SmackDown recap and reactions: The Wiseman’s choice

Paul Heyman made his choice with The Bloodline on SmackDown this week at the Garden.

This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown at Madison Square Garden was all about The Bloodline acknowledging a new Head of the Table, a new Tribal Chief, the ushering in of a new era in the already legendary group’s still brief but explosive history.

Instead of getting right into it, though, like it appeared they were going to, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens pulled up in their own truck and wasted no time getting into a big brawl, one that featured KO hitting a senton from way too high up through a table. Rhodes’ cut an impassioned promo that had the entire arena going insane for the babyfaces. So, in true WWE fashion, they had the cops show up to send them off.

The end result was Paul Heyman telling Solo Sikoa the three of them were escorted out of the building and he wanted to know what the hell they were doing tonight and why Jacob Fatu wasn’t here. Solo claimed he took Heyman’s advice and sent Fatu away for being “too dangerous.”

“That’s why you’re my Wiseman, and we’re going to make that official.”

Hmmm.

Naturally, when they went back out for the main event, Sikoa instantly took the mic from Heyman to personally introduce Fatu as his enforcer, calling him “The Samoan Werewolf.” Wade Barrett called him the most lawless individual in the history of this industry, which is legitimately a pretty badass way to talk about someone.

Then, Sikoa demanded he be acknowledged by everyone, starting with Tama Tonga, then to Tonga Loa, then to Fatu. They all did so.

Finally, Solo asked for Tonga to hand him the Ula Fala Reigns has long worn as the Tribal Chief. Heyman couldn’t do it, though. He refused to acknowledge Sikoa as his Tribal Chief.

That is Roman Reigns, and Roman Reigns alone.

So he had to be dealt with swiftly.

And violently.

First, a spike.

Next, a splash.

Finally, a triple powerbomb through the announcer’s table.

Heyman took it all with tears in his eyes, fans chanting “holy shit” after he went crashing through the table. They closed with Fatu crowning Sikoa by putting the Ula Fala around his neck.

The table bump looked brutal, and Heyman sold the mental anguish every bit as much as the physical pain. It felt particularly jarring because he is a 58-year-old man who is not in any kind of shape to be doing this kind of thing, and they did it to him anyway.

This right here is how you get these guys over as monsters who badly need to be stopped, and there is one man who is uniquely equipped to do it. The response that man is going to get when he finally does come back is going to be something we’ll never forget.

It’s also setting up beautifully for a babyface comeback for the ages, because he’s going to have to make good with everyone he wronged to take down this violent group that has risen in his wake.

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All the rest

• Tiffany Stratton def. Candice LeRae & Jade Cargill to advance to the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Nia Jax was there to assist her, not to mention Indi Hartwell showing up at just the right time to get Cargill out of the picture. This was executed well to service multiple stories, with Indi & Candice continuing their issue with Cargill & Bianca Belair, who was also out trying to cancel out Jax’s presence. This didn’t hurt Jade one bit and got another young star in the ladder match.
• Logan Paul brought Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers with him to SmackDown, in a hilarious move that also gave us a staredown with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who was ringside. Naturally, Haliburton was used to deliver the brass knuckles to Paul but it was Brunson who hopped the rail to put a stop to it. Knight proceeded to hit the BFT on Santos Escobar and when Paul tried to roll him up, he reversed it and kept Paul down for the three count. After the match, the WWE and NBA stars had themselves a staredown in the ring, with Brunson bringing a chair with him. Nothing happened — probably NBA contracts to blame for that one — but it was an electric moment.
• But also, LA Knight advanced to the Money in the Bank ladder match! Could it really be happening?!?
• Naomi defeated Indi Hartwell & Blair Davenport in a triple threat match to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match. She did so with an assist from Jade Cargill, who showed up to get some payback on Hartwell for interfering in her match earlier. If anything, it was a surprise that Davenport wasn’t made to look better here, considering how they’ve seemingly been trying to position her.
• DIY are getting a shot at the WWE tag team championship next week and they were interviewed to promote as much. Tommaso Ciampa mentioned having history in Toronto, where they will be, but Austin Theory pulled up to say he’s been thinking about what they’ve been saying to him but he maintains that Grayson Waller is his best friend. Johnny Gargano tried to appeal to him again, but Waller attacked from behind. It sure feels like we’re close to the end of this tag team.

Yet another great show from the blue brand.

Grade: A-

Your turn.