then went backstage to locate another banner to replace the one he defaced, asking other superstars to aid in his scavenger hunt. He’d end up stealing Paul’s beloved Prime truck as the champion ran desperately to try and stop the grand theft auto — unsuccessfully.

Paul is usually an entertaining mic who matches serve with Knight, but his promo fell flat this week while Knight’s was everything it usually is: magnetically hilarious.

1. DI-Why

Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu found their way into a title shot for the men’s tag team titles against DIY by winning the gauntlet match last Friday, one that was dominated by the Street Profits, until it wasn’t.

This gives The Bloodline a chance to bring the titles back to the faction after having lost them long ago when The Usos saw their historic streak come to an end months ago. But as Sikoa looks to regain all of the gold he feels his brothers and cousin lost due to weakness, the onus was on Tonga and Fatu to get Summerslam weekend jumped off the right way.

They’d discover it was a task easier said-than-done.

DIY made life incredibly hard for the opponents and their chemistry was on display time and again, whereas Tama and Fatu have just began their tag duties together. Ciampa found himself a victim of a very predictable interference from Sikoa, who hit Ciampa with a Samoan Spike to nearly give The Bloodline the belts.

It didn’t work, but with Ciampa out for the remainder of the match, Fatu absorbed all of the punishment Gargano could provide before going on a series of relentless finishers to earn the pinfall and the belts.

Also equally as unpredictable: the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.