The thunderous clamor surrounding SummerSlam has barely faded, and already WWE fans are buzzing with excitement about what’s to come at the forthcoming Payback event on September 2.
The driving factor behind this excitement isn’t just the potential matchup/s or the jaw-dropping turn of events that took place during SummerSlam. No, this time, it’s a now-deleted social media post that has the wrestling community on its toes.
Rikishi, a WWE Hall of Famer, renowned for his in-ring prowess and signature dance moves, recently posted an innocent announcement about an upcoming meet and greet in Carlsbad, CA. Yet, a particular line in the announcement caught a lot of eyes: “Come meet Rikishi before he referees at WWE Payback.” Such a declaration would be understandable, with him joining the upcoming WWE PLE considering the current intense state of affairs between his twin sons, Jimmy and Jey Uso.
Wrong promoter mistake 🤣⬇️ https://t.co/bMo21GQ2KM
— RIKISHI FATU (@TheREALRIKISHI) August 11, 2023
To the uninitiated, Jimmy Uso recently sent shockwaves through the wrestling community with his unexpected betrayal of Jey at SummerSlam. This treachery cost Jey the match against Roman Reigns, the title of Tribal Chief, and, of course, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. On the August 11 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Jimmy tried to explain his actions as an attempt to shield Jey from the corrupting power of the Tribal Chief role that has so distorted Reigns, which his twin brother replied in kind with superkicks and a farewell to the WWE universe.
Given the fraternal animosity, the presence of their father, Rikishi, as a referee in a potential bout between the brothers at Payback would be poetic, intensifying an already electric narrative. After all, who could be better equipped to ensure impartiality and fairness than the father of the two combatants?
However, Rikishi’s post raised more questions than it answered. The potentially revealing line was soon removed and in its place was a more mundane announcement. Was this an inadvertent disclosure, a hint towards an upcoming plot twist? Or merely an oversight by a promoter?
Rikishi, when confronted with the initial graphic by an inquisitive fan, saying, “Wrong promoter mistake.” But, with this response, rather than clarifying matters, Rikishi only further muddied the waters. Did the promoter mistakenly leak a well-guarded secret, or was the entire claim of Rikishi’s involvement at Payback baseless to begin with?
This recent development draws attention to the intriguing journey of The Bloodline. At SummerSlam, a unique match, Tribal Combat, took place. However, despite its distinctive name, the stipulations of this bout closely resembled a more “normal” no-disqualification match. Should the rumored Payback face-off between Jimmy and Jey come to fruition, fans would likely crave a stipulation that is more impactful.
The larger question remains – where does WWE intend to take this storyline? Earlier reports suggest that the WWE is hesitant about stretching the Usos’ narrative all the way to WrestleMania, but booking just one match between Jimmy and Jey seems like a waste. With the undercurrent of sibling rivalry reminiscent of iconic face-offs like Bret vs. Owen Hart in 1994, this feud has the potential to be either a historic spectacle or a forgettable squabble.
For now, the trajectory of this narrative remains veiled in uncertainty. Whether Rikishi will donn the referee stripes for a potentially climactic match between his sons at Payback or if this entire episode was an innocent gaffe remains unclear. What’s undeniable, however, is the heightened intrigue surrounding the future of The Bloodline and the WWE universe’s keenness to see the story unfold. Whatever the outcome, one can only hope that the impending chapters in this saga live up to the dramatic precedent set by its prologue.
