4 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Crown Jewel 2024 (Results & Review)

1. A Twist On The OG Bloodline Reunion

The original Bloodline losing the six-man tag match at Crown Jewel was always the right call – Solo Sikoa’s group needed the win to establish parity and let fans know that they are (at least in storyline) on the level of the OTC and his team.

But Roman Reigns himself being pinned was probably not on anyone’s bingo card. Most probably had Jimmy Uso being pinned. This column has already taken WWE to task for glossing over this moment, but what it signifies and sets up going forward is a really smart development, especially when you weave in Sami Zayn’s involvement.

Sami is a reluctant participant in all of this. His friendship with Jey Uso is what binds him to the story, and that was evidenced by Zayn coming down Saturday to save Jey from having his neck Pillmanized. Sami’s errant Helluva Kick that leveled Roman Reigns further put the reunion on the backburner, with Jimmy angry at Zayn and Jey having to play peacekeeper.

Here’s the twist: The only person who can bring all sides together at this stage is Roman… a contrite Roman. For the longest time, Reigns has been an unforgiving, unrepentant Tribal Chief. He’s never apologized, asked or had to make amends to hold his faction together – he ruled by fear and gaslighting.

To reunite the original Bloodline, Roman has to take responsibility for losing the Crown Jewel match, forgive Sami for the accidental kick, ask Zayn to rejoin the group, and smooth over any existing tension between all the players. He can’t be this aloof Tribal Chief-in-waiting with everyone else rallying around him – that would completely betray the story at this stage and reveal that he hasn’t grown as a character at all.

It will be interesting to see Roman acknowledging his compatriots and reassembling the team heading into Survivor Series, and this was really laid the groundwork for that story.