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0:00 – Roman’s Return
4:22 – The Title Reign Begins
13:40 – vs Jey Uso
23:27 – The First WrestleMania
32:54 – The Return of Jimmy Uso
44:24 – The Best Year Begins
54:56 – The Sami Zayn Arc
1:26:21 – Post-WrestleMania 39
1:39:24 – Finishing The Story
The Insane History of Roman Reigns’ Bloodline Saga | Start to Finish
#RomanReigns #Bloodline #WWE
Written By: Pete Quinnell
Presented By: Pete Quinnell
Directed By: Pete Quinnell & Ellis Thomas
Produced By: Pete Quinnell & Tempest
Image Sourcing By: Brandon Syres & Jason Walsh
Special thanks to AceTrainerLiam, Alex Lajas, Sean Ross Sapp and Super Eyepatch Wolf for appearing in this video! @supereyepatchwolf3007 @Fightful @AceTrainerLiam
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the bloodline has been argued as one of the greatest stories ever told in WWE history spanning nearly 4 years Roman Reigns has been ruling as the head of the table holding the promotions top World Championship through three variations of that belt you want to know what’s happened while Reigns has been Champion Vince McMahon retired returned to the company and retired again WWE merged with UFC to form TKO and aw Executive Vice President left and then main evented WrestleMania and CM Punk debuted in aew was world champion got injured returned got suspended became world champion again was injured again recovered again got fired and returned to WWE and got injured again the entire landscape of wrestling has changed in the last four years but the one constant that’s remained has been Roman Reigns as world champion so today I wanted to take a look back at this Championship Reign week by week how did the bloodline begin and how did it become the biggest story WWE has ever told join me as I take a look at Roman Reigns’s champion and the bloodline from start to [Music] finish so we begin this this story just before SummerSlam 2020 whilst the world found itself in the midst of a global pandemic WWE soldiered on initially holding their weekly TV shows in front of no audience in the performance center until we got to the smackdown before SummerSlam 2020 on August 21st WWE debuted the Thunderdome their new vision and direction for WWE TV going forward filled with digital screens where viewers from home would call in and would populate the audience in the stands and they would here and boo it wasy this was in preparation for SummerSlam itself where the Thunderdome would get its first full workout and as was the style at the time SummerSlam itself had been promoted with its own tagline you’ll never see it coming which many put down to typical WWE jargon just a couple of months earlier they promoted backlash as the greatest wrestling match ever so it was taken with a pinch of salt but as it turns out we didn’t see it coming SummerSlam itself was going off without a hitch Seth Rollins faced Plucky upstart Dominic Mysterio in his debut match but the main event is where our Story begins Braun strowman and Bray Wyatt fought for the universal championship and after Bray captured the title for the second time he was blindsided by a returning Roman Reigns see Roman had been off WWE TV for 177 days last weed scene Roman had set up a WrestleMania match against Goldberg a match which hadn’t happened since Roman took time off due to the aforementioned pandemic but now at SummerSlam 2020 he was back he speared Bray Wyatt he assaulted Braun strowman with a chair he speared Wyatt again he seemed a little different off mic he could be heard yelling at them both neither of you are here without me this has always been mine you’re just a freaking aass you can’t handle the responsibility I’m the man I’m the guy I’m everything I run this second one when he comes into that Bray Wyatt um Bray Wyatt title match my initial thought is for F like we’re just getting going we’re just proper getting behind Bray he’s like got this amazing character who hasn’t had like the Title reign I think we would have liked yet and then you see like the Swagger on him like there’s something different even just the way he’s like stalking Bray and this way he’s stalking Braun and he feels dangerous and he feels dangerous to me in a way that’s like very difficult to achieve through a shift in gimmick you know it really to me felt like something internally had changed in Roman Roman was back he changed and with the next Pay-Per-View event payback being just one week away it looked like we knew exactly where this was headed but what we didn’t anticipate was how the August 28th episode of SmackDown featured a contract signing for that weekend’s payback show GM Adam Pier was tasked with retrieving the signatures of the three people involved in the Universal championship match Bray Wyatt Braun strowman and Roman Reigns PS got the first of the signatures by dressing up in a postman outfit that was given to him by Vince McMahon and entering the Firefly fun house so you might think that WWE storytelling immediately turned a corner when Roman Reigns came back but actually it was still Adam Pi then got strowman signature and right at the end of the show he was finally able to get into Reigns’s locker room and in some brilliant framing Reigns pouring over the contract had some ominous words for pier saying he’d be at Payback he’ll sign the contract once he’d made the changes that they had asked for and he’ll win back the universal championship and that’s not a prediction that’s a spoiler and the camera pans to reveal Paul Haymon sitting next to him and this right here was the moment that everyone went oh sh because this wasn’t just brains being slightly meaner now this this was a heel turn this was everything fans had been asking for since 2015 this was finally finally the next chapter of Reigns’s career a fresh start for a wrestler that hadn’t just become stale he’d been expired and so out of date that he’d gone moldy fans were just so sick of being force-fed what they were supposed to like specifically a heel turn was something that I feel like would have made Roman Reigns RS way bigger long before I didn’t really know it was going to be like that until Paul Haymon rolled up and then all of a sudden it’s like oh okay they’re finally doing this 2 Days Later came payback and despite Reigns having not signed the contract yet the advertised Triple Threat went ahead without him with strowman and Wyatt brawling and tearing apart the ring even doing a ring break spot that’s when Roman Reigns appeared signed the contract on the ramp and picked at the Ms of the match the fiend locked in a mandible Claw on Roman but Reigns nailed him with a low blow hit a spear on Braun strowman and pinned him to become Universal Champion if there were any doubters left among fans that Roman was a heel there weren’t any now Roman Reigns’s record-breaking title run had begun and if you needed any explanation into what’s fuel this heel turn for Reigns you needed to look no further than The Following episode of SmackDown if you’d seen Haymon in the past as the manager of people like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk this was completely different he spoke quietly timidly almost as if he scared of Reigns a deliberate choice to be in as much contrast as possible to the bombastic Showmanship of the past he explained that Reigns had come to him he’d saved him when he was out all alone and as for Reigns despite everything he did for the company despite lifethreatening illness nobody thanked him it was Roman’s title and look what they did to it while they needed some time off Family Tradition Legacy the responsibility of being a champion and the accountability of owning one’s actions as your Champion that is who this Champion is family tradition Legacy the responsibility of being Champion those are the pillars of Reigns’s new character and just in case you didn’t understand through words the next chapter of the story showed us the end of that promo set up a fatal four-way number one contenders match between Matt riddle King Corbin Sheamus and Big E however Big E was written out of the match by Sheamus who hit a white noise on him through a car windshield so they needed a replacement for the match and almost offhandedly on commentary it’s announced that Biggie’s replacement would be Roman Reigns’s real life Cousin Jay Uso his tag partner and twin brother Jimmy Uso was out with injury so Jay had been flying solo as of late and now there was a chance he could face his cousin for the universal championship in the main event Jay Uso capitalized off a Matt riddle floating bro to King Corbin hitting a splash and winning the Fatal four-way for Clash of Champions gold rush it was confirmed Roman versus Jay Uso While most fans knew the two were related the vast majority didn’t know how deep those routes ran but that was about to change on The Following episode of SmackDown Paul Heyman explained that Jay Uso and Roman Reigns were legally cousins but they were so close that they may as well be Blood Brothers a very interesting choice of words considering the weight that sort of bond carries in s and culture if you want to learn more about that check out this video we made where we talk about the entire San Dynasty and the family tree in detail in the ring Roman praise Jay saying he earned the shot and he’s proud of him but this won’t be Jay’s moment the title has to stay on Roman’s shoulder to keep their family like it is Reigns has positioned himself as the head of their family and now it’s on him to provide for everyone he’s going to whoop Jay’s ass at Clash of Champions but then it’s all love after that King Corbin and Sheamus interrupted this wonderful promo segment to complain about Jay winning last week so Jay on behalf of Roman sets up a tag match between them which Roman and Haymon are both confused about the first hint of Roman’s dissatisfaction with Jay making choices for him Jay also says it can be blood versus but mud in that tag team match in the main event Jay began the match without Roman in a two-on-one handicap but Reigns entered late tagged himself in when it looked like Jay was going to win and speared Sheamus himself for the victory Reigns now has the claim of saving Jay despite Jay holding his own to celebrate Jay raised Roman’s arm that held the Universal title and both of them looked uneasily at each other this was one of the things that separated this story from any other because it gave us something that we hadn’t had in WWE for years if ever subtlety this wasn’t just a story that was good for WWE or even good for wrestling this was just good the September 18th episode of SmackDown featured a Paul Heyman narrated video package about the anaii family and it is genuinely one of the most perfect and compelling videos WWE has ever made it tells you not only only the story of Jay and Roman but also the history of s and culture their family and crucially why the tribal Chief is so important in the main event in a tag team s in street fight Reigns hit the spear on King Corbin but before he can get the pin he has to hurriedly get out of the way of a j Uso Splash that nearly connected with Roman himself and the selling of this moment is impeccable after the match JT is lifting up the universal title but threw it to Reigns instead Reigns smiled having a good time they embraced it’s all good it’s all all love remember Jay then walked off and Reigns made this face instead if you weren’t interested in Reigns versus Jay at Clash of Champions before you were now the go home show the following week capped off this excellent escalation as well as a video package featuring interviews with rakhi AFA sea and Jimmy Uso which also happens to feature the very first mention of the word bloodline by Jimmy there’s also a face to-face discussion between Roman and Jay Roman came out after an Alexa Bliss match and Alexa the avatar for Bray Wyatt on occasion stared directly at the universal Championship as Roman posed I wonder when that’ll pay off spoilers it’s never regardless Roman spoke earnestly to Jay saying I would give you this title if I could but the truth is you wouldn’t even know what to do with it you don’t understand the accountability the responsibility of being on top you don’t understand the weight and the pressure from being the face of the WWE how could you it’s not your fault you’re a twin your entire life you’ve depended on your brother but our family depends on me our family rise on me being the tribal Chief that’s who I am in this life it ain’t you it won’t ever be you because it’ll always always be me Roman sees himself as the leader of the family it’s a burden that’s been placed upon him it’s like he doesn’t even want it but he must for the benefit of the family and maybe that’s true maybe he doesn’t want it but also maybe he does maybe this is exactly what he wants but he’s pretending to be more selfless than he actually is and maybe be it doesn’t have to be Roman maybe it could be somebody like Jay Roman leaves the ring after saying his piece but he stops to listen to Jay not looking at him when Jay responds why can’t I be the one to provide for the family why can’t I provide for my wife and your kids your nephews I’ve been battling this my whole life you’ve been number one you’ve been on top there goes the big dog there goes Roman Reigns there goes Mr Main Event Mr WrestleMania you know what they say when they see miuse which one are you when it looks like that’s all that’s going to happen Roman returns and attacks Jay blindsiding him with a Superman punch and screams at him brandishing the universal title in his face and mentions a very specific turn of phrase for the very first time I don’t just feed my kids with this title I don’t just feed your kids with this title I feed a whole family with this title our family needs me to have this title and you want to take it from me you’re going to take your payday you’re going to take the ass whooping that comes with it but you will never take this title and you will never take my place at the head of the table it’s an essentially perfect go home angle the head of the table had been established and Roman Reigns looked to be on the precipice of murdering J Uso at Clash of Champions so in the match itself at Clash of Champions Gold Rush Jay was outmatched but refused to