Solo Sikoa had a memorable debut during the WWE Clash At The Castle premium live event, breaking up a pinfall that would have ended Roman Reigns' historic run as unified champion. Drew McIntyre and The Tribal Cheif tore the house down in Cardiff, putting on a match that exceeded even the most bullish expectations. It was booked in a way that made the audience feel that The Scottish Warrior might actually be able to do the unthinkable. He seemingly had Reigns dead to rights before Sikoa pulled the referee from the ring before he could make the three count. It was a dramatic ending to a great match, but Solo hadn't seen Roman in quite sometime before Clash At The Castle.
Speaking to Peter Rosenberg on the Cheap Heat podcast, Sikoa said that he hadn't seen Roman Reigns for two decades. "Seeing Roman in Cardiff, I haven't seen him in like 20 years," Solo stated. "We really weren't close, but he was always around at our house playing with my brothers because they were the same age, and I was way, way younger than him. He was always around our house, but I think now, coming into the business, I'm starting to get close with him. Even though the age gap is there, I'm really starting to get close with him because, I mean, it's Roman Reigns." (h/t and thanks for wrestlingnews.co for the transcription)
Solo Sikoa Has Given The Bloodline A Fresh Feel
Leading up to Clash At The Castle, it felt like only a matter of time before Sikoa was introduced as a new member of The Bloodline. The timing was just about perfect, as the stable was starting to grow slightly stale. Only so many things can be done with a faction that holds both sets of tag-team titles and both major men's titles. The addition of Sikoa and the expansion of Sami Zayn's involvement has given the group a fresh vibe.
The ongoing strife between Zayn and Jey Uso, in particular, has made for can't-miss television. WWE has taken a nuanced approach with The Bloodline, and each member feels unique in their own way. The Usos aren't being lumped together as one individual anymore. Jimmy and Jey feel and act like different people. Solo, their younger brother, is being put over as the toughest of the bunch, and he's made that work on screen so far. Roman Reigns is the immovable object, but Logan Paul seems to have gotten into his head about Jey Uso wanting to usurp him as Tribal Chief. There's a ton of tension in the group right now, and it's made for compelling television every week. Sikoa is making the most of this opportunity on WWE television, one that he's literally been waiting for his whole life.
Sources: Cheap Heat, wrestlingnews.co