MR. TITO: Has the Bloodline Storyline Been Disappointing Since WWE Wrestlemania 40?

There are several truths that I just have to accept about today’s WWE… That period between Wrestlemania and SummerSlam (basically May through July) doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t, as seen by Roman Reigns disappearing for that entire chunk of time. Secondly, WWE sorta cares about SummerSlam but after that, they don’t for the rest of the year (September through December). What matters to the WWE is the Royal Rumble to Wrestlemania timeframe.

Thus, if you really want to SAVE TIME as a wrestling fan, just buy WWE Network for January through April and August… You’ll be good otherwise.

So with that, I need to understand that WWE wasn’t purposely giving us their best product following Wrestlemania 40. Roman Reigns disappeared, the Rock appeared on the RAW after Wrestlemania 40 and then he suddenly disappeared too. Cody Rhodes got to feud with an older AJ Styles for multiple events. Viewership and attendance did decline, though granted, it declined from all-time highs seen for the past 15 years.

Within this timeframe, and it has building since the present, is the “new” Bloodline with Solo Sikoa as its leader. With Roman Reigns gone and NOT showing up again until August’s SummerSlam 2024 show and the Rock disappearing for an even longer period of time (still unknown where he’s officially at), it was a chance for the Bloodline to re-align itself. Well, it began doing so by pushing Solo as the new de-facto leader and soon, he added the likes of Tama Tonga (debuted on the Smackdown following Wrestlemania 40, attacking Jimmy Uso) and Tonga Loa (debuted at Backlash France 2024). Jacob Fatu would appear later during June on an episode of Smackdown where he attacked everyone inside the ring. The Bloodline was now Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa.

Now, before we get too deep into the semantics of the new Bloodline, let’s talk about marketing… Who on earth allowed the names of “Tama Tonga” and “Tonga Loa” to happen? At the very least, have them both with the last names of “Tonga” rather than one having it as a last name and another as the first name. While I understand that both guys are adoptive brothers, just let them have the same last name to acknowledge that they were both raised by Haku whose real first name is “Tonga”. I understand that there are family reasons why they prefer those names, but we’re not in the family as wrestling fans. If Leati Joseph Anoa’I can be renamed to “Roman Reigns”, then both Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa can get better names, too. Joseph Yokozuna Fatu (amazing name, by the way) was changed to “Solo Sikoa”, too, and the funny thing about that is he’s brothers with Jimmy and Jey Uso and yet WWE didn’t give him the “Uso” last name at all (despite acknowledging they are brothers on-screen!).

But I’m also not a fan of the Bronson Reed addition… You could argue a good case in comparison is Sami Zayn, who obviously doesn’t have family ties to the rest of the group. However, he went through hell to earn their trust and was ultimately the deciding factor that caused the Bloodline to break-up. Post Wrestlemania 39 saw a rift between Jey Uso and Roman Reigns, while Jimmy was torn… All of that was due to the drama that Sami Zayn caused the group. Bronson Reed was just randomly inserted into the group. Sure, it’s for the sake of Survivor Series, but 4 on 4 Survivor Series matches have happened and they were pretty good.

However, I need to be real on the “new” Bloodline. Besides Jacob Fatu, I really see a talent mismatch and disadvantage between them and the “Oldschool” Bloodline with Roman Reigns, the Usos, and Sami Zayn with over a decade of WWE experience each at a high level.

I’m in disagreement that Solo Sikoa being the leader of the “New” Bloodline. While his promo skills are greatly improving, I’ll give him that, he’s still learning his craft as an in-ring performer and overall entertainer. He debuted during April 2018 and in just over 4 years, made it to the WWE main roster at 29 years of age. That’s pretty quick, though acceptable as a midcard wrestler of the group. However, when he’s expected to perform at a higher level and main event on occasion, THAT’S DIFFERENT. It’s the SAME EXACT ARGUMENT we had about overpushing Roman Reigns since 2014 when he wasn’t ready. Like Roman for much of the 2010s, he’s somewhat lost inside the ring and needs an opponent to carry him through a match.