give up always having flurry after flurry of com back offense before being shut down again and again late in the match Jay hit a super kick a splash and one two Roman Reigns kicked out but it wasn’t just any kick out because in the process of raising his shoulder off the mat he nailed Jay with a low blow and you could make the argument that it could have been unintentional until just a moment later when Roman still recovering from the splash Smiles he knew exactly what he did and he then pounced on his prey he nailed a spear and he commanded Jay acknowledge me acknowledge me Jay acknowledge me as the chief say it Jay say it say it Jay refused so Reigns picked him up hit another spear yelling down the camera tell me tell the whole world tell the world that I’m the chief Paul Heyman on the outside acknowledged Roman Reigns told him that he is the tribal Chief and Reigns barked back at him I don’t want you to tell me I need him to acknowledge me Jay’s brother Jimmy hobbles out about to throw in the towel telling Jay this is for his own good but Jay tells him not to this isn’t what he wants but Reigns takes matters into his own hands quite literally he drags Jay to the middle of the ring and batters him Time After Time After Time until Jimmy can’t take it anymore and throws in the tow but Reigns doesn’t stop continuing to re fist down upon the defenseless Jay Jimmy covers Jay and begrudgingly acknowledges Roman telling him he’s the tribal Chief the show goes off the air with Roman celebrating over Jay’s beaten and battered body and Jimmy cowering in fear this is one of the most important matches in defining the tribal Chief as a character not only is it the birth of acknowledge me it marks out the trajectory of the entire bloodline faction that’s to come Roman is nothing without the acknowledgement of his family he needs everybody to tell him he is the tribal Chief otherwise he isn’t Jay Uso is the sympathetic Underdog baby face and this catapulted him into the main event scene and established Jimmy Uso’s role in this hierarchy as well even while he’s out injured it was a fantastic main event and solidified that what we were witnessing was something truly unique and special but now what could they follow this up with the October 2nd 2020 episode of SmackDown began with Roman Reigns shutting down his tribal Chief coronation saying that he didn’t want to be tribal Chief because Jay wouldn’t acknowledge Him Jay said that he didn’t know the man in front of him they were supposed to be family and if it weren’t for Jimmy throwing in the towel the universal Championship would have been his but Roman perhaps sincerely perhaps not is confused lexed by Jay he said that he’s not proud of what he did Clash of Champions was the worst night of his career he didn’t want to do what he did but he had to I was trying to help you all I wanted to do was put you in the main event put your name in the bright lights on the Marquee I just wanted to help you give you that huge payday let you do something nice for your wife and your kids I love you and all you had to do was acknowledge me Roman the master manipulator tells Jay it was all for his benefit and reinforces that he was put into that position it’s what’s respected of him he has the responsibility for all the family Roman gives Jay a rematch at Helen aell but then he hugs him and very quietly speaks into Jay’s ear I love you but if I were you I wouldn’t accept this challenge this time there will be real consequences the rematch is set J Uso versus Roman Reigns Hell in a Cell J Uso then beat AJ Styles in a match less interesting also on this show Jeff Hardy failed to capture the Intercontinental Championship from the champion Sami Zayn the following week Roman Reigns unveiled that inside Helen aell their rematch will also be an I Quit match he said that Jay will acknowledge Him and once he does there will be consequences the natural followup to this announcement took place the following week where Roman Reigns defended his Universal championship against Braun strowman wait well that that didn’t happen did it huh it may seem random but the match did serve a purpose once again Roman utilized the same low blow kickout move that he did against Jay nailed a spear on strowman but strowman this time kicked out so what does Roman do now he decides to use his brand new finishing maneuver the guillotine choke forcing strowman down to the mat where he Taps out with Jay watching on Backstage and on the go home show for Helen asell the Usos pulled the little Twin Magic to trick Roman Reigns Jimmy being backstage distracting Roman so Jay could Ambush him in the ring but they didn’t get the last laugh as once Roman had recovered he delivered the final bombshell if he quits on Sunday he’s not the tribal Chief he’s not the head of the table he’s not the universal Champion but if Jay quits he will fall in line he will take orders he will acknowledge Roman because if he doesn’t Jay Jimmy their wives their children their children’s children are out of the family and everyone will turn their backs on them October 25th 2020 Roman Reigns versus J USO in an I quit Hell in a Cell match but you might be surprised to learn it wasn’t the main event this was the opener and as a match it’s fine it’s slow and plotting at times and there’s a lot of downtime but none of that matters because the final few minutes of this match is some of the most compelling wrestling programming I’ve ever seen see up to this point while Roman had been an interesting character and something fans had C for quite a while he still hadn’t had that killer promo segment where he got to show off his acting chops the promos were significantly better than they had been in previous years but they still felt scripted and the ones that weren’t tended to have a slightly rambly or repetitive nature to them but in this match the perception that Roman can’t act was absolutely obliterated after decimating J USO in the match Roman took the ring steps placed them over Jay’s body and leaned over talking down to him since we were kids you knew I was better I understand back then you trying me but now we’re 35 years old and you’re still testing me you still don’t understand that I am the man that I am the tribal Chief all you had to do was acknowledge me all you had to do was acknowledge me and now you’re making me do things I don’t want to do I’m going to end you because you don’t understand who the tribal Chief is Reigns lifted up the steps ready to crush his cousin beneath them when Jimmy Uso scampered through the open cell door and covered his brother pleading for Reigns stop a direct call back to the events of clash of Champions Jimmy begged calling out for the cousin he grew up with because he must still be in there somewhere he said to Roman whatever you’re going through we can fix this and Roman threw the stairs aside collapsed to the mat tears streaming down his face and very quietly through shaky breaths Roman said I don’t know who I am anymore I’m sorry and Jimmy held out his hand saying it’s family Roman took his hand placed his head against Jimmy’s Family prevailing and then Roman choked out Jimmy with the guillotine and Jay with no other option because family is the most important element of their lives because his brother is suffering for his actions quits Roman Reigns now tier free held the title aoft universe I Champion sure but more importantly acknowledged by Jay and to cement his place at the head of the table he made his way up the ramp where his father and uncle seeka and AFA the wild Samoans crowned Roman Reigns the tribal Chief I can’t tell you how much fun I had rewatching this initial run of Roman Reigns’s new character yes the Thunderdome is weird yes retribution was still around yes shorty G was still wrestling but this tribal Chief character is everything I wanted out of wrestling a manipulative dominating heel wrestler who in his mind is completely Justified with his actions so enamored was I with these two J Uso versus Roman Reigns matches that I began extra research to learn more about s and culture to get the full picture of the storyline and the more I found the better the story became there’s loads of that context in the Samoan Dynasty video I mentioned before so seriously watch that Roman Reigns was once again the number one guy in WWE but this time fans liked it I thought this was the perfect beginning of the bloodline cuz you’re keeping it within the family right you’re keeping the feud within the family Jay Uso is involved Jimmy Uso is in Jay’s Corner trying to throw in the towel I thought it was the perfect way to do it I always love when professional wrestling dips into the family drama of it all and this is like Peak family drama I really liked the general Vibe of it at the time because you know we had Roman as a heel being cool which is something we hadn’t had from Roman for a very very long time and instead of the normal WWE monotony we’ been used to it was it was all just brand new cuz we had cool Roman we had really cool Jay and there was a big portion of us who were like oh my God J Jay is going to take the title off this would be awesome we could we could have something here um I thought it was absolutely spectacular and in particular I thought that first match between Roman and Jay was brilliant such a good match such an exhibition for Jay it was incredible and like the fact that everything Roman had been through at that point was like eating him up to the point that he was now devouring his own family it was some of the best storytelling I’ve ever seen in wrestling and this was only the beginning the universal Championship rain was just getting started on the following Smackdown Jay fell in line despite his protest despite saying he hates Roman he obeyed he acknowledged and he wrote Daniel Bryan off TV the bloodline had begun and this was the beauty of the bloodline story because even when Roman’s title wasn’t in Jeopardy either because he wasn’t defending it or his Challenger wasn’t particularly a believable winner there was still the Intrigue of Roman and J something which was compelling and at least initially more than made up for the lack of true title contenders like in the build a Survivor Series where Roman would be wrestling against the WWE Champion not defending the universal title Roman would lambas Jay saying that Kevin Owens making a joke backstage was the equivalent of disrespecting their whole family with Jay winning yet another Main Event match in order to try and impress Roman but it was never enough for the tribal chief he would yell at Jay backstage he would test him in matches Jay would only be allowed interviews if they were green lit by Roman and in a contract signing for Survivor Series Roman wouldn’t allow Jay to accompany him their relationship was furthered every week even when it wasn’t the primary focus at Survivor Series Jay was part of Team Smackdown a team that was clean swept by team raw with Jay being eliminated last Roman told Jay backstage to go home but Jay didn’t listen ignoring Roman’s orders once again he interfered in Roman’s Main Event match against Drew McIntyre allowing Roman to hit a low blow to get the win Jay’s insubordination had benefited Roman this time but in classic Roman fashion it didn’t matter if Jay’s interference had actually helped because he told him not to and that was all that mattered Roman would hug Jay at Survivor series and yell at him on Smackdown Roman had become a grade a manipulator giving mixed messages and signals at every turn Jay Uso attacked Kevin Owens with a chair in the main event but Owens fought back calling out Roman to save Jay which he never did on the December 4th episode of SmackDown Roman and Paul Heyman crowned Jay Uso Main Event Jay Uso having wrestled in the main event of the last five weeks of SmackDown at this point and yet after Jay accepts the match on Roman’s behalf against Kevin Owens Roman warns of consequences in the tag team Main Event Roman no showed leaving Jay by himself and when you think that that would be his punishment Roman came out halfway through stopped Jay from winning and choked out Kevin Owens attacking both men after the Bell and cutting an astounding promo yet another example of the aura Roman Reigns now possessed and despite Roman being the one who was instigating beatdowns and attacking Jay Uso Jay still sought Roman’s approval asking him if they were all good backstage Roman attacked Kevin Owens and cut a promo down camera directly to Ko’s family also on this show Sami Zayn complained backstage about not having his own merchandise cutting a promo while standing in front of a brand new head-of the table t-shirt this will be important later remember it on the go home show for TLC Jay Uso and Roman Reigns assaulted Kevin Owens on multiple occasions Owens refusing to stay down the final shot of the show being Owens crawling out from debris threatening that he will take the title from Roman or die trying and at TLC Owens died trying Reigns retained thanks to some juso interference on Christmas Day 20120 Owens and Reigns had a rematch inside a steel cage where Roman casually strolled out the cage after Owens got handcuffed to the cage by Jay Uso this will not be the last time Jay Uso handcuffs Kevin Owens Jay also lost a rematch with Daniel Bryan on this show the first episode of SmackDown in 2021 saw a rematch between Jay Uso and Kevin Owens that ended with an Owens win but also saw him thrown off the stage through a table which was a pretty rad spot the week after saw Roman Reigns pul some strings backstage and put Adam Pier into a gauntlet match to determine the number one Contender two Reigns after Pier had made a match without Roman’s approval last week Jay and Roman ensured that Pierce won that Gauntlet match beating up shinsuke Nakamura and dragging Pierce into the pin much like the J Uso Feud this was something interesting something new we hadn’t seen Adam Pierce in this situation before so naturally it’s reveal that actually because the contract that they’ve signed says card subject to change Adam Pierce can remove himself from the match and put in Kevin Owens instead which I’m not sure that’s what card subject to change actually means but it’s okay also on this show Roman Reigns has seen backstage