4 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (9 Aug - Results & Review)

Roman Reigns wrecks The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes gets a surprise challenger on WWE SmackDown.

by Jamie Kennedy
Roman Reigns Babyface
WWE.com

This second Roman Reigns babyface run is off to a great start.

The "Original Tribal Chief" returned to a monster pop at SummerSlam, and attention quickly turned to his first SmackDown appearance since WrestleMania 40 season. On Friday, Roman didn't let everyone down. Crucially, he didn't get all smiley or spew guff about how Solo Sikoa is a "snivelling little suck-up sellout full of sufferin' succotash, son" either.

Roman has an edge to him. It's the same edge that made his 'Tribal Chief' rebrand so compelling for four excellent years, and fans are already here for it. Now, WWE's big task will be making sure Solo can hold up his end of the bargain, but maybe that's why he's surrounded by his own Bloodline.

SmackDown wasn't all about Reigns. Well, it kinda was, but Cody Rhodes also handpicked a shock title challenger for Bash In Berlin (that match is official), and LA Knight's first United States Title opponent was confirmed too. Elsewhere, there was some serious treading water in the tag-team scene.

Here's all the good and bad from the blue brand's SummerSlam fallout.

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.