WWE Friday Night SmackDown has a new home on the USA Network, after 5 years on Fox, WWE’s Blue Brand had its Season Premiere on the USA Network in Seattle, WA, opening with a WWE Championship match, as Cody Rhodes retained his WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa in a bruising and intense steel cage match.
The Bloodline swarmed the champion after the bell, before Roman Reigns returned to set up a tag team match between himself and Cody Rhodes vs Solo Sioa and Jacob Fatu at Bad Blood. Elsewhere, Randy Orton arrived to be Kevin Owens’s mystery tag team partner in a win over A-Town Down Under, Michin made fast work of Piper Niven, both Bayley and Naomi challenged Women’s World Champion, Nia Jax, and Andrade set up a US title shot against LA Knight by beating Carmelo Heyes in their latest encounter.
Cody Rhodes
And still your WWE Champion
What an opening to the new era of SmackDown! Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa in a grueling and physical steel cage match, before loudly declaring that he was done with the new Tribal Chief. However, The Bloodline was far from done with Cody. As Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu entered the cage and began to maul the WWE Champion, Roman Reigns’s music hit to a thunderous reception and the duo cleared house.
Cody initially refused to be Reigns’ tag-team partner at Bad Blood, though a second Bloodline assault attempt was enough to cause him to reconsider. Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes vs Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu is the perfect next chapter in the Bloodline story, and with Survivor Series on the horizon, the future looks white-hot at the top of SmackDown.
Roman Reigns
Roman’s road to redemption starts now
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend” is great in principle, but Roman Reigns has spent the last few years torturing the entire male half of the WWE roster. His depravity plumbed such depths that it’s impossible to think of who would stand alongside The OTC. Cody Rhodes may have appreciated his help in the cage, but he immediately shut down the idea of helping Reigns. This is certain to be a recurring feature of Roman’s future. Rhodes might have caved quickly. Others won’t be so fast.
It has been an understated return from WWE’s most popular performer since appearing at SummerSlam. His stock remains sky-high despite his 2024 attendance record. The intrigue about where he goes as a babyface who is fully over for the first time is at a fever pitch. The real road to recovery starts now. Heaven help everyone.
Kevin Owens and Randy Orton
Not even “Ricky” can stop their momentum
Is there a more likable duo in WWE at present than Kevin Owens and Randy Orton? After it initially looked like a local wrestler called Ricky was to be KO’s mystery partner against A-Town Down Under, Randy Orton made his way to the ring. After KO delivered a stunner to Ricky for his troubles (poor Ricky!), the ensuing tag match was a ton of fun. A double “vintage Randy Orton” spot, ahead of thumping the canvas in unison before hitting a dual stunner and RKO combo for the win.
It’s easier to imagine a feud in their future than a tag team title run but, for now, Owens and Orton are a blast. Tough and fun in equal measure, it’s going to be an interesting few weeks ahead for the pair.
Andrade
Winning an excellent series with Carmelo Hayes brings its reward
For pure in-ring spectacle, the series of five technical wrestling clinics put on by Andrade and Carmelo Hayes has been incredible viewing. The series was tied at two apiece going into this latest match-up, where Andrade would snatch the victory to earn an opportunity at LA Knight’s United States Championship. Yeah.
It has been a rough few years for him, but this is the most buzz Andrade has had in a while. More of this kind of action and he can turn that buzz into something special. Still, it’s hard to imagine LA Knight being dethroned so quickly, so a loss in his first big title match could hurt Andrade’s future even more. Time will tell.
Andrade last challenged for a championship in WWE on June 8th, 2020 in a triple threat with Kevin Owens and United States Champion, Apollo Crews.
Michin vs Piper Niven
Two of the women’s division’s rising stars are cut short
Two minutes and four seconds was all it took for Michin to pin Piper Niven. It was a big night for WWE and SmackDown but the incredibly short match between these two women felt far too rushed. Piper Niven’s style choices and on-screen presence as Chelsea Green’s confidant have greatly improved recently. However, a dominant heavyweight losing so quickly does not make much sense, and it does no favors to the British star.
If Michin can put it all together, she has all of the tools to make a dent in the women’s division. She has been featured basically every week recently, so it’s clear the company has plans for her, it’s just not clear what they are. Hopefully both stars can get greater chances to shine in the weeks ahead.
Solo Sikoa
An awful night for the head of The Bloodline
It feels as though Solo Sikoa has been one of WWE’s most controversial talking points this summer. Most episodes of SmackDown in recent months have ended with Sikoa and The Bloodline standing tall as the show’s final image. He headlined the second-biggest show of the year in a match with the WWE Champion. Despite this, the online community’s chatter constantly questions the legitimacy of Solo, even while the rest of the new Bloodline gains momentum and acceptance among fans (yes, even Tonga Loa).
Solo was sensational in his first steel cage match, despite coming up short to Rhodes, but a loss is still a loss, and he’s had way too many of those. It’s difficult to see him and Fatu overcoming the two of the biggest stars in the company at Bad Blood, let alone defeating Roman Reigns to become the Head Of The Table. It’s a difficult moment for The Tribal Chief. Some wins between now and Bad Blood in Atlanta are much needed.
- Megan Thee Stallion feat. RM of BTS ‘Neva Play’ is the 13th theme music for WWE SmackDown.
- Cody Rhodes signature jacket had a glow up, including golden eagles on its shoulders.
- Corey Graves with the Camp Crystal Lake reference on Friday The 13th. Well played, Sir.
- The muted sound still happens pretty prominently, despite being on a new network. Bummer.
- Fatu vs Reigns is going to feel monolithic when we get there.
- “Ricky” is Ricky Gibson of the Midnight Heat tag team. They face FTR at the Roseland Theater in Portland on September 29th. Good luck, Ricky!
- Piper Niven’s last victory in singles competition came on 16th October, 2023.
- “Your ring? Your WWE? Well…it was until WrestleMania”. Ice-cold from Cody Rhodes.
- More “ding dong” in Bayley’s future, please.