with Apollo crw I know I didn’t remember that either and to show off Apollo’s continued heel turn he has a match against Sami Zayn Paul Heyman tried to pull the same move on Adam Pierce next week with a card subject to change but Kevin Owens made the save you might be able to tell that these weeks aren’t quite of the same standard as the initial few months and it shows on the go home show Reigns and Owens cut a split screen promo and at the Royal Rumble Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens have their last man standing match featuring a golf cart where the handcuffs weren’t gimmicked enough so the referee had to stop counting otherwise Roman would have lost and it was really awkward but a fun match before that Elsewhere on the show Edge won the Royal Rumble match and deliberated his next move in the upcoming weeks making appearances on raar NXT and finally Smackdown Edge deliberated his answer on this show but before he can give one Kevin Owen stunnered Roman Reigns and the following week Edge revealed that he’s going to wait until after elimination chamber to make his choice Roman Reigns declared at that show that is not going to defend his Bel inside the Chamber match whoever wins will get a title shot against him right after what are they going to do fire him but unfortunately my Intrigue of the Uso Reigns relationship was halted as that aspect of the story was put on the back burner the lineup for the Chamber match confirmed on their show is Baron Corbin Daniel Bryan Cesaro Kevin Owens Jay Uso and Sami Zayn and on next week’s Smackdown a promo segment between Roman Reigns and Edge is interrupted by Sami Zay I’m telling you he’s constantly there it was insane to me watching this all back how often Sami Zayn was either in the segment immediately before or after any bloodline related ones and some weird unintentional foreshadowing with interactions here Jay Uso super kicked Sammy in this segment to shut him up which is wild considering just a couple of years later a super kick from juso to Sami Zayn would be one of the most heartbreaking betrayals in history at elimination chamber Daniel bruan won the Chamber match and was immediately beaten by Reigns he’ fulfilled his contract appearance quoter and off he went Daniel Bryan called Roman Reigns a coward on Smackdown and faced J Uso with a rematch for the universal Championship on the line which ended in a double count out Daniel Bryan got a rematch in a steel cage the following week with the same Stakes on the line which Brian won Brian also called Edge versus Reigns Attitude Era versus Thunderdome on this show I hate that Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns had a contract signing the following week and the week after Edge beat Jay Uso to become the special enforcer for the title match at fast lane during the match after several Shenanigans ref bumps and interferences Daniel Bryan made Roman Reigns very lightly tap out out of sight of the special guest enforcer Edge who attacked Daniel Bryan allowing Reigns to retain his belt it’s genuinely an incredible spot the week after fast lane the triple threat for Wrestlemania 37 is made official with Edge Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns despite the protest from Edge Daniel Bryan defeated Jay Uso in a street fight main event on the next week’s show using his hammer and Anvil elbows made famous in aew with a chain wrapped around his arm I just thought that was neat also on this show Logan Paul debuted in WWE being the special guest for Sami Zayn’s red carpet premere of his documentary exposing the conspiracy within WWE the three competitors in the triple threat each cut a promo on the go home show while Jay Uso won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal which is important I’m sure at WrestleMania itself the triple threat was incredible and ended with Roman Reigns stacking Edge and Daniel Bryan on top of each other pinning both to decisively retain his Universal championship this was the first show to feature some form of audience in over a year with the stadium allowing a limited capacity crowd Elsewhere on the show Sami Zayn lost to Kevin Owens and as an aside bring back the 8K camera Roman’s entrance on this show is so beautiful Roman Reigns claimed he’d beaten everyone on the smackdown after WrestleMania only to be interrupted by Cesaro who according to WWE had the most insane wondrous ridiculous wacky fantastic spectacular oh my God he’s the greatest person on Earth WrestleMania moment in history they really overplayed the Cesaro spinning Seth Rollins bit from Mania is what I’m trying to say Reigns continued to ignore Cesaro on the following week’s show instead offering one more shot to Daniel Bryan on next week’s Smackdown however if Reigns beats him Brian would be banished from the blue brand but it turned out that this match will be Brian’s last in WWE the following week Roman Reigns debuted his now iconic theme song against Brian finally replacing his old Shield remix when I watched this match for the first time live I went into it thinking you know there’s a chance bran could win this and then Roman’s new song Hit And I said n never mind also the match was a banger one of the best if not the best in- ring wrestling match of Roman Reigns’s Title reign he of course retained but now the bloodline family drama gets interesting again because the next show saw the return of Jimmy Uso from injury after Paul Heyman eulogized Daniel Bryan’s career with his own 10 Bell salute where he actually did the dings himself what is this Survival series Jimmy Uso returned from injury and instantly you know that something’s different here he’s not wearing bloodline merch he’s wearing Uso’s merch Jimmy gets involved in the Seth Rollins versus Cesaro match superkicking Seth after Seth shoved Jay allowing Cesaro to win giving him a shot against Roman Roman backstage said that Jimmy was already messing everything up and Jimmy said he can’t talk to him like he talks to Jay he’s nobody’s he even called Jay Roman’s in another segment too and later on after Jimmy refuses to pick a side bloodline or not he even manages to make Jay hesitate before running to help save Roman from a Cesaro Beatdown Jay for the first time in nearly a year is having his Darkness clouded by light Roman doesn’t let Jimmy attempt to beat Cesaro the next week causing the DQ the tension continued at WrestleMania backlash and Roman Reigns retained against Jimmy Uso gets a match booked against the street profits for the following week on Smackdown which Jay tells Roman had nothing to do with him Roman faked concern for Jay with Jimmy calling more and more shots saying he doesn’t want people to ask Jay which one he is again Roman demands that the Usos win they called their shot for a match and they don’t however on replays it’s shown that Jimmy actually kicked out the ref didn’t see it Roman doesn’t want excuses though he wants them to fix it he asks Jay if he agrees but calls him Jimmy Jay corrects him but Roman says doesn’t matter anyway the Mysterio face the Usos again on this show and again they win but this time it’s by DQ after Roman beats them up Jimmy goes to leave and Jay tries to leave with him but Roman stops him as he continues his beat down on the Mysterio the tension boiled over next week with Jay snapping at Jimmy and asking him what he wants him to do his loyalty is with the tribal Chief and Roman questions how Jimmy could do this to Jay to put him in the middle like that bearing in mind of course that is literally what Roman did to Jay putting him in the middle in order to make him quit back at Helen cell the previous year Jay snaps at Jimmy when he protests later yells at both of them to stop and storms out also Roman’s feuding with Rey Mysterio at this point but it’s not as interesting they had their blowoff match on Smackdown inside Helen aell and not at Helen aell that weekend it was weird Jimmy the next week though says that Jay isn’t coming back and this tension with Jay storming out seems to have brought Jimmy closer to Roman saying that if Roman needs a right-hand man he’s willing to do it Roman tells him to prove it and Jimmy does so by beating Dolph Ziggler I I’m not sure what that proves but Jimmy sure as hell wasn’t there for Roman later in the night when Edge attacked him to end the show Jimmy wants to put Edge down for Roman the following week but Edge tells Jimmy this isn’t a trap for him it’s a trap for Jimmy Roman’s using him the exact same way he used Jay Jimmy claimed on the next Smackdown that he was just doing what Roman wanted but Roman said no one makes decisions but him before bringing out Jay Uso the three of them embracing for the first time fully forming the bloodline that would maintain a hold over WWE for the next 3 years this really was the culmination of Jimmy coming back and being included in the bloodline and if you compare how they handled Jay joining and how they handled Jimmy one feels significantly more anticlimactic than the other it felt like the Jimmy story had some legs it had some potential but it just it ended with a whimper fans returned to WWE shows on the go home show for money in the bank where Roman Reigns and The Usos beat Edge and the Mysterio Edge stood tall though Roman tapping out to the crossface with the assist from the chair leg at money in the bank the bloodline ruled Supreme as the Usos record Title reign began by beating the Mysterio for the smackdown Tag Team titles on the pre-show and Roman retained over Edge despite some wild near Falls courtesy of some Seth Rollins interference Roman brawled with Edge after the bell and then cut a promo saying the whole world can acknowledge Him then W do John Cena made his return with one of the most insanely loud Pops in WWE history to end the show so what came next the bloodline are running the show fans are back now it’s time for the bloodline story to really stall for a while and become quite uninteresting oh John Cena said Roman sucks Roman compared John Cena to missionary position Roman rejected Cena’s SummerSlam match challenge but accepted one from Finn Balor Instead at the contract signing Cena stole balor’s spot and signed his name in big letters because he’s an that’s also not remotely how contracts work but I guess the match is official for SummerSlam the next few weeks of promos between Cena and Roman were quite poor there was still a Finn ballot involvement on the sidelines but Cena essentially said that he was going to beat Roman at SummerSlam he also tried to do his usual burial of the top guy by saying they’re stupid and everyone hates them and they suck but the problem with these promos is that this time unlike Cena and Roman’s back and forth ahead of No Mercy 2017 they weren’t true Cena said that the company was still giving Roman everything and it wasn’t working but it quite clearly was the bloodline was super over Roman had made magic with the Run Cena just came off looking like he doesn’t watch the product it was all a bit silly and Roman beat Cena at SummerSlam which is when Brock Lesnar returned to WWE staring down Reigns and so Begins the is Paul Heyman really on Roman side Arc which doesn’t really play into anything and it never really goes anywhere so in the interest of time oh my god I’ve been talking for a while let’s just summarize the next few weeks quickly shall we is Paul really with Brock Finn Balor wants a match is Paul really with Brock Finn Balor loses his match red lights spooky demon uh-oh is Paul really with Brock demon Finn Balor returns is Paul really with Brock Finn Balor and WWE champ Big E beat the Usos Roman versus Brock was announced for Crown Jewel Roman versus Biggie versus Lashley Roman wins demon Balor was here again and Roman retained against Balor in the most Infamous match in the entire Roman Reigns Title reign because demon Finn Balor started flopping like a fish when the red lights pulsed and his entrance music started playing but then the ropes collapsed when Balor was on the top rope which stopped balor’s music playing for some reason and caused the lights to go back to normal so Roman speared him and retained the actual kayfabe explanation was that God interfered I wish I was joking also is Paul really with Brock is Paul really with Brock is Paul really with Brock Brock then signs the contract for Crown Jew but wait what’s this is Paul really with Brock Roman retained against Brock after Heyman threw the title belt perfectly between the two of them because is Paul really with Brock Roman used it and one but it was a nothing match beyond that Brock Lesnar gets suspended the night after because he beat up too many people also is Paul really with Brock new day beat the Usos on the next Show featuring new King of the Ring Xavier Woods not for the titles of course also Roman wasn’t there Woods beat Jimmy Uso on this show Woods won by DQ against Roman the following week where Roman crowned himself King but then the next week Roman says he doesn’t want it anymore so he Stomps on the crown and it’s made of plastic and it looks very very silly biggie beats up Roman RK bro beat the Usos at Survivor series and Roman beat Big E but no one really cares about that stuff on this show because what really matters is the golden egg oh yeah that’s that’s this show Absolutely depraved and insane what a night a Battle Royal to determine Roman’s next number one Contender was on the next smack down and it was won by Sami Zayn he’s back in this story but Brock Lesnar wasn’t very happy with that after his suspension was lifted so he beat up Sammy ahead of his title match and Roman won in seconds Samy also gets beaten up by Brock the following week but wait Brock Lesnar’s back that means is Paul really with Brock what a silly story it never pays off which is why on this show Roman fires Paul Heyman Superman punches him and sets him up for a conero but he’s saved by Brock Lesnar huh Heyman said his career is over without Roman are we sure this happened in this timeline it was unfortunately announced that Roman Reigns had contracted covid and his scheduled match with Brock Lesnar was cancelled at day one so instead Brock was inserted into the WWE Championship fatal four-way to make it a fatal 5way and won Paul Heyman was now introducing Brock Lesnar as his client this is definitely 2022 right Brock challenged Roman for a title versus title match during which hymon tells Roman he loved him but Brock cuts off hymon telling him to shut up and Roman says you can’t talk to him like that which begs the question is Paul really with Brock Seth Rollins also laughs at Roman on this episode it’s actually very important because the next week Roman says that the shield is beneath him now but Seth responds saying he made Roman and he can destroy him Roman’s looking a little insecure when it comes to Seth I wonder why so insecure in fact that on the next week when Kevin Owens and Seth face the Usos with the stipulation that if the Usos lose they’ll be barred from Ringside at Roman and Seth’s match at Royal Rumble Roman Superman punches Seth anyway ensuring it’s just Roman and Seth Seth then listed all the times he managed to embarrass Roman and when he mentions the time he hit Roman in the back with a chair that’s the one that gets to him he says he’s tried to forgive Seth for what he did but he never will he hates him bearing in mind where the story goes in the end very very interesting words there and at the rumble itself Seth entered in his old shield gear Mind Games a plenty and the way that Roman sells this is perfect the finish of the match though is somewhat questionable with Roman locking in a guillotine choke so the referee drops Seth’s arm and Seth I think is supposed to reach out and grab the Rope but instead his arm was already over the Rope so it just looked like the ref put Seth’s hand on the Rope Roman refused to let go though and took a DQ loss all right look the Finish is not very good but again in retrospect Roman refusing to give Seth and choking him out for a DQ loss actually feeds into the eventual title loss that much more it’s not a terrible idea in theory but not very good in execution but if you thought that Wrestlemania 40 was the only time Roman managed to exercise his Demons by hitting Seth with a chair in the repeat of the spot that broke up the shield you’d be wrong because he did it here after the batch to he even muttered to Seth you made me like this before he did it elsewhere Brock Lesnar won the Royal Rumble Match in one of the worst Rumble matches ever after losing the WWE Championship to Bobby Lashley story’s going great guys look I’ll be honest this entire build to WrestleMania is super weird it’s not very good I’m just I’m just going to do it very quickly we’ll get through it together okay stick with me Brock gets announced for elimination chamber for the WWE championship Heyman allies with Roman again somehow and then Goldberg comes back yippee promos Beat Down promo nothing match Roman wins Brock wins the WWE title again promo contract signing promo Brock chases Haymon Brock attacks a van Brock ma a locker room promos nothing genuinely there was nothing on the go home show for Wrestlemania to do with Brock or Roman and Roman beat Brock Lesnar to unify the WWE and Universal championship this was the most average Roman versus Brock match you could imagine and so ends the bad year of the Roman Reigns Title reign because it’s now time for the best year so Roman said on the smackdown after WrestleMania that he wants the Usos to unify the Tag Team titles and they also beat up shinsuke Nakamura which is never really followed up on at all I promise this is the best year Ark Broman the Usos have a heated promo segment with a title unification match becoming official on the following week’s Smackdown Randy uton and Drew McIntyre bury the hatchet and RK bro will be lumberjacked in McIntyre’s match later that night and this brings into action the the master plan the plan of one Sami Zayn Sammy approaches Roman’s locker room and politely asks Roman for some help to get back at Drew McIntyre whom he’d had problems with for a few weeks saying that Drew disrespected their family all he needs from this Arrangement is to get back some respect his image had been tarnished having just faced Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania 38 and lost and in The Lumberjack match Samy’s face lights up when the Usos music hits and they join The Lumberjacks at ringside Sammy finally has some backup and he manages to escape his match with chaos at ringside that the Usos started so Sammy lost to Drew inside a steel cage the following week this very well could have been where the bloodline story for Sammy stopped this could have been a onewe little funny interaction but thankfully it’s not also on this show Roman Reigns tears up the contract for the title unification match between Usos and RK bro despite him wanting the match and it’s instead changed to a six-man tag this is the best year Stay With Me the men Brawl on raw and on Smackdown too but the interesting stuff is happening with Samy while shinsuke Nakamura backstage says he hasn’t forgotten about Roman Samy uses that information and tells Paul Heyman he’s going to deal with shinsuke himself taking initiative a favor for the bloodline and in that match he actually wins via count out but he wins at WrestleMania backlash the bloodline defeated RK bro and Drew AR bro call out Reigns on the following Smackdown but instead the call is answered by Sami Zayn wearing a bloodline t-shirt calling himself a locker room leader and saying he speaks for the bloodline Randy manages to stroke Sam’s ego and gets him to make a match between Sammy and riddle and if riddle wins they get their total unification match riddle of course wins clean Sammy backstage pleads with Haymon desperate to know if Roman still likes him he needs his respect back and it starts with Roman hymon says the tribal Chief appreciates him but we as the audience can tell there’s an air of fakery to it all it’s superficial performative the Usos successfully unified the tag titles on the next week’s Smackdown defeating Arc bro with some Roman interference the bloodline now held all the gold this episode also saw the smackdown debut of Max drii what what happened to that guy on the KO show the next week Owens tried to make Samy see reasons saying the bloodline don’t care about him but sami’s in denial so he shoves him and walks away but backstage Sammy seeks out the Uso suggesting he could join the bloodline not not officially of course but like an honorary member Jimmy says yeah sure why not honorary oo Jay scoffs at the thought and walks back into the locker room as Sammy calls after them all right o peace oo and after the door closes he celebrates and it’s little moments like these that endear us to Sammy making us want to see his journey because he doesn’t have an ulterior motive he just wants to be accepted by people he respects the Usos defended their belts against riddle and shinsuke Nakamura on the following SmackDown down which Sammy helped them win by playing Reigns’s music to distract riddle Sami Zayn lost to riddle again riddle winning a universal championship match in the process but Roman beat riddle to retain after Roman cut a promo saying there was nobody else to beat he was interrupted by Brock Lesnar who he just beat at WrestleMania just a couple of months earlier this next bit isn’t interesting so let’s just speed through it on July 9th 2022 I made a video uploaded here on Wrestle talk called Roman Reigns isn’t working it age like milk but I stand by the fact that it was accurate at the time and Roman retained his belt against Lesnar at SummerSlam and this this is where it gets good because Triple H had now taken over creative in WWE and this bloodline story became the primary focus there were three backstage segments on this show with Sami Zayn and the Usos and if you’re thinking of prototypical bloodline SL Sami Zayn stuff you might be thinking of this episode Sammy has the secret handshake with Jimmy Jay hates him and after two segments of not saying anything to him Jay snaps and yells at him saying that Sammy needs to pull his weight otherwise they’re going to make him take off that t-shirt real soon Roman Reigns had an in ring promo that was interrupted by Drew McIntyre who was also then interrupted and attacked by a returning carry and cross the next week Drew McIntyre attacked the Usos while they were talking to Sammy and Sammy instead of helping Jay and Jimmy ran away Jay was not pleased about this yelling at Sammy that he needed to step up or get left behind at the end of the show Drew went for a Claymore on Jay but Sammy pushed Jay out of the way and took the Claymore himself bullet number one but the next week is the most important week in the entire Sami Zayn Arc this Smackdown took place in Montreal sami’s Hometown instantly the show opens with Samy and the crowd is roaring for him Sammy approaches Roman’s locker room no Usos in sight and they have an incredible segment together where Samy fires up about Jay saying he’s ungrateful for everything and Roman agrees and Samy’s reaction is priceless Jay Uso then calls Roman’s phone and Sammy answers it after Roman tells him to where Jay tells Sammy they can’t be there due to issues at the border but hey says Sammy I’m here Roman asks Sammy what he’s doing tonight and Sammy reveals he’s in an Intercontinental Championship five-way number one contenders match and Roman says that title would look good in the bloodline and it looks like sami’s the guy Sammy is Overjoyed ecstatic absolutely in awe and adoring every word that comes out of Roman’s mouth it is genuinely so endearing in the five-way match Sammy gets injured and taken to the back but like a valiant baby face and to a huge pop he comes back out hobbling down to the ring hitting a Hua kick but it’s not enough as king Corbin drags him out the ring with Sheamus getting the win in the end later on Drew McIntyre goes to Claymore Roman but Samy pushes him out of the way and takes the Claymore himself again bullet number two I genuinely truly believe that if this show didn’t happen in Montreal the way it did the entire Sami Zayn Arc wouldn’t have happened it was a blessing in disguise the Usos couldn’t be there due to their real life DUI allowing Sammy and Roman to interact properly for the first time since April before this show the Sami Zay reactions were good and fine but the crowd booed his promos he was still very much a heel trying to join a heel group this was the show where Sami Zayn turned baby face this was the show where the full potential of Sami Zayn in the bloodline became apparent this was the show that changed everything Montreal changed everything thanks Montreal and it happened on my birthday I mean that bit’s not important but it’s important to me so often with these characters that start off as comedy characters they make us laugh they make us feel something they show us an emotion that we we don’t always get on in pro wrestling so then we sympathize with them so then when something bad happens to them we really sympathize with them and I think Sami Zayn is the ultimate for that he can make you laugh laugh he can make you cry he can make you feel something Jay is still snapping at Sammy the next week but wonderfully Roman invites Samy into the locker room despite Jay’s wishes and Reigns thanks Sammy for taking the bullet for him last week it’s what family does and Sammy says yeah it’s what family should do before glancing a look back at Jay Jay starts breaking in the background because Sammy wasn’t just endearing to us the fans he was actively making his bloodline compatriots break on screen too Drew beat Sammy in the main event but in a f fantastic shot Roman sits down over the Beaten Down Drew after the Bell the Usos hand him his titles over his shoulders and Sammy just creeps into frame in the background infiltrating the shot just like he was infiltrating the bloodline it’s perfect the September 2nd 2022 episode of SmackDown was due to feature a Roman Reigns 2-year title celebration a party that Sammy was organizing Jay was listing off Roman’s accomplishments which were punctuated by Sammy saying things like bet ye and 100 and it got a laugh every time Roman arrives backstage and Drew wipes him out before beating down the whole bloodline at Clash at the castle it was another Roman Reigns title defense but this time something was different Drew McIntyre was on a huge rise Triple H had just taken over creative Roman had just pass two years as world champion clash of the castle was in the UK Drew hadn’t got that moment as world champion in front of fans yet there was something special in the air Drew McIntyre during the time definitely looked like he was the next person that was the possibility of taking down Roman because they’ve been trying to have drew have this like big moment especially with the title for a very long time since you know 2020 WrestleMania WWE needed someone to take Roman to the Limit they needed to present a challenge that felt nearly sure that he was going to do it and it was going to be this big joyous thing and Drew McIntyre at Clash of the cast Castle was such a a perfect choice for that I think with the Drew stuff they did an amazing job in really selling Drew as someone who could absolutely take the title of Roman they they just made it they made such a point of making Drew feel so credible but during the match itself Drew was seconds away from Victory hitting a claymore but before the three count Could Happen a debuting solo seoa pulled the referee out Jay and Jimmy’s younger brother was here and the bloodline had a new member the fact that he didn’t do it and the fact that people were angry and heartbroken good like that is what a monster heel does it’s like he doesn’t he doesn’t beat faces he crushes dreams that is what happened in that match once again Roman had crushed the dreams of all those who thought he was being taken down and the legacy of the bloodline grew but while Drew Ark might have finished the Sami Zayn Arc was just beginning solo Saka was ushered into the bloodline on the following Smackdown with Sammy noting that the bloodline runs Deepa my dog Drew comes out for a fight and Samy pushes solo out of the way of a chair shot taking it himself bullet number three solo backstage says he needs to take on Drew alone tonight but if he wanted help he’d ask Sammy which he says right in front of Jay and Jimmy that Solo versus Drew match ends in DQ when carry and cross choked