When the Bloodline civil war broke out, Solo Sikoa started bringing new members of the family to WWE for his faction to use against Roman Reigns. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Jacob Fatu became the New Bloodline with Sikoa. Rumors swirled for months that more family would be involved, especially Hikuleo (Tama Tonga’s brother) and Lance Anoa’i (Roman Reigns’ cousin). All fans ended up getting was JC Mateo (Jeff Cobb), who is not related and not Samoan or Tongan.
Both Hikuleo and Anoa’i have been signed to WWE since last summer, but neither had wrestled…until now. Anoa’i has been injured, and he is slated to start in Evolve when he finally heals up. Hikuleo, on the other hand, wrestled his first dark match at this week’s Smackdown taping. Here is fan footage.
As it stands right now, the Roman Reigns’ Bloodline faction includes Jimmy and Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. Solo’s faction includes Tama Tonga (injured), Tanga Loa (injured), and JC Mateo. United States Champion Jacob Fatu just split from Sikoa at the Money in the Bank PLE on June 7. Which of these three options will WWE choose to affiliate Hikuleo with, if any?
Roman Reigns is rarely on television at the moment, and The Usos and Zayn are all doing their own storylines. Jey Uso just finished a reign as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, losing the title at Money in the Bank to Gunther. Jimmy Uso was being utilized in that storyline. Sami Zayn is involved in the King of the Ring tournament and a feud with Seth Rollins’ faction. It would seem that Hikuleo isn’t really needed with Reigns’ faction right now.
That leaves the other two camps. Solo Sikoa just lost his opportunity at the Men’s Money in the Bank briefcase because of interference by Jacob Fatu. Sikoa could certainly bring in the 6’8″ Hikuleo to help him, and Mateo, punish Fatu. On the other hand, if Hikuleo backs Fatu, the two sides are even until Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa return. Those last two could end up being the deciding factor if they return soon.
WWE should have ended the Bloodline angle ages ago. By continuing it, they have roped themselves into a seemingly endless and expanding feud using more and more relatives and outsiders. The OG Bloodline isn’t really even together full-time right now. The New Bloodline seemingly just split and is now repeating the storyline they just finished, this time, within their own faction. It is like the Covid-19 sourdough starter thing all over again. It is the new Bullet Club or NWO. Does it ever end?
That said, Hikuleo has waited almost a year to get involved. If it took them this long to find a spot to bring him in, that tells me WWE realizes that this is getting old. (With the Rock serving on the TKO board, it seems every distant relative has a job if they want it.) I really hope this will be the last generation of the Bloodline storyline in WWE.
If Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa return, I could see them back Jacob Fatu. That would logically dictate that Hikuleo end up with Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo to even the sides. It may be months before those two are back, though. That means it would make more sense to pair the giant Tongan with Jacob Fatu to make it two-on-two. Unfortunately for Fatu, WWE is not always about symmetry. I think that Hikuleo will be placed with Sikoa, and he will use Mateo and the big man to help him try to take the U.S. title from Fatu.
When Tonga and Loa return, they can finally end the Bloodline faction wars for good and just let everyone do their own thing. Maybe we get Reigns versus the Rock, and maybe we don’t. Either way, no more Anoa’i sourdough. No more World Wrestling Anoa’i. Time to get these wrestlers into new storylines, and honestly, time to thin the Anoa’i herd a bit in WWE.
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