Ever since Roman Reigns was removed and Solo Sicor declared himself the Tribal Chief of The Lineage, fans have been hoping for a showdown between them at SummerSlam. When Sicor was named the challenger for Cody Rhodes and his undefeated WWE Championship at WWE’s staple summer event, speculation was rife that Reigns might return to take the match and the title from Sicor.
However, reports have emerged that The Rock has finished filming his latest Hollywood movie, raising the possibility that The Rock, rather than Reigns, will appear at SummerSlam. If The Rock returns, it will leave Reigns’ return date unclear. While this may not sit well with the inhabitants of the relevance island, a delayed Reigns return could lead to compelling storylines and big business for WWE.
After Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL to win the WWE Undisputed Championship, WWE began grooming Solo Sicore for a monumental moment at SummerSlam. With Reigns adrift in obscurity, Sicore took control of the Samoan dynasty. Since April, he’s formed a new bloodline, displacing Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman as the number one contender for WWE’s biggest prize.
As he prepares to face Rhodes at SummerSlam, Cicore has also stepped up his taunts towards Roman Reigns. On SmackDown last Friday, Cicore said that if Reigns is unhappy with his behavior, he knows his place in the ring. This is all typical wrestling storytelling, and many believe a brawl between Reigns and Cicore will occur at WWE’s biggest party of the summer.
That’s possible, but it’s worth noting that WWE, under Reigns’ influence, prefers slow-burn storylines over quick resolutions. While the ongoing Bloodline saga appears complete, extending the storyline could be in WWE’s creative and commercial interest.
First, there’s the rise of Solo Sicor, who has gone from shady enforcer to bona fide main character in less than six months. If Reigns were to return and jeopardize his SummerSlam title aspirations, Sicor’s momentum could wane and he may be seen as less impressive than Reigns.
However, winning the Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam would elevate Cicor’s villain status and lend credibility to his character, especially with the help of The Rock. Wins over challengers like Randy Orton or Kevin Owens would further increase his appeal and make any future matches with Reigns more intriguing and less predictable in outcome. Additionally, a title win for Cicor would solidify him as a top attraction going forward, regardless of how long it lasts.
With Sikore and Bloodline running wild on SmackDown and possibly backed by TKO official Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Reigns’ return may be delayed until Survivor Series, where he could team with Cody Rhodes, former Bloodline comrades Jimmy and Jey Uso, or Sami Zayn. If reports that Survivor Series will be held at the new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles are true, a War Games match between the two teams would surely be a sell-out and unprecedented Hollywood media frenzy.
After Survivor Series, WWE programming will be in a great position. Fans will be eager to hear Roman Reigns’ thoughts on everything that happened during his absence, and to see his interactions with Rhodes, The Usos (especially Jey) and Zayn. But the most interesting thing will be the buildup to a match between Reigns and Sicor, which could be the main event of the 2025 Royal Rumble or the start of a new era for Monday Night Raw, which will be available on Netflix starting in January.
Plus, there will likely be unresolved issues between The Rock and Cody Rhodes if The Rock was involved in Rhodes’ defeat at SummerSlam, and while many expected their rivalry to turn into a battle for the WWE Undisputed Championship, it could instead devolve into a classic grudge match and set the stage for a showdown between Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania next year.
As for Rhodes, the question for WWE is what to do with The American Nightmare after his success as WWE Champion. One possibility is a highly anticipated match with Randy Orton, possibly at WrestleMania, that would kick off with the Royal Rumble. Orton eliminating his former protégé in a battle royal, each fighting for himself, would reflect his promise to Rhodes that he would protect her while he is champion. But without the title, it all falls apart.
Looking ahead, these developments could pave the way for something that’s sure to pay off in sports and entertainment: a trilogy rematch between Reigns and Rhodes at WrestleMania in 2026.
But now, fans are eagerly awaiting Reigns’ return and punishing Cicor for his betrayal, with SummerSlam the setting for the anticipation. While an immediate payoff might provide short-term satisfaction, letting Reigns’ return stew in WWE’s creative oven will ultimately produce the rich, unforgettable feast that is the hallmark of Chef Roman’s wrestling menu.