out Drew LOL to show how far the Sami story had come in just a few weeks Logan Paul appeared to call out Roman where the crowd chanted for Sammy and went nuts when he got into the ring to try and talk Logan down in his match with Ricochet later in the night Jay distracted the referee and actually stopped Sammy from winning Samy got in Jay’s face and Ricochet dived on the mall and won with a shooting star Samy distracted madat Moss later though allowing solo to win his match Samy’s distraction worked Jays didn’t now if you were ever thinking what the most iconic full bloodline entrance is you’re probably thinking of the one on this next Show Roman Haymon solo Jay Jimmy Sammy they look awesome they crown solo as the enforcer someone who was sent by the bloodline Elders so the Usos can focus on their tag title run solo acknowledges Roman in this segment as well which would have been a fine little segment by itself but then Sammy decides to speak up Sammy takes this opportunity to also publicly acknowledge the tribal chief he knows he’s not technically blood but the way they’ve all included him has warmed his heart Roman says he likes Sammy but what is he talking for right now Jay smells blood in the water and becomes absolutely feral yelling at Sammy Furious just waiting for Roman to give him the signal to attack him Roman tells Sammy to take off his T-shirt Jay rips it off him you ain’t never going to wear a bloodline shirt ever again you ain’t going to wear it because I got you a new one he Chucks a new honorary oo tea at Sammy who unveils it to a huge pop while Jay looks despond and crestfallen they Embrace The Crowd Goes Nuts And everyone’s happy apart from Jay but what’s that look that Roman just gave Sammy when he hugged him we know who Roman is we know what he’s done Sammy is in danger and we all knew it a perfect bait and switch segment to hint at what was to come solo and Sammy beat madat moss and Ricochet but while they’re celebrating backstage Jay lets solo into the locker room but keeps Sammy outside saying he sees right through him he might have everyone else fooled but if he even thinks about putting his family In Harm’s Way he’ll end him and Samy simply says maybe you should take it up with Roman pointing out the T-shirt Kevin Owens is backstage and sees Samy sitting down and he scoffs at the T-shirt saying he needs a new one Logan Paul tried to stir the pot next week saying that Jay Uso is the tribal Chief Jay gets fired up and yells at Logan but Roman stares at Jay and he backs down but who eases the tension it’s Samy Zayn he says that no one is questioning his tribal Chief status he redirects Roman’s anger to Logan instead Sammy and Jay Argue again backstage Samy calls Jay a hotthead and Roman agrees saying he’s tired of having to deal with Jay and his problems so it won’t be his problem anymore now it’s sammi’s problem Samy needs to keep Jay in line Jay and Sammy already argue later on this show with them losing to new day and Braun strowman when they can’t work together Roman calls him the next week calling sami’s phone of course not Jay’s where they share an inside joke Jay wouldn’t get it but things might be turning around for them as in Sami Zayn’s match against Kofi Kingston they work together Kingston had Sammy rolled up but Jay on the outside pushes them with his feet to reverse the roll up and Sammy pins Kofi backstage Jay says you’re welcome for that assist but sami’s confused what for I did all of that on my own solo did you see that n i was watching Sammy Jay you could learn a lot from him you know I feel so bad for Jay and that’s what’s so perfect about this is Jay isn’t wrong everyone is ignoring how much he’s done for the bloodline and instead they’re all foring over the new kid he feels jilted he’s jealous like look at what Jay went through in order to be part of the bloodline and then Sammy has just waled in with essentially no barrier Jay wants to beat up Logan Paul next week but Sammy says they shouldn’t Roman didn’t want them to and Jay says yeah but he is a hotthead so we’ll have to see what happens Logan knocks Jay out despite Samy’s pleas for him to get out of the ring Samy needs everyone on the same page the next week but during Solo in Sammy versus the brawling brutes Jay pulled Sammy out of the ring as Butch was going for a dive Samy’s annoyed saying he had him it’s called strategy Jay responds saying it didn’t look like it I was just trying to help you Sammy gets back in the ring and Butch rolls him up for the win Jay once again has cost Sammy a match the argument continues after the Bell but solo stands between Jay and Sammy picking his side and even Jimmy squares up to Jay as well everyone is against Jay but then here comes the tribal chief he never looks at them and says if they want to act like children he’s going to treat them like children he says he wants this all fixed now everything out on the table he wants Peace So Sammy begins saying to Jay that there’s been a communication breakdown he doesn’t know what he’s done to offend Jay but he sorry he likes him he wants to bury the hatchet and goes to shake his hand but Jay has other ideas he says he doesn’t like Sammy he doesn’t like his hair he doesn’t like his face he doesn’t like his T-shirt he doesn’t like that he’s around his family every week my dog this my dog that how can you be part of the bloodline when you’re not blood nobody in this group likes you I’m just the only one to say it I shed blood for this family you’re just a fake ass oo Sammy says why are you yelling at me the tribal Chief says he wants peace and Jay responds I don’t give a damn what the tribal Chief said the mood flips the tension spikes Roman’s face drops everyone cowers under the Gaze of a now Angry tribal Chief but of all people as Roman slowly turns to stare Jay down Sammy is the one to try and continue to make peace he impls with Roman saying he didn’t mean that it’s just that lately he hasn’t been feeling very USI and everyone the audience Roman Jay they all break and it’s this puncture through this balloon of tension that was laying over everything the air comes back everyone breathes and Sammy having made everyone laugh eases that tension with Roman and Jay you could say that this was supposed to be a super serious segment and blessed Jay he still tries to make it so hiding his laughter but Sammy genuinely making them laugh is a crucial part of this story it’s why I’ve included the funny lines he said to this point Roman says if Jay can’t find his inner USI again soon he’s going to take the honorary out of the honorary us and he’s going to make Sammy a full-blown Uso to huge Sammy Uso chance and Samy’s little face in spite of the arguments with Jay lights up with joy he’s so excited and you just feel for this this segment is a prime example of why this story works and why it wouldn’t work with other people there is nobody like Roman there is nobody like Jay and there is nobody like Sammy the tension with Jay and Sammy continued with Jay wanting to cut an in-ring promo Sammy telling him not to and Jay doing it anyway Roman retained against Logan Paul at crown jeel and the Usos beat the new day on Smackdown to become the longest reigning tag team champions of all time Sammy wasn’t there for this episode but the crowd still chanted USI anyway and the build for Survivor series War Games began Samy mentioned that he doesn’t care who the babya Face’s fifth member for war games would be the following week but as it turns out he very much did because it was revealed to be Kevin Owens the two had a stare down to end the show and after Ko’s history with Roman and all of Sammy and Ko’s history together with KO even telling him not that long ago that he needs a new t-shirt it all comes together at war games but on the go home show Owens warned Sammy that the bloodline are going to turn on him and if he were him he wouldn’t wait he’d strike first but it turns out that Jay was listening to the whole conversation and Samy lies to him saying that he hadn’t spoken 2 any1 that day jay now has ammo he can provide to the tribal Chief Kevin Owens stopped Sammy using the tag titles as a weapon during the war games Advantage match to costing Jay the win and it all came to a head at Survivor Series Jay backstage is with Roman and says Samy can’t be trusted he saw Sammy and KO talking last night on Smackdown he lied to his face the only reason he didn’t get him right then and there was because Roman didn’t give the order so Roman speaks to Sammy alone and asks him directly were you talking to KO on Smackdown and Sammy tells the truth Roman asks why he lied and Sami says he withheld some information because Jay had a huge match that night he didn’t want to add that to his plate and he already has trouble trusting him and to be honest he didn’t talk to Owens Owens talked to him he listened and then KO left he even says what KO told him that he should turn on the bloodline before they turn on him Roman demands that Sammy look him in the eye and tell him whether or not he’s with the bloodline Samy says that he’s with them he won’t let Roman down Roman hugs him but looks angry as he does so and in the match itself Sammy revealed his Allegiance stopping the referee from Counting three after Owens had the match one instead he low blows Owens offering him up for a j Uso Splash who hits it and wins and because of that choice the Betrayal of Owens and the layup for Jay slam dunk Jay finally accepts Sammy in the bloodline hugging him after the Bell Sammy elated at his inclusion but when they celebrate he looks over his shoulder at Kevin Owens uncertain if he really made the right choice Sammy on the following Smackdown was fully included in the bloodline he even did the secret handshake with both Jay and Jimmy and Jay helped Samy get a win over Sheamus Sammy was firing on all cylinders stopping Sheamus from breaking up the pin after a 1D and a tag title match the next week and with that momentum the rest of the bloodline thought that just maybe Roman might make Sammy a fullblood Uso on this Smackdown but with Kevin Owens popping back up on raw and claiming he had unfinished business with the bloodline perhaps Roman isn’t feeling so charitable Jimmy backstage talks to Roman and maybe starts to put it in his head that he shouldn’t make Sammy a full Uso he’s on board with it but if you don’t want to make him just cuz of ko in their past and he Trails off it’s announced for December 30th that it’ll be Roman and Sammy versus Kevin Owens and a partner of Ko’s choosing but in the main event segment Sammy misspeaks saying there can’t be any good for owens’s tag partner ano’s only friend I mean I was his only friend but the damage is done Roman’s insecurity is playing up again and the tag partner revealed to be John Cena but it doesn’t deter Sammy as next week he says everywhere he goes the crowd chant Sammy at him but there’s this black cloud hanging over him and his name is Kevin Owens they’re going to smash KO and Cena but those Sammy chants might be starting to get to Roman a little bit as hymon points out to Sammy that the crowd chanting his name while Roman is in the ring it isn’t the right Optics Samy’s unsure asking Haymon if Roman said anything to him and hymon says no he didn’t but does he really need to so Sammy asks Roman directly does the crowd chanting his name get to him and after a long deliberate contemplative pause Roman says no of course not they then lose clean to Cena and Owens Roman’s insecurity rises again some people are saying that we lost and the tribal Chief didn’t lose the Trel Chief doesn’t lose I didn’t lose Sammy did and he turns his anger on Sammy yelling at him demanding he answer why he called his shot why he guaranteed a win and then didn’t follow through but Kevin Owens comes out and redirects Roman’s anger to him instead of Samy sami’s not being allowed into the bloodline locker room now but later on Roman sits Sammy down and apologizes to him he’s so slimy and manipulative and gross because this is where Roman really shines through his character not the jaw jacking in matches or acknowledge me he says every week this is what makes Roman so special as a wrestling character he’s a manipulator an abuser and Sammy Falls right into the Trap the two sharing a progressive amount of popcorn as the main event Uso’s match rolls on It’s Sammy versus KO next week and Sammy goes to talk strategy with the bloodline but nobody’s there Roman wants him to do this all by himself Roman apologized last week admitted that he was the one that was wrong and yet Sammy is still the one being punished Sammy was even on the verge of getting the win win against Owens until the Usos and solos tooa calls the DQ and beat up Ko around ringside Samy not joining in with the beat down looking conflicted Roman’s apology to Samy looks even more disingenuous the next week as he refuses to fist bump him as he arrives at Smackdown so Sammy needs his approval questioning him backstage Roman says he saw how Samy looked last week that conflicted expression and he’s covering something up so just give it to him straight Samy says he was disappointed he wanted to actually do it by himself last week and KO keeps saying all this stuff about how he’s being used and for a split second and then he Trails off Roman snaps saying he’s not going to keep doing this every week get out go find Kevin go find your own bloodline stop using mine Roman making himself the victim in a situation he caused and later on again he apologizes for his actions to Sammy saying he’s got a temper and he just wasn’t hearing him properly but now what he need Sammy to do is get the Usos fill up the Jets get the pilots Roman solo and hymon will sign the cont contract and then get out of here and in the contract signing KO stunners Reigns and no one is there to protect him because Sammy is prepping things under Reigns’s orders Sammy comes out too late and now Roman has had enough of this conspiracy so he decides to put Sami Zayn on trial and what would turn out to be one of the greatest wrestling segments I’ve ever seen on January 23rd 2023 the trial of Sami Zayn opened Monday Night Raw in Philadelphia a somber mood hung over the show as the bloodline made their entrance Roman Reigns Paul hymon solos sakoa Jay and Jimmy