I don’t know what y’all are seeing with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa… I think many of you hop on Dave Meltzer’s hipster bandwagon and act like you enjoy New Japan Pro Wrestling just to somehow impress others online, but neither guy has significantly contributed to WWE other than being a placeholder for the REAL Bloodline feud that will evolve later this year between Roman Reigns and the Rock. While I think Tama Tonga works better in the WWE environment thanks to his intensity with his character, a lot of that was neutered when Jacob Fatu debuted and had that same intensity. His role was no longer special as sort the vicious enforcer of Solo.

Then you have Tonga Loa… There are highlight reels online of the odd things that he’s done in the ring, whether it was botches or just being involved in the goofy and markish stuff that plays better for an AEW crowd. To me, he’s just a warm body who takes a beating before they can eventually reach Solo or Jacob Fatu and it’s painfully obvious. We’re in 1997-1998 NWO mode here where lower level guys are being added to a once prominent group.

If you want my opinion, they couldn’t real The Rock fast enough to be the secret partner of the “New” Bloodline.

While I’m happy that Jacob Fatu exists in the WWE ecosystem now, he’s praising and propping up a weak character as his leader in Solo Sikoa. It just doesn’t feel right, as the bigger impact would have been Jacob being introduced as Rock’s bodyguard rather than Solo’s (maybe it still ends up that way?). But Jacob’s character fawning over Solo is BAD WRITING in my opinion because he’s worshipping an in-ring performer who is inferior and less experienced than him. Thus, it reduces the impact of Jacob Fatu being in the WWE. Granted, WWE wants to be careful on Fatu, given his criminal past and seeing him “eat chow” is a means to build trust.

For Bronson Reed, his addition to the “new” Bloodline is a “meh” moment for me. Overall good talent, but it seems everything is forced thanks to the guy that signed him, Triple H, wanting to make it happen for him. There’s a reason why he was released through 2021 and then didn’t make much of an impact until he returned as part of Triple H doubling down on his signed talents that Vince McMahon released. AEW during 2020-2022 was signing anyone with WWE experience and they never bit on him. Personally, I’m just not seeing any intangibles that makes him exceptional enough to feud with Seth Rollins at a high level recently, which felt forced. Having him in the “new” Bloodline feels like desperate booking to get this Triple H project over, once and for all!

And here’s where I’ll get controversial… And before I boldly say this, let me express that I’ve been a huge fan and supporter of Samoan Swat Team, Yokozuna, Rikishi, the Usos, and the later incarnation of Roman Reigns when he wasn’t a scripted John Cena clone. If you think that I’m somehow “racist” for my next opinion, then you can SHOVE IT just like I told you when I gave valid opinions on women’s wrestling and you called me “sexist” for that.

Here’s the fact that many refuse to admit… Not everyone from the family tree is talented, and that goes for other generational talents as well. Ted Dibiase’s son, Ted Jr., didn’t fair well. Verne Gagne and Bill Watts’s kids weren’t that strong of workers. Bruno’s son struggled inside the ring. Not every Hart or Von Erich had what it took inside the ring (RIP for several of them). British Bulldog and Scott Hall had sons who tried to make it, while it appears that Tully Blanchard’s daughter struggles to build relationships to make her matter in this business. While Ric Flair has Charlotte, her older brother David Flair couldn’t figure it out (David is the one who is still alive, Reid is the one who passed away in case anyone gets outraged at what I just said).

Nepotism and inside connections can be easily claimed if the next generations of wrestlers aren’t good enough. IN MY OPINION, Solo Sikoa isn’t ready for the main event scene though I believe he could be great down the road in like 4-5 years. Remember, Roman Reigns struggled as a singles talent from 2014 through early 2020. Then, in August 2020, Roman changed his character and had a better mentor in Paul Heyman to advise him. Solo has had Heyman help him from the start, rather than with much more experience underneath his belt. Thus, it’s very likely that Solo is working a style that attempts to mask his weaknesses rather than eliminate them. Hence why he works a very one-dimensional style.

