Original Plans For Solo Sikoa On SmackDown

On this week’s January 17 episode of Friday Night SmackDown in San Diego, California at the Pechanga Arena, Solo Sikoa made his first appearance on WWE programming ever since he lost the ula fala and the right to call himself ‘The Tribal Chief’ after Roman Reigns defeated him on RAW’s Netflix debut on January 6. 

Sikoa came to the ring during the show with his fellow Bloodline teammates Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga, bringing the microphone to his mouth before being booed over and over again. Jacob Fatu lambasted the crowd, but Sikoa himself didn’t end up uttering a word. Sikoa then left the ring after the audience failed to allow him to speak. This was reportedly not the original plan for SmackDown. 

WrestleVotes noted on X that Solo Sikoa’s SmackDown return was a big subject of conversation backstage in WWE, being described as a ‘hot topic of debate’. Originally, it seemed as though Sikoa was scheduled to open SmackDown to address his loss to Roman Reigns with a promo, but these plans ended up changing with Rey Mysterio opening the show instead, announcing his entry into the Royal Rumble. 

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