Uso and standing trial Sami Zayn each took their place in the ring Roman naturally at the head of the table the enforcer standing on one side the accuser on the other Paul Heyman called Sammy a Judas a betrayer of the bloodline and has been in conspiracy with Kevin Owens and he even procured footage August 12th 2022 Drew McIntyre attacked the Usos backstage and Sami Zayn ran away August 29th 2022 Sami Zayn doesn’t attack Kevin Owens when he has the chance November 26th 2022 Sami Zayn is celebrating the war games Win by himself and says for Life clearly a message to Kevin Owens that they’re still in cahoots December 23rd 20122 while cutting his fiery promo Samy bumped Roman’s shoulder an assault on the tribal Chief and a clear sign that he wanted to unseat Roman from his position Samy is deflated saying that he had this whole defense plan but he didn’t count on how he’d feel it hurts the fact that they think he’s conspiring that hurts his defense is he has no defense Roman takes this as an insult saying that he doesn’t care about the bloodline after he’s given him opportunity after opportunity and this is what he thinks he calls in Solo he’s made up his mind solo goes to deliver the Samoan Spike and he’s stopped by Jay Uso Jay takes the bullet for Sami Zayn he grabs Solo’s arm in a mirror to how Sammy held the referee’s armor Survivor series and reveals his own footage June 3rd 2022 Samy helps the Usos win August 19th 2022 on that show in Montreal Sammy takes the bullet for Roman September 9th 2022 Sammy takes another bullet December 9th 2022 Samy stops Sheamus breaking up the pin allowing the Usos to win November 26th 2022 Sami turns on Kevin Owens allowing the bloodline to win the camera Cuts back to Sammy now in tears as Jay speaks from the heart saying that he’s taken so many bullets for this family he’s basically bulletproof even when Jay didn’t believe in Sammy Samy believed in Jay and that’s what family does he loves Sammy like a brother he throws his one to the sky and the crowd erupts into gigantic Samy Uso chance Roman finds Sammy not guilty for now until Royal Rumble that weekend where he will give Samy his final test this is a perfect wrestling segment for years decades at this point we’d been conditioned to think that WWE has short-term memory loss story lines don’t go anywhere character arcs are dropped at a moments notice and things that actually happened are ignored but this played on the genuine actual history this story has made it looked back upon sami’s whole Arc within the bloodline the trials and tribulations he’d gone through in order to impress Roman the bullets he’d taken the matches he’d helped them win the people he’ helped win over his protection of solo Solo’s protection of him his friendship with Jimmy his tension with Jay it was all there and for the first time in a very very long time WWE fans felt like they were rewarded for paying attention this story had actual complex characters with unique motivations that all blended into this perfect segment that made you truly desperate to see what was going to happen at that weekend’s Royal Rumble event every single person in that ring killed it um and like it really can’t be understated how good Paul Heyman is in these sections as well like I love when Samy’s Zay is talking to Paul and he’s like you know I thought I was your schie or something and and for you to say that I betrayed Roman that hurts man and it just cuts to Paul Heyman and off Mike you just hear him go good good and he’s so full of vital and anger and if that weren’t enough for that episode of Raw Sammy then teamed with Jay Uso when Jimmy couldn’t continue the tag match against Judgment Day the two working baby face together and making sure that the Usos didn’t have to Forfeit the belts despite Roman saying that Samy shouldn’t be at Smackdown that week Samy turned up anyway to say thank you to Jay for what he did for him the Usos later on are escorted out of the building and Jay calls Samy asking him for a favor to interfere in Solo Sea’s match against Kevin Owens again Jay goes against Roman’s wishes and his and sami’s relationship is furthered even more and then came the Royal Rumble in the main event Roman Reigns destroyed Kevin Owens more often than not Reigns won his title matches with interference from the bloodline but this time it felt like he had some sort of pent up aggression he was taking out on Owens he beat him up repeatedly smashing his head into the ring steps he won clean and what was seemingly a punishment to Samy having to watch his friend getting battered in front of him was that the test to see if Samy would interfere on behalf of his friend after the match Jay thinks sami’s pass that test and goes to put the lay on him but Roman stops him commanding a further beat down of Owens Samy watches conflicted Roman’s arm wrapped around him the Usos don’t hesitate they handcuff Owens to the ring ropes they deliver super KCK after super kick after super KCK but when Roman goes to hit Owens with a chair Sammy steps in he’s seen enough he tells Roman that this is beneath him he doesn’t need to do this Roman agrees handing the chair to Sammy and instructing that he needs to do it instead all the while telling him that he doesn’t need Owens he’s dragged him down since day one Roman loves him but Samy can’t do it Roman loses patience palming Sammy in the face and Sammy knows he doesn’t have a choice anymore all the resentment all the struggle he’s been through he knows it all has to come to an end right now he takes the shot Roman goes down in an exact mirror of the breakup of the shield in 2014 solo and Jimmy are in Shock Jay is heartbroken but Sammy made his choice and with the choice comes consequences Jimmy strikes first super kicking Sam before solo and Roman pile on but Jay doesn’t Jay stands in the corner Frozen and after a time he turns and he leaves but the Beatdown continues and Royal Rumble 2023 goes off the air with Kevin Owens handcuff to the ropes and Sami Zayn laid out in the center of the Ring the lay and the idea of Sammy Uso torn up around him it is one of the greatest angles I’ve ever seen Not only was it just compelling television it furthered so many stories Jimmy was the one who turned on Sammy first he didn’t hesitate Jay couldn’t turn on Sammy Samy protected Owens after everything he did to him that look back at Survivor series War Games paid off here Roman was betrayed again his biggest insecurity coming to the four of course this helped make Sammy into one of the biggest Babyface stars in the company but had also returned the bloodline heel they’d been increasing in popularity particularly with the inclusion of Sammy but now once again they were an Unstoppable and crucially evil faction the Ark of Sami Zayn in the bloodline was over he’s a guy who very clearly works hard has a good heart and is a funny dude who wanted to be accepted and that was something that I just thought was so Paramount in this storyline of Birthright everybody was born into this except for Sammy but Samy wanted to be accepted and that’s sort of been the story of Sammy for a long time even with with his own best friend which kind of tied into this so I thought that was just a a masterful thing to to add to the bloodline story ultimately this strange relationship between Roman and Sammy Foreman I just had so much fun watching it develop week by week like that was something as someone who generally wouldn’t watch WWE week by week I’d just watch the lovely wrestle talk Recaps it was like I suddenly had a reason to tune in every single time because I wanted to know what Sammy was doing I wanted to know what Rome was doing I wanted to know what they’re doing together I think he saved the bloodline last year all of like the end of 2022 going into WrestleMania last year at 2023 he saved that entire storyline just from being himself I don’t say this lightly and I say this without hyperbole I think it might be the best storyline WWE have ever done the end to that Royal Rumble match with Kevin Owens I think that is like a top two or three maybe like maybe one WWE moment of all time they don’t know where Jay is on Smackdown they haven’t heard from him all week Samy attacked Roman on this show declaring that he was coming for the world title but Roman stopped a subsequent Beatdown saying he wanted to break Samy in front of his family in Montreal Samy cut an impassioned promo the following week saying Roman only has eight days left as Champion while Jay Uso just returns in time to defend the tag belts against Braun strowman and Ricochet a match they win clean backstage Jay tells Jimmy he doesn’t know if he’s in or out of the bloodline and after he leaves Paul Heyman questions Jimmy asking him if Jay said anything to him and just like Sammy lied to Jay Jimmy lies to Paul saying nah he just left Samy also manages to find Jay before he leaves and the two share a fist bump Sammy telling Jay he doesn’t have to go down with the ship the bloodline was crumbling Smackdown in Montreal after video packages highlighting the ENT ire Sami Zayn story he returned home WWE brought back Samy’s old theme song the crowd went absolutely insane Sammy was brought to tears the city that helped Kickstart the story 6 months earlier now sees the results Samy simply says it’s Roman versus Sammy and the entire city of Montreal and in French Samy says listen to me carefully tomorrow night you’re in my house elimination chamber Montreal Sami Zayn Roman Reigns Roman stands over Sami Zayn with a steel chair and who should appear and stand between them but Jay Uso giving Jay the same Choice he gave Sammy Roman hands the chair to him he could turn on Roman the exact same way Sammy did but he doesn’t he doesn’t have the strength Roman says Jay’s wasting his time takes the chair from him and Palms him in the face and Jay looks like he’s about to square up to Roman but before Roman can see it he’s dodged out of the way of a Sami Zayn spear which connects with Jay inad dead and Roman whales on Sammy with the chair he hits a spear and once again Roman retains the Montreal crowd don’t boo they don’t shout they just feel heartbreak I think there was a time where we all thought Samy was the person because we’ve been running out of people that could possibly take down Roman and so for someone that was inside of the system for sami’s a to be inside of the System Of The Bloodline there’s a possibility like maybe he sees the cracks and he sees the weakness within the bloodline and Roman and maybe he’s the person to take down Roman Reigns Sammy again like Drew had everybody convinced there was potential they had everyone convinced that elimination chamber is in Montreal Sami Zayn is from Montreal surely they wouldn’t do a title switch right before WrestleMania but wait Sami Zayn is going to be the new Eddie Guerrero this is going to be amazing it’s in his hometown as Montreal think of the pop when Samy holds up the title it’s going to be incredible Roman’s undefeatable Reign is going to end and obviously it didn’t after the Bell Jimmy Uso beats up Sammy some more but Sammy is saved by another Montreal boy Kevin Owens Owens stands between Sammy and Roman and stands aside so Sammy can hit the Hova kick can this friendship be repaired after everything Samy’s done Sammy asks for that friendship on raar saying they can take down the bloodline together Owen says he didn’t do it for Sammy if you need help taking them down ask your buddy Jay Sammy tried to make Jimmy see reason on Smackdown but they ended up rolling instead and this is where Cody rhods truly enters the story Cody and Roman shared a promo on the next Smackdown Cody saying he needs to win against Roman at WrestleMania 39 because you see Cody had his own story after returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 Cody declared that his mission in WWE was to win the WWE Championship the title that Dusty had never won that was his story that he needed to finish and now after winning the men’s Royal Rumble match it was time for his story to finish he and Roman had not shared a ring until this night and Cody made it clear that this meant everything to him and nothing was going to stop him winning at WrestleMania meanwhile Roman gives Jimmy a timeline he needs Jay back in the bloodline in one week otherwise he’s going to blame Jimmy and Jay did return on The Following episode of Raw Sami Zayn beat Jimmy in a match and Jay looked like he might turn on Jimmy but instead turned on Samy superkicking him in a heartbreaking moment Sammy is saved from further beat down by Cody Cody and Sammy braw with the Usos on Smackdown which then started the question of who will be taking down the bloodline at WrestleMania alongside Cody and Sammy they needed a third and despite the masking very nicely Kevin Owens wasn’t interested Samy hurt him too much demanding he’d be by himself he lost a street fight against solo sakoa KO still isn’t interested in a team up but Sammy tells him he loves him anyway Samy finally got to talk to Jay on this show Jay telling him that he called him a brother and Samy betrayed him he embarrassed him so he had no choice but Samy refutes that saying he always had a choice he’s not mad that Samy hit Roman with a chair he’s mad that he didn’t get to do it first Jay didn’t have the strength the Usos attacked Sammy but he’s saved by Kevin Owens KO toall and he and Sammy finally hug it out to a gigantic pop Sami Zade and Kevin Owens versus The Usos was official for Wrestlemania Roman looks in Jay’s eyes backstage and gets the answers he needs just like he did to Sammy at Survivor Series Cody on this show outlined what would happen once he wins at WrestleMania Jay will leave Jimmy will leave solo will leave Haymon will become an advocate Roman will be left with nothing a chief without a tribe that was essentially the full extent of Cody and Roman’s Feud Cody beat ludvig Kaiser on Smackdown handed solar sakoa his first loss and Roar and cut another impassion promo on the go home show regardless everyone thought this was the time this was the moment the Stars had aligned and the question that have been asked since the very beginning of Roman Reigns’s Title reign was about to be answered who will Dethrone Roman Reigns Cody rhods in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 