For a superstar who has felt lost in the shuffle since the definitive end of The Bloodline saga, Solo Sikoa appears to have found a new, violent sense of purpose. That purpose is centered squarely on the man who recently took his United States Championship, Sami Zayn.
Following Zayn’s successful title defense this week on SmackDown, Sikoa appeared with a pointed and intense message for the new champion, revealing the deep cost of his recent string of losses.
“Do you know what I had to sacrifice to get that championship in my hands, Sami? I’ve lost my Bloodline, I’