The Bloodline saga, which dominated SmackDown, is starting over again with a familiar premise, as it comes to Raw on Netflix. This time, Jacob Fatu is taking over the role once played by Jey Uso in what feels like Jacob Is the New Jey .
On Monday, Fatu interrupted Roman Reigns’ post-WrestleMania 42 victory speech, challenging him to a match for the OTC’s newly won World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash on May 9. Fatu claimed he wasn’t trying to become the next Tribal Chief. Instead, he only wants
what Reigns has so he can provide a better life for his family.
If that sounds familiar, that’s because it is.
Reigns’ first challenger after turning heel and winning the Universal Championship to begin his run as the Tribal Chief in 2020 was Jey Uso. As he did with Fatu, Reigns dismissed the idea that Jey was ready to lead his family as WWE’s top champion.
Reigns also issued the same ultimatum: if Fatu fails, he must fall in line and acknowledge him. Fatu has until next Monday to reconsider, ending this week’s Raw on a cliffhanger.
Bloodline Reboot
Before that, Reigns returned at the end of Raw to address fans. Passing through the backstage area, he spotted his cousins, The Usos, and invited them to join him in the ring.
Notably, his old “Head of the Table” theme — the music from his run as WWE’s top heel and Bloodline leader — played the trio to the ring, where Reigns made a compelling pitch to reunite the familial Samoan faction.
“I’m not asking you to serve me. I’m just asking you to be my blood and stand with me,” he told Jimmy and Jey, adding that following disrespect from everyone from CM Punk to “some rapper from the ’90s,” they are stronger together than apart.
“When we all come together, nobody can touch us,” Reigns said.
Reigns’ call for a Bloodline reunion came on a Raw where new challengers began circling the title. LA Knight and Gunther both set their sights on the new champ. Meanwhile, Oba Femi, fresh off a WrestleMania 42 win over Brock Lesnar, made his presence felt on Monday by declaring, “The Ruler has arrived.”
Fans who saw The Bloodline’s original run know exactly where this is going. Fatu will face Reigns and fail, then fall back and serve — whoops, “stand with” the OTC.
That sets up a few intriguing scenarios, starting with how the uncontrollable Fatu responds to being reined in by Roman. His imposing presence also spells trouble for future challengers such as Femi. Touted as “the next big thing,” Femi’s rapid rise at Reigns’ expense suddenly feels far less certain.
What does feel certain, though, is that Reigns, once accused of gaslighting and manipulating his family for his own benefit during his previous title reign, is back to his old tricks. And it calls to mind what Reigns said in 2024 following his sabbatical after WrestleMania XL: “Some things change, but not me.”
Time will tell if The Bloodline 2.0 will be as good as its original series. If anything, the addition of the unpredictable Fatu under Reigns’ thumb should be anything but boring.