39 Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn dethroned the Usos to win the tag team titles setting the stage for the bloodline collapse on night two but in a result that shocked the world Roman Reigns retained his title over Cody rhods After solos sakoa having been previously ejected from ringside returned and delivered the Samoan Spike allowing Reigns to hit the spear and score the victory everyone and I mean everyone was stunned what were they waiting for this was the time they had the moment and they ruined it oh where do I start yes uh Cody RH should have won at WrestleMania 39 there was nothing that he did in the 9 or 10 months that followed that wouldn’t have been better with the title there was nothing through the end of December for Roman Reigns that needed the title Cody winning the rumble last year and going on to WrestleMania I was a little conflicted because I thought it would have made sense for Sammy to Dethrone Roman but then he did an elimination chamber and I thought everything that played out with the elimination chamber was like oh this is this is great like this is good cuz Roman is going into this like a super villain and so I was invested in Cody dethroning Roman Reigns last year and I was at WrestleMania last year and it just seemed like Cody was the guy it just seemed like Cody was the guy to Dethrone Roman last year when Cody made his entrance and the woe and everyone sings along the the Press Box was shaking and at that point I thought there was an earthquake Quake because we were in California and it wasn’t and that’s just how loud everybody was for Cody’s entrance and I was like oh this is the guy everybody hated it everyone disliked it I don’t know many people that I’ve spoken to that have said that is the decision they like there is not a single person that enjoyed Cody losing Cody should have lost if he had won the same people insisting that that was the wrong choice that he lost would have been booing him within 2 months I promise and this gave him something to fight upward for and I think he has certainly made a case that he is the guy he is the face okay there is one person who enjoyed Cody losing but WWE marched on the story wasn’t over Brock Lesnar returned and turned on Cody rhods on the raw after WrestleMania which began a 3 plle cycle Feud after J Uso knocked off Sami Zayn courtesy of some solo interference yes they did do Sami Zayn versus joso on Smackdown a returning Matt riddle stopped a further Beatdown there was a bit of a holding pattern forming here Kevin Owens problem Solo versus Owens solo wins Solo versus riddle solo wins bloodline brawl versus Zay Owens and riddle Solo versus riddle solo wins Usos versus lwo for some reason Uso’s win they teased that KO might turn on Sammy what in the draft Reigns was drafted to SmackDown Cody to Roar KO and Sammy retain the tag belts against the Usos Jimmy versus riddle riddle wins Rollins versus solo ends in DQ they’re just isn’t much development of characters happening across these weeks matches are just happening with vague teasers of things that don’t materialize like solo telling the Usos to hold their end of the deal at backlash in their six-man tag match against riddle Zayn and Owens after miscommunication in that match where Jay dodged a h kick and it hit solo and solo nearly hits Jay with the spike solo beat riddle Roman Reigns returned on Smackdown asking why the Usos would dedicate their tag match to Roman and then lose he demanded an apology and when Jimmy laughed Roman got up to him palmed him in the face but before jimmmy could respond Jay apologized on their behalf at Night of Champions it’s Roman and solo going for the tag titles Sammy tells Roman that he’s not as good as the Usos and it gets him a little flustered the Usos attack Sammy and Owens and Roman is a little annoyed because he didn’t tell them to and on his way out he bumps into solo as well the bloodline is fracturing Roman needs the Usos to win their match tonight which they don’t curtesy of some Sammy and Koo interference they need to fall in line again the tension continued Roman and Jimmy getting in each other ‘s faces and Roman being Furious when Jimmy says that he and Jay are the best tag team in the world and when it comes to the tag titles he’s the tribal chief after a beat down to the tag Champs Jimmy grabbed the titles but refused to give them to Roman needing Jay to take them from him and hand them over Knight of Champions is where it all came tumbling down after Roman speared the referee in the tag title match the Usos interfered and accidentally super kicked solo sakoa Roman asked them why they’re here pieace Jimmy pieace J and turned around into a Jimmy super kick Jay looked despondent again flashbacks of Sammy turning on Roman for the second time someone he cares about has turned on the person he reports to Jimmy said Jay should have done this a long time ago and after another Jimmy super kick they leave Sammy and KO retained the tag belts even if he didn’t have the tag belts though Roman’s World Title reign continued passing 1,000 days his new title belt was introduced and when the Usos came out Roman command Jay to turn on Jimmy but solo interrupts saying he acknowledges the tribal Chief but they’re his brothers he joins the Usos before a fight erupts though Jay gets in the middle and says they’re all stronger together Jimmy and Roman hug it out and Roman says no solo hits Jimmy with the siman spike ever since Sammy left the bloodline Jay has taken over the role of Peacekeeper and he failed Jay accosted solo saying stabbing your brother in the back is something you don’t do but Paul Heyman said Jimmy was always jealous of Jay knowing that Roman was going to make Jay the next tribal Chief Paul offered Jay a United States title match if he stood with the bloodline Jay took the title match but left his status in the bloodline as TBD it’s decision time enough stalling Roman asked Jay are you in or are you out Jay says it’s either Paul or him but they reveal that the only person who had a problem with Jay becoming the next tribal Chief was Jimmy Jay gets in Jimmy’s face and tells him he’s out and he’s out to superkicking Roman finally abandoning the bloodline and Roman after nearly 3 years of being under his control Jay couldn’t join Sami Zayn at Royal Rumble he couldn’t join him at elimination chamber he couldn’t even join Jimmy at Knight of Champions but now with the power of Brotherhood he’s finally broken away from Roman’s rule of tyranny the Usos know they need to fight their family now they’ve made their choice but together they’re stronger they ask Roman what happens when we pin you at money in the Bank they’re going to have solo be the new tribal Chief and Roman laughs it’s an absurd idea until he sees that solo is serious about it and stops laughing Jay pie faces Roman Jimmy Super Kicks him the brothers once again Stand Tall the Usos versus Roman and solo Roman hit a spear on Jay when Jay in the process of kicking out low blowed Roman calling all the way back to their first match at Clash of Champions in 2020 it leads to the Usos hitting a double super kick on Roman Jay hitting a splash and for the first time since 2019 Roman Reigns lost by pinfall and it was to Jay I think though I kept my call when it happened 1 2 oh my God I was I was super chill despite a tantrum at the Show Roman seemingly gave up the title of tribal Chief to Jay because he can’t handle the pressure anymore but of course it’s a ruse and he low blows Jay Jimmy gets taken out and sent away in an ambulance and Jay returns to beat up Roman and challenge him for a one-on-one match at SummerSlam after saying he has no respect for Roman anymore Jay tears up the contract for their match in the contract signing saying he doesn’t need one he announces that at SummerSlam it’s combat Roman is stunned and asks if the elders knew about this and Jay says it was their idea solo goes to attack Jay but Roman stops him it seems the match is official with the title of tribal chief on the line Roman took credit for Jay’s success the following week with Jay saying he didn’t want all of that but did it because Roman was his chief Roman says Jay was only ever the right-hand man because Jimmy was injured at the time and ask why he think Jay can beat him and and Jay says because I already did Jay beat Grayson Waller in the main event and solo and Roman beat up Jay after the match and Jay went one step further and pinned Solo in the main event the week after the stage is set for SummerSlam but unfortunately while the match was going okay at SummerSlam it was a little over long and then the big twist reveal happened and everyone collectively groaned Jay had the match won but was pulled out of the ring by Jimmy Uso Jimmy turned on his brother allowing Roman to win in a move that still to this day makes absolutely no sense Jimmy was always the one who distrusted Roman who always was Jay’s reason to escape he was the one who turned on Roman first allowing Jay to do the same it was the power of Brotherhood that fueled the Usos meaning they were the longest reigning tag champions of all time that’s what allowed them to pin Roman at money in the bank because as brothers they’re stronger together if people weren’t already tired of the Roman Reigns title run by this point this very much felt like a moment of Jumping the Shark on Smackdown Jimmy said he did what he did for Jay because he didn’t want to see him become tribal Chief and be like Roman Jay didn’t take that for an answer super kicking Roman and Jimmy saying he’s out of the bloodline and out of SmackDown and then Roman Reigns vanished for a while in the time he was gone Jay moved to raw and became a single star Jimmy Uso became a useless comedy character way to follow up on that turn at SummerSlam and Cody and Jay won and lost the tag titles it 100% felt like the filler Arc of the story which was really disappointing considering the stakes of Jay leaving the bloodline and how that story had been playing out on and off for 3 years Roman story restarts on the October 13th episode of SmackDown the season premere after John Cena and La Knight hey it’s Max dupr beat Jimmy Uso and solo tooa at fast lane Cena said Knight had earned a title shot and after he beat solo sakawa Roman versus knight was set for Crown Jewel Knight having had a meteoric rise on Smackdown in Roman’s absence meanwhile John Cena would face solo seoa La Knight stood tall in the contract signing and after a face to-face promo the week after Roman retained against Knight at Crown Jewel in much of the same match as usual solo sakoa squashed John Cena Elsewhere on the card and then Roman left again for a month until the build for the Royal Rumble began a freshly returned Randy Orton called his shot against Reigns and received backup in the form of La Knight and AJ Styles before Styles immediately turned heel on night all three of them wanted a shot at rain so they had a triple threats to determine the number one Contender which ended in a no contest so of course it was made into a fatal four-way instead the three challenges stood tall after a tag match the next week and the contract was signed the week after after some promos from the challenges on the Go Home Show Roman retained there is genuinely not any more depth to this match or build but the the depth of story returned on this show because winning back-to-back Royal Rumble matches was Cody rhods who called his shot pointing at Roman Reigns clearly stating his intent to once again try to Dethrone the tribal Chief at WrestleMania the story had stalled since the last WrestleMania but it was finally time for it to start once again with Cody getting the moment that was taken from him last year it was time for the story to end so what happened next was Cody gave up his spot against Roman giving it to the Rock we’re not finishing the story yet false alarm no go back the other way hold on it’s fine we’ll get to the end we’ll get there I just we we’re back here though we’re back here because Cody said he’s still coming for the title he’s still coming for Roman just not at WrestleMania The Rock and Romans stared down as the show went off the air and everyone universally thought this was a great idea I hate it my God I hate it I Hon I honest to God I hate it Cody decides to step aside and now the rock is going to be involved and it’s The Rock versus Roman Reigns for the head of the table at Wrestlemania 40 a milestone WrestleMania yeah of course I would absolutely love to see it if you didn’t just waste an entire year here having me invest in Cody The Rock rolls up and as of the day that he rolled up to SmackDown and Cody handed off that title match Cody knew that that was happening it wasn’t like a surprise going to the the show I heard that it was a very uh a very like somber type of feeling but he’s a pro he’ll do it of course Cody brought in the rock as a replacement for himself for the title match against Roman that he had earned so that he could go for Seth what who wrote that see there’s not a single person in the world who thought this was a good idea look I am really not like the wrestling conspiracy guy I absolutely think that the whole Rock angle has been a complete work okay uh there was one person who thought this was a good idea but after some severe fan backlash to the segment a # we Cody movement had begun and WWE course corrected in tramatic fashion at the Wrestlemania 40 kickoff press conference thing the rock spoke about his match with Roman Reigns and put over their entire family lineage and the Samoan wrestling Dynasty this was 2 days before our scheduled video went live explaining the Samoan wrestling Dynasty which is still one of my favorite videos we’ve ever done which you should absolutely watch but Cody wasn’t having any of it he revealed his choice for Wrestlemania to be Roman Reigns also Seth Rollins was there and the four of them engaged in a scuffle including a slap from The Rock to Cody The Rock turned heel and aligned himself with Roman and we had our Cody rhods versus Roman Reigns WrestleMania main event that we all wanted it was masterful work honestly even if it didn’t make 100% sense we were all willing to look past any loopholes in excitement for what was to come which means