Bronson Reed shocked the WWE Universe when he appeared to join Solo Sikoa’s team for WarGames on the latest episode of SmackDown. The Bloodline civil war has now taken another wild turn on the road to WarGames.
As Roman Reigns trotted the original Bloodline down to the ring with equal numbers, Reed appeared to assault the OG group, once again tipping the numbers advantage in Sikoa’s favor.
Reed’s name likely didn’t register for those attempting to predict the final two members of each WarGames team. The Aussie Monster is the fifth member of Solo Sikoa’s squad for the next five reasons.
#5. He’s an imposing opponent for the OG Bloodline
Jacob Fatu has proven to be the most physically dominant star between both Bloodlines. He has routinely canceled out the numbers advantage by taking out two or three stars at a time.
His Moonsault and Superkicks have more pop due to being bigger than the rest of the names in the angle. Bronson Reed is even bigger than Fatu, tipping the scales at around 330 pounds.
By optics alone, Reed is an imposing figure and someone who cannot be easily dispatched with a Superman Punch. It took three Curb Stomps from Seth Rollins to put Reed away at Crown Jewel.
#4. He’s of Samoan descent
The simplest answer for Bronson Reed joining Solo Sikoa’s side for WarGames is that he is of Samoan descent. Many residents of Australia and New Zealand can trace their lineage to Samoa and other islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Roman Reigns’ Bloodline involved stars who were related by blood in real life. Sami Zayn was an “Honorary Uce” and had to work harder to be accepted by real-life family members.
Solo’s group may not be related by blood but instead by island lineage. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are Tongan but share some similar cultural traits with Samoans. Reed is Australian and Samoan, so he fits the mold for the group.
#3. His addition to the team is unexpected
One thing that Triple H’s New Era has had trouble with is being unpredictable. Some moments have been shocking, like the debuts of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
In terms of finishes for most title matches and other big contests, the outcomes were easy to predict. When it came to the names to fill out the final spots of both teams, stars like Hikuleo, Lance Anoa’i, or The Rock were the frontrunners.
Having Bronson Reed join the saga is a welcome surprise. His swath of destruction set him up as a fearsome competitor over the last few months. Reed has been featured prominently on RAW and isn’t a random star who hasn’t done much lately.
#2. It gives Bronson Reed another huge opportunity to shine
Bronson Reed’s feud with Seth Rollins has proven to the fans that he is a main-event caliber player. He attacked The Visionary to push his name up the list of top WWE stars. Advancing up the ladder is hard to do if hungry stars don’t target the top of the food chain or those who were at the top at one point.
Rollins endured six Tsunami splashes. The Miz, R-Truth, and others also fell victim to the splash. Reed may have fallen to Rollins at Crown Jewel but it took three variations of the Curb Stomp to put him away, but only just.
He popped straight up like Kane after the match, only selling the damage for a brief period. With a big stage like WarGames in the WWE’s biggest angle, Bronson Reed can shine. He may even hit a Tsunami or two off the steel structure.
#1. Solo Sikoa recruits ruthless people
One big difference between Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline and Roman Reigns’ faction is ruthlessness. Solo excommunicated Jimmy Uso, his brother, to build the group in his image.
Solo also ordered the attack of a non-combatant like Paul Heyman, something Reigns never did. The new group has brutalized Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and now, the OG Bloodline.
Bronson Reed has proven his ruthlessness many times over. He put Braun Strowman through the hood of a car and had no problem turning Rollins into a pancake in the ring.
If joining Solo’s Bloodline requires a lack of remorse, Reed easily fills that requirement. His addition may also force Rollins to join Roman’s side for one last time.