It’s official: the stage is set for an explosive confrontation between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso on August 5 at SummerSlam. The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship is on the line, as is the status of Tribal Chief. However, there is much more to this rivalry, with emotional complexity, familial ties, and character development adding extra depth to an already thrilling story.
Jey Uso and Roman Reigns’ face-off on SmackDown brought the simmering tensions between the two to a boiling point, setting the stage for their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on August 5. This isn’t just any match though, but a Tribal Combat – a no holds barred, anything goes confrontation dictated by The Bloodline elders.
The feud between Reigns and Uso has been building for months – you could argue that the seeds were planned years ago – stemming from when Jey turned his back on The Bloodline to align with his brother, Jimmy, against the faction. The Usos claimed a victory against Solo Sikoa and Reigns at Money In The Bank, marking the first time Reigns had been pinned since December 2019. But, it was a Pyrrhic victory, as Reigns and Sikoa retaliated with a brutal beatdown of Jimmy Uso, effectively taking him out of the equation and leaving Jey hungry for revenge.
The “Rules of Engagement” segment on SmackDown was highly charged. Reigns, in an attempt to belittle Jey, called him as a mere “pawn in the game.” Undeterred, Jey tore up the contract and declared, “Because the contract is in the blood. This right here, this is Tribal Combat now.” An agreement was made with a handshake, a moment charged with anticipation and enmity.
However, the tension didn’t end there. Solo Sikoa, Reigns’ younger brother, attempted to attack Jey, an action prevented by Reigns. This paints a picture of an increasingly unpredictable Solo Sikoa, suggesting a desire to become the Tribal Chief himself, a development that adds another layer of intrigue to the saga.
Jey, a multi-time tag team champ with his brother, Jimmy, has shown tremendous growth as a singles competitor in recent years. So far, Jey has shown that he’s more than capable of rising to the occasion. He consistently held SmackDown’s main events from fall 2020 to mid-2021, and although a world-title run may still seem like a stretch, who knows? The WWE might throw us a curveball and make Jey Uso the new Tribal Chief and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Fans of Cody Rhodes would certainly revolt, but it wouldn’t be the first time that the WWE had done something out of the norm.
With that said, despite his significant growth, however, Jey seems torn. Last Friday, he stood defiant against The Bloodline. This week, in the face of Reigns, he appears uncertain, torn between what he believes is right and the power Reigns holds over him. The character development throughout the storyline has been nothing short of phenomenal.
The impending clash at SummerSlam is anticipated to be one of the most emotionally fueled matches of the year. With the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and the status of Tribal Chief on the line, it promises high stakes and drama.
The Bloodline saga has showcased both Reigns’ and Uso’s immense talent. This story, with its intricate web of family ties, emotional intensity, and high stakes, is bound to be a wrestling epic.
As the saga continues to unfold, fans are left on the edge of their seats, eager to see how this story ends, and what new beginnings it might pave the way for.
