Roman Reigns Returns To Decide WWE Champion At SummerSlam

Cody Rhodes had friends in low places but it was the most unexpected one in Roman Reigns that helped him retain his WWE Title at SummerSlam.

The issues with Cody Rhodes and The Bloodline stretch all the way back to WrestleMania 39 when he was screwed out of finishing his story the first time around as Roman Reigns was helped to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

One year later at WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes righted that wrong as he won the title but that doesn’t mean his issues with The Bloodline have gone away.

Roman Reigns has not been seen since the end of his historic title reign leaving Solo Sikoa to assume control as the de facto leader of The Bloodline and now refers to himself as The Tribal Chief. Sikoa saw off Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman – who refused to refer to him with his new title – as he packed the group with his own loyalists, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu.

At Money In The Bank, Sikoa, Fatu, and Tonga teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton with Sikoa winning the match by pinning the WWE Champion. Cody Rhodes then laid down a challenge for Solo Sikoa to meet him for the gold at SummerSlam as The Bloodline picked off Rhodes’ allies one by one.

Roman Reigns Returns As Cody Rhodes Retains

At SummerSlam, it was Bloodline Rules after Rhodes agreed to that stipulation on SmackDown meaning anything went and anyone could get involved. Cody Rhodes did have two friends left as a clearly emotional champion walked his trusty dog Pharoah through the backstage area on Pharaoh’s last work trip and bumped into WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson who didn’t offer Rhodes his trusty Glock but did indicate that friends were on the way.

Solo Sikoa silenced the Cleveland crowd as he controlled much of the match but as Rhodes took control with a Cross Rhodes, The Bloodline attacked with Haku’s sons having a problem as Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa took the fight to the WWE Champion.

Kevin Owens made his return after being taken out by The Bloodline to help out Rhodes and he was quickly followed by Randy Orton who evened the odds. Sikoa kicked out of a Cross Rhodes as Orton and Owens chased off the Guerillas of Destiny and with Rhodes on the verge of victory again, Jacob Fatu attacked.

Fatu splashed Rhodes through the announce table but after apparently hurting his leg doing that, he was unable to help Sikoa further as Rhodes fought back. But with both men laid out, it was time for Roman Reigns to make his long-awaited return to WWE.

Reigns wasted no time in letting fans know what he was going to do as he dropped the self-appointed Tribal Chief with a Superman punch and a spear. A nod from Reigns to Rhodes signalled that he approved of The American Nightmare beating Sikoa which is what he then did with another Cross Rhodes to retain his Undisputed WWE Championship.