Roman Reigns’ WWE Return Reignites Hottest Story in Professional Wrestling with The Bloodline

Saturday night time on the 2024 version of SummerSlam, WWE exited what virtually felt like an offseason for the game, principally because of Roman Reigns’ triumphant return.

As roughly 99 p.c of followers may have predicted, Reigns’ music hit throughout the primary occasion between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa after a heavy dose of shenanigans throughout a Bloodline Guidelines match.

And as these followers may have simply predicted as properly, Reigns took purpose at his family by making certain Sikoa’s defeat:

However predictable is not unhealthy in professional wrestling when it correctly aligns with timing—and now followers get the continuation of the Bloodline saga, one of many best tales ever weaved within the sport.

Granted, the announcers tried to drum up the suspense as Reigns walked down the aisle, after all, suggesting that he may truly be again to go after Rhodes, the person who ended his historic title reign.

However followers knew higher—and there is nothing fallacious with that.

Now, the Bloodline saga renews in earnest, with Reigns doubtless positioning himself because the No. 1 contender to Rhodes whereas additionally making an attempt to wash up a messy household state of affairs. Whereas he is been away, Sikoa has recruited a literal military with The Tongans and Jacob Fatu.

That Reigns was draped in an OTC (Authentic Tribal Chief) shirt factors to this angle properly sufficient. There’s additionally the matter of his relationship with Paul Heyman and that ever-lurking presence of a company Dwayne Johnson probably pulling strings within the background that may come to mild close to subsequent yr’s WrestleMania 41.

Take into account, too, that Reigns might want to grapple, in a really meta sense, with the truth that followers have lastly embraced him as a “good man” after years of a Vince McMcMahon-led artistic crew desperately making an attempt to realize that feat.

And what higher option to quiet these issues than going after Rhodes? From a personality motivation standpoint, he can level the finger at The American Nightmare and blame him for his household blowing up.

These complexities have been painted on Reigns’ face all through the return, simply in how he checked out Rhodes. At one level, he went from shaking his head in disgust whereas Sikoa screamed within the aftermath, to virtually sarcastically clapping whereas the undisputed WWE champion celebrated within the ring.

These gray-area character motivations which have outlined the Triple H period of creativity and actually pioneered by Reigns and The Bloodline are simply straight-up compelling always.

Lest we neglect one more issue: The Usos. If WWE retains the Bloodline saga a family-based affair, Reigns goes to want some assist and is vastly outnumbered. A bit redemption arc with Jimmy and Jey, the latter of whom has been in a large singles rut anyway, would arrange a civil struggle that may headline PLEs with out titles at stake.

WWE had been in a lull earlier than Reigns’ return, one that almost felt like an offseason. That is to not say there weren’t attention-grabbing issues occurring, however the predictable occasions at SummerSlam strengthened the concept the holding sample is over.

Reigns’ return was by far the largest issue. However huge Judgment Day happenings unfolded (Dom Mysterio betrayed Rhea Ripley, Finn Bálor value Damian Priest his title to deliver on the Gunther period), Bron Breakker turned intercontinental champion, LA Knight gained the US championship, and Drew McIntyre-CM Punk lastly had their first match whereas involving Seth Rollins.

So, whereas Reigns is not the one factor accelerating the previous and must-see standing of all WWE programming proper now, he is proper on the high. The return and fallout, whereas predictable, have been mere proof that WWE is again on monitor so far as storytelling is worried—these Massive 4 PLEs really feel vitally vital with key payoffs as soon as extra.

On this explicit case, the momentum goes to uptick dramatically round The Bloodline, with every PLE cease on the schedule doubtlessly having vital ripple results on subsequent yr’s ‘Mania, which may go any variety of methods. Reigns vs. Rock? Reigns vs. Rhodes 3?

There must be zero complaints about both—Reigns and the Bloodline saga will prepare dinner it up in a compelling option to proceed one of many best-ever storylines.