I think it’s time we finish the story here we go we’re we’re going back over there all right we’re actually we’re doing it we’re finishing the story now we’re finishing it Seth Rollins had some prophetic words for Cody saying that at WrestleMania he will be Cody’s Shield The Rock was officially sworn into the bloodline on Smackdown and in a match between Cody and Drew McIntyre solo sakoa interfered and hit the siman spike in a repeat of the Finish from WrestleMania 39 allowing Drew to become only the second person to pin Cody RH since his return to WWE both pins happening exactly the same way the Grayson wer effect was announced for elimination chamber with special guests Cody rhods and Seth Rollins and on that show Cody challenged The Rock to a one-on-one match after Cody handled some security henchmen on Raw The Rock refused Cody’s challenge but he had a counter offer The Rock and Roman Reigns versus Cody rhods and Seth Rollins on night one of Wrestlemania 40 if Cody and Seth win there will be no bloodline on night two if Rock and Roman win Knight two will be contested under bloodline rules and just in case you thought there was some tension between Rock and Roman Roman cut off Rock’s promo and asked him to acknowledge Him which rock did with rock even allowing Reigns to finish his catchphrase the answer to Rock’s counter offer was given one week later with the four men sharing a promo segment in which the match was accepted and made official Cody slapped the rock getting one back for the slap at the kickoff press conference thing Cody then cut an emotional promo on Raw reminding us exactly why he’s such a compelling and captivating baby face and The Rock responded by reminding us why he’s such a compelling and captivating heel doing a rock concert and promising to make Cody bleed on his weight belt and give it to Cody’s mother Cody didn’t back down saying that rock isn’t a heel he’s an is he going to show up at WrestleMania with big Dwayne energy or little dick syndrome Paul Heyman revealed a face Toof face happening with Cody and Roman on SmackDown and says both should show up without any backup in that face to face Roman says that Cody is a fool he brings up Seth turning on him in 2014 again Seth was Roman’s Shield back in those days and look what happened Seth is going to turn on Cody but Cody asks if Roman can trust the rock which is when Roman reveals he actually didn’t come alone but then again neither did Cody Cody asked the audience to ride with him at WrestleMania getting the crowd to point at the sign with him but the Rock interrupts this promo and Whispers to Cody tonight I’m going to make you bleed in the main event joso was facing shinsuke Nakamura when Jimmy and solo ran interference Cody and Seth even the playing field allowing Jay to win but backstage there’s more brawling with Cody Jimmy and solo until the rock appears and begins one of the more compelling angles of the entire bloodline Saga beating down Cody again and again running his mouth the entire time asking Cody’s mother who’s no doubt what watching at home look at your son this is what happens when you with the final boss The Rock fulfilled his promise he made Cody bleed wiped his blood over the weight belt and now had successfully added Rocket Fuel to this already engaging WrestleMania build the rock showed reactions of kids at home being upset about his Beatdown of Cody once again proving why he’s a brilliant heel and brought out Roman Reigns who cut a great promo himself they were interrupted by Seth Who challenged anyone to a match tonight whatever stipulation they wanted solo answers the call with rock revealing it would be bloodline rules in a perfect way to foreshadow exactly what would happen at WrestleMania Seth and solo are having their match before Jimmy interferes Jay then equalizes the rock takes out Jay Cody equalizes Roman comes out and there’s no one left to equalize Roman and rock Stand Tall whipping Cody and Seth with the weight belt Roman being the deciding factor in their Victory if the baby faces are going to win at WrestleMania they’re going to need some backup in a Jay versus solo match on the go home show Jimmy and solo interfered Cody and Seth save Jay from the Beatdown and they whip Jimmy and solo with their weight belt to Stand Tall with Cody reinforcing that he is the one to beat Roman he is going to Dethrone Roman Reigns The Stars had aligned last year at WrestleMania 39 but this year at Wrestlemania 40 WWE had positioned the Stars themselves the stage was set for one of the biggest weekends in the history of professional wrestling on night one Jay Uso defeated Jimmy Uso to wrap up their ongoing feud and in the main event The Rock and Roman Reigns defeated Cody rhods and Seth Rollins once the match got going it was magnificent The Rock threatening to fire the referee if he disqualified them allowed the bloodline to get away with whatever they wanted with the ref even apologizing to Cody for not deqing them it was a perfect setup for the following night where it was now now bloodline rules and Cody had an even bigger mountain to climb but the thing about mountains is the steeper the climb the sweeter the summit Wrestlemania 40 night two Roman Reigns versus Cody rhods the aura this match carried is Far and Away above everything else I’ve ever seen in professional wrestling this felt like the end helped by Roman Reigns’s incredible entrance accompanied by an Orchestral Version of his epic theme song the head of the table the tribal Chief the world champion had arrived for the final time and looked even more threatening than he ever had Roman and Cody then reminded us that they have incredible in ring chemistry for the first part of their match before the chaos began just like on Raw Jimmy Uso ran interference equalized by Jay who speared his brother off the stage that’s when solo too appeared hitting a San Spike and Cody kicked out the facade of the bloodline began to crumble solo yelling at Roman to finish him Reigns exasperatedly telling him I know I know solo and Reigns hit a spike SL spear combo Cody kicked out again when John Cena ran out for vengeance of solo seoa squash at Crown Jewel hitting an AA on Roman and solo through the announce table before Cena was immediately countered by The Rock the Final Boss hit a rock bottom on Cena when the shields music hit and everyone for a brief second thought that just maybe Seth Rollins had recruited Dean Ambrose but no it was just Seth entering with his shield gear he was cut off by a Roman Reigns Superman punch but that’s when Undertaker’s Bell told hitting a choke slam on rock and wiping him out of the match entirely when the lights came back up we saw Cody Roman the mama Road’s weight belt and a chair and what I think might be a perfect shot but Seth was still in the ring standing in his shield gear Roman was faced with a choice focus on Cody his opponent and Challenger or try once again to exercise his demons and get some measure of payback on Seth for turning on him all those years ago and in spite of everything Roman had been through since then the main events the world titles the Royal Rumble wins and his attempt to do the same thing at Royal Rumble 2022 his hatred consumed him and he hit Seth Rollins with the chair instead of Cody it was at this moment that Roman Reigns lost the world championship it wasn’t what came right after it wasn’t the three Crossroads it wasn’t the pinfall it was this Choice Seth had proven himself right he was Cody’s shield Roman had chosen his own downfall over maintaining his status as tribal Chief and being Undisputed WWE Champion and when the referee counted three Roman’s 1,316 day world Title reign came to an end from August 30th 2020 to April 7th 2024 Roman Reigns ran WWE as its world champion through 32 title defenses and now Cody rhods finished his story and Roman Reigns finished his too the bloodline is a special Story one that permeated across the entire company when you look at the rest of the Wrestlemania 40 matches you see Jay versus Jimmy a bloodline match you see Drew McIntyre versus Seth not only bloodline related due to Seth but due to Drew McIntyre’s descent into madness courtesy of his lost to Roman Reigns at Clash of the castle you see Sami Zayn versus Gunther Samy inherently tied to the bloodline and his Ascent through the card being because of it at one point in time the bloodline wasn’t really helping Elevate many new stars but when you look back at where these people were before it began and now it’s night and day Jay and Jimmy Uso solo tcoa Sami Zayn Kevin Owens La Knight Seth Rollins Cody rhs hell even Roman Reigns himself I think it is a really fascinating story arc the whole thing there was a very popular theory for a while about how like the real protagonist in all this is Jay Uso to me that was another one where it’s like no it isn’t like but that’s like not to unell how excellent Jay was in all this cuz like he was like a critical supporting character and like I I think he elevated his game to no end and I think he also really showed his chops as a single wrestler and not just in those Roman matches Paul heyman’s been been doing the work first of all Paul hayon just needs to teach a master class in facial expressions and telling a story with just the looks that he gives so we had the whole anoai family tree shown which was very very interesting from a a a wrestling nerd historical point of view going wow all these people are connected as well and I didn’t even I didn’t didn’t even know about the The Blood Brother relationship really really interesting learning about s and culture and how like two families can come together just by a blood a blood brother like a bond of blood that’s really cool I love that I love like it’s nice when I can watch wrestling and not just be ignorant white guy number four and learn about another culture and actually take something away from wrestling that I didn’t have when I walked in that’s cool give us more stuff like that there will never be another Title reign like Romans it will forever be looked back upon as an historic and Monumental part of wrestling history when you look at this entire Title reign as a whole spanning almost 4 years it’s the greatest Title reign that I’ve ever seen from start to finish thank you so much for watching this is the most work that I’ve ever put into a single video ever so if you liked it please leave a like And subscribe and if you want to help support us so we can make more highquality videos like these then check out our patreon page at patreon.com wrestl talk I would really appreciate it thank you and if you want more right now check out the bloodline Family Tree explained or the rise and Rise of the Rock by clicking the videos on screen
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0:00 – Roman’s Return
4:22 – The Title Reign Begins
13:40 – vs Jey Uso
23:27 – The First WrestleMania
32:54 – The Return of Jimmy Uso
44:24 – The Best Year Begins
54:56 – The Sami Zayn Arc
1:26:21 – Post-WrestleMania 39
1:39:24 – Finishing The Story
Written By: Pete Quinnell
Presented By: Pete Quinnell
Directed By: Pete Quinnell & Ellis Thomas
Produced By: Pete Quinnell & Tempest
Image Sourcing By: Brandon Syres & Jason Walsh
Special thanks to AceTrainerLiam, Alex Lajas, Sean Ross Sapp and Super Eyepatch Wolf for appearing in this video!
Well done. Great Job🎉
These long form wrestletalk videos give me life 😍
I dont see why everyone still insists that Cody should have won at Mania 39.
1. Cody needed to have a reason to hate Roman in a rematch.
2. Roman still needs to be on top for the following months' story with the Usos to work
3. Simply, the build to and ending of Mania XL is way better than the ending of Mania 39 ever could have been.
The Bloodline brought be back. I have always poked my nose in on the High Holy Wrestlemania but when I saw Sammi Zayne talking with Roman Reigns I was like. Whelp. Got the Network the next day and caught up as fast as I could and then got completely hooked by Cody Vs Roman 1 and 2. As Michael Cole was finally allowed to scream. I love Professional Wrestling
And this video is amazing. I am going to watch it so so many times
11:21 Just noticed Rikishi is wearing the tribal necklace…the first sighting of it
Jey Usso is one of the worst technical wrestlers in WWE. Even his super kick looks bad. How this guy could beat anyone like AJ Styles just shows how poor the story writing at WWE is. Guy turns baby face and he wins or gets beaten by a heel. Never does a heel win without cheating. It is so predictable
Excellent work! I'm feeling quite UCEY right now. Seriously though, this was amazing.
Well pete i enjoying cody losing at 39 , enjoyed it alot , he is sooooooooo boring and his current title run is evidence of that , people want roman back already it been 3 months
I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU MY TRIBAL CHIEF
Let's not forget how upset and livid the narrator of this video was at the ending to WrestleMania 39 and cursed out the decision to have Cody lose and say "I'm done with WWE". Guess you're eating your words now and how epic of a story Roman reigns title run turned out to be. It was absolutely the right decision for him lose the belt at mania 40 and not 39
Great story of the Bĺoodline❤
Best Storyline in WWE History, and it has longevity and always interesting
For me the simple fact was this, Roman elevated everyone in his circle, and that is truly why he is so special.
Please do r-truth please
The tribal chiefs story. Is cinema, bottom line
Sean Ross Sapp is the grandson of Bob Sapp
Bloodline is like the infinity stones saga
Reigns would be proud☝️💯
Would love to see Jey finally beating Roman for a title once the rock/solo angle dies down.
Genuinely brilliant, Pete. Absolutely top top notch work.
If Cody never came back to WWE, who would’ve dethroned him?
If you're a wrestling fan go watch it. Cody fan or not. Dave is just in his feelings because he didn't wanna hear to The Rock say what he wanted to hear The Rock.
I feel like this might be just volume 1 of bloodline story
Simply put, legendary. There is never and probably will never be another story equivalent to this.
Moar
I feel Jey was originally supposed to take down Roman the story kept building around him but Cody was just too hot 😂😂