The Bloodline Timeline, Part 6: The Tribal Heir

With the Bloodline Saga having moved to its next phase, it’s time to start chronicling what has changed since WrestleMania. To do that here, Tanya of the Suplexes and Shea Butter Podcast has once again lent us her talents. You can find her at @TheWitchMilitia on Twitter. Check out Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here,, and Part 5 here.

Last time I gave an update on the Bloodline story, Roman Reigns was poised to defend the WWE Universal Championship against Jey Uso in Tribal Combat. As you are well aware, Jey was not victorious in said match (and has yet to be in any big solo title match since) due to Jimmy Uso returning to cost him the match. The following SmackDown, Jey Uso quit after superkicking his brother in the face.

Thanks to Cody Rhodes, this was not the end to Main Event Jey Uso’s story, as he was able to call in a favor and get Jey a spot on RAW, where his popularity soared. As of today, Jey and his ‘YEET’ catchphrase is one of if not the most popular act on the show. He honestly came out of the Bloodline ordeal in a much better position than before.

But I already did a piece on Jey, this isn’t about him. This article is focused on the third member brought into the Bloodline by the Tribal Chief. Solo Sikoa. The silent enforcer. The heir to the title of Tribal Chief. After Summerslam in 2023, Solo and his thumb played dream killer for several challengers to Reigns’ title, including LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. That was Solo’s position. And he did it well (except the one time he didn’t).

I also should mention that Solo defeated John Cena at Crown Jewel in 2023. Not that I feel like that win did anything for him. He went on a long losing streak. His role between Summerslam of 2023 to WrestleMania 40 was to help Roman Reigns win. To the point that everyone knew that would be how Roman would win every match.

Royal Rumble 2023, Cody Rhodes wins the Royal Rumble. He gets to finish his story, right?  Well, yes. Despite a Dwayne Johnson detour for a few days (if that), the American Nightmare defeated Roman Reigns in the main event of night 2 at WrestleMania 40 in one of the greatest main events of all time and definitely of Roman’s career.

In Roman’s absence, Solo began to slowly take over, much to the displeasure of Roman’s loyal wiseman, Paul Heyman. Week after week Solo would pull a major decision that Heyman was not privy too, such as including Tongans like Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa in the Bloodline, people that Paul knew Roman would not approve.

Solo began dressing like a mid range mob boss and adopting Roman’s mannerisms and catchphrases. His coup was complete the night he brought in Jacob Fatu, known in wrestling as the Samoan Werewolf. His trump card. Solo informed Heyman before this that Roman would not be coming back. Solo thinks Roman fears Jacob, in my opinion.

Speaking of opinion, there has been a lot of discussion online about whether or not Solo is believable in this new role, being the center of the Bloodline story now that Roman is gone. I feel it started off rough at first but has found its groove. Heyman carried the emotional beat of the story throughout so it will be interesting to see what is down now that he was been written out for a while.

When Solo revealed that he would be crowned Tribal Chief with the ula fala that Roman was gifted by his now deceased father when he was officially crowned Tribal Chief, Heyman refused to acknowledge him and was brutally attacked for it. Solo has become such a loathing figure that the crowd is now cheering the evil Paul Heyman and chanting that they want the guy that they booed out of buildings for years.

Solo may have bitten off more than he can chew with the moves he has made. Only time will tell. But you cannot argue with results after he became the first person to pin Cody Rhodes after he defeated Roman Reigns. If he is somehow able to pry the title from Cody having his feel good story continue, then he will have earned his title as Tribal Chief, despite what anyone else thinks.

This story has taken so many different directions, I think some of the way the Bloodline is presented is supposed to have the audience believe that they are not as good as the original Bloodline. I do not know if that is necessarily a good thing. I also want to caution people on having their minds made up on exactly how Roman will feel about what Solo is doing right now. As he would say, stay tuned!