Rikishi "confirmed" to be at Payback on September 2

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.