Listen, I know Haku is a well trusted veteran and should be respected as such… But both of his sons, real and adopted, appeared randomly within the WWE without any hype. At least with Solo Sikoa, you saw him in NXT and respected the build-up to the main WWE roster. There’s a reason why Tonga Loa didn’t last with the WWE, as he was in Florida Championship Wrestling and NXT through 2014. He just wasn’t catching on in the developmental system. I mostly like Tama Tonga and his intensity, but him just appearing out of no where without any build up or introduction to WWE fans has hurt him. Having Jacob Fatu literally do the same intense character, but with better in-ring impact, has hurt him as well.

Reportedly, there are other family members that they are looking at, or may have possibly signed, that we’ll see in the WWE soon. What I’d strongly advise is to LEARN FROM MISTAKES… Be careful on pushing inexperienced or unhyped wrestlers as replacements for what was truly special, the OG Bloodline of Roman and the Usos. Solo was a great addition to the OG Bloodline but only because he existed in a non-wrestling role of just hitting that Samoan Spike to help Roman Reigns cheat to win. When he wrestled, that’s when the inexperience was on display.

This “new” Bloodline just isn’t good enough to even come close to winning at Survivor Series and I think the only saving grace would be the Rock revealing himself to be the true leader of the group. I think that’s what we’re going to get, but the “new” Bloodline will instantly be about the Rock and won’t disregard the lack of build-up for introducing Haku’s sons or Solo’s inexperience.

And here’s a real signal of the WEAKNESS of the group… Remember that bold attack on Paul Heyman? While that was intense, more people spoke about the performance of Paul Heyman versus how Solo, Jacob, and Haku’s sons did in executing that attack. THAT is an issue, because interest in that group was a tad bolstered by Paul Heyman’s storyline arc of refusing to acknowledge Solo Siko as the “new” Tribal Chief.

Ironically, Paul Heyman’s storyline total exposed the “new” Bloodline lead by an inexperienced Solo Sikoa working the main event scene. Not the wisest booking decision, in hindsight, to have one of the most experienced minds in Paul Heyman rejecting your talents. The guy has an entire career of leaching off of top talents and yet he rejects Solo? Hell, he tried to make Ryback work and yet he doesn’t want Solo?

Roman taking OVER a month to react to Paul Heyman’s attack, while not really acknowledging that attack was also a bad writing decision by WWE Creative. Heyman being attacked should have prompted Roman to return earlier, but his silence was deafening. It didn’t matter that Heyman was attacked and in the long-run, it was just a one-week storyline to pop ratings rather than mattering long-term.

It’s only NOW, on the November 15th edition of WWE Smackdown, that Roman Reigns shows any care about what happened to Paul Heyman. From late June through mid-November, Roman Reigns cared NOTHING about his lead advocate being attacked. What the hell, Triple H and the Creative Team?

THAT has made everyone in the process look weak… The “new” Bloodline got away with literally murdering Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns did nothing between June 28th and SummerSlam on August 3rd, and yet he really hasn’t mentioned Heyman until a brief segment on Smackdown on November 15th. Ehhhhh, I think the only reason why Triple H will win “booker of the year” is because no other wrestling promotions have compelling booking right now. After Heyman was attacked, there should have been repercussions for what Solo, Jacob, and the Haku brothers did. However, there was nothing at all and Roman took forever to react, focusing more on Solo wearing his necklace rather than his friend, Paul Heyman, being viciously attacked.

And I swear to God, FINGER OF SHAME if the WWE somehow has Paul Heyman joining the “new” Bloodline after he was attacked. THAT’s bad booking, too, because Heyman shouldn’t have to cover for inexperience or talents that aren’t up to main event snuff. He works perfectly with Roman Reigns or any main event wrestlers who aren’t on every RAW or Smackdown. Heyman can speak on behalf of a part-time star and keep the heat going while Brock is taking Sable to poundtown or Roman is spending time with his family. Otherwise, it will be just like Heyman trying to cover for weaknesses of Ryback, Curtis Axel, and Cesaro.

Many may think that the Rock and Paul Heyman could be magical together, but keep in mind that Rock has worked all of his career without a manager and being the main mouthpiece. Even when he worked for the Corporation during 1998-1999, he got to speak a ton despite Vince and Shane McMahon also requiring their television time. I’d be careful on that part…

And I think fans are ready to embrace a babyface Paul Heyman. Every wrestling fan loves the guy and were quite proud of his work rebuilding Roman Reigns and helping Jey Uso work as a solid solo talent. Ditto with rebuilding Sami Zayn. With time and as needed, Heyman could turn back to the darkside but the logical place him to be is working with the OG Bloodline to help stomp out this legitimate threat posed by the “Final Boss” in with the Rock.

It needs to be legitimately said, though… Either WWE Creative and Triple H were off-their-game following Wrestlemania 40 *OR* they legitimately don’t care unless it’s Rumble to Wrestlemania season. Take your pick, because I have a feeling that Wrestlemania 41 will be exceptional during 2025 and WWE may pull out all of the stops to ensure that the Netflix relationship remains permanently strong.

I’m OK with May through December being the “off-season” by the WWE, as long as the wrestlers pushed during that off-season aren’t featured prominently during the true “regular season” of Rumble to Wrestlemania. Solo Sikoa isn’t ready to be a main eventer, YET. Maybe in 3, 4, or 5 years, which will equal the experience that Roman needed to begin carrying the WWE from August 2020 and onward. But he’s not ready for the main event scene yet and the Haku brothers are further behind due to the LACK of developing them on the WWE brand. You can’t just shove someone on television and instantly call them “great”. Jacob Fatu worshipping a weaker and inexperienced talent in Solo hasn’t done him justice, either.

There you go, AEW fans… I just proved that I can be critical of the WWE, too.

So, yeah, they’ll try to make the “new” Bloodline versus OG Bloodline matter, but they’ve already watered it down by extending it to 5 on 5. LESS IS MORE, guys, which is what stables like the New World Order failed to realize.

Remember when they split the great NOW stable into 2 factions, NWO Hollywood and NWO Wolfpack. Could anyone tell me how that worked out again? Oh yeah, began WCW on the path to losing money by presenting fans with a WEAKER version of the once-great group. Sound familiar?

Luckily for the WWE, Roman Reigns is still in his prime and he’ll make whatever happens next as interesting.

With the Rock’s latest film, Red One, struggling in the Box Office, it will be interesting to see how much more participation he’ll have with the WWE for early 2025. If he’s really good, we’ll see how he can uplift the “new” Bloodline who were struggling for 2024 since Wrestlemania 40.

Don’t believe me? Numbers don’t lie on WWE Smackdown viewership…

January 2,433,000
February 2,468,500 +35500
March 2,312,600 (155,900)
April 2,393,750 +81150
May 2,183,800 (209,950)
June 2,197,500 +13700
July 2,245,500 +48000
August 2,160,800 (84,700)
September 1,639,000 (521,800) –> USA Network Switch
October 1,491,500 (147,500)
November 1,482,000 (9,500)

Even before the switch to USA Networks, they were in the process of losing 200,000 viewers since Wrestlemania 40 and now on Cable, they’ve lost 1,000,000 even with Roman Reigns appearing on the shows.

I think we may have either seen the Bloodline peak through Wrestlemania 40, bad booking decisions since Wrestlemania 40, or the WWE only cares about Rumble to Wrestlemania. Take your pick… But I just don’t think 2 Bloodlines against each other is sticking like it could, particularly with Solo’s led group of unknowns and him being an unknown as well.

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