WWE’s Cody Rhodes Agrees to Bloodline Rules at SummerSlam

Cody Rhodes will once again have to defeat The Bloodline at SummerSlam, but it’s not the same Bloodline he faced to become the Undisputed WWE Champion. This time around, he won’t be facing Roman Reigns, but the new self-proclaimed Tribal Chief Solo Sikoa, and Sikoa has recruited an entirely new group to reclaim the titles The Bloodline once held. Tonight’s SmackDown featured one last face-to-face encounter between Rhodes and Sikoa before SummerSlam, and Rhodes made it clear that while he’ll be facing The Bloodline once again, he has no respect for Sikoa or his title. This led to Sikoa challenging Rhodes to a Bloodline rules match, much like the one held at WrestleMania, and after Rhodes shot every other member, he accepted Sikoa’s challenge.

Self-proclaimed tribal chief

(Photo: WWE)

Rhodes said, “I see. I’m doing you good. You’re a little brother, aren’t you? I’m a little brother too. It’s not easy what you’re trying to do, become the leader of the tribe and get what you want. From a distance, I almost admire it. Once all the drama that the Bloodline is so famous for is over, there’s an old expression in wrestling, the bell is going to ring, and when it rings, you’re going to find out. That you’ve got nothing to lose and I’ve got everything on the line…” Sikoa interrupted him by saying, “Are you done? Are you done? Because you’re wasting my time, and I’m at my wit’s end right now. Just like your title reign, tomorrow night at SummerSlam.” Rhodes was far from done, however.

“I’m not done, you’re a self-proclaimed tribal chief. I’m here as the true champion of WWE. I’m here at the top of WWE. I sit on a throne, a throne that I once broke, and I sit here with a deep emotional debt to those who helped me achieve my goals. Men like Randy Orton, men like Kevin Owens. If I lose at SummerSlam, if I lose to you, I won’t be able to repay that debt. I intend to repay those men with blood. What I did to your cousin Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, in a bloodline match,” Rhodes said.

Rules of the lineage

Sikoa said, “Bloodline rules huh? Bloodline rules, you keep saying it. When you beat him at WrestleMania, he was a weak tribal chief. You see me Cody, I’m not weak. In fact, I’m the opposite, I’m dangerous. Tomorrow night at SummerSlam, I’m going to show you how dangerous I am. Let’s put your words into practice, okay? Let’s have a bloodline rules match tomorrow night, again.” Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa all came out of the crowd to surround the ring.

Rhodes then addressed all of The Bloodline directly, including Fatu, who he likely shocked when he said, “I’m not afraid of you either, you stupid son of a bitch. Tomorrow night, Cleveland, SummerSlam, you want a Bloodline rules match, it’s probably not the smartest decision I’ve ever made, but it’s the only decision I can make. I accept. And since the Tribal Chief’s not here, I’ll settle for the challenger,” Rhodes said.

SummerSlam Card

• WWE Bloodline Rules Undisputed Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (C) vs. Solo Sikoa
• World Heavyweight Title Match: Damian Priest (C) vs. Gunther
• CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (w/special referee Seth “Freakin” Rollins)
• Women’s World Championship Match: Liv Morgan (C) vs. Rhea Ripley
• WWE Women’s Title Match: Bayley (C) vs. Nia Jax
• United States Championship Match: Logan Paul (C) vs. LA Knight
• Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn (center) vs. Bron Breakker

Are you excited for SummerSlam? You can chat wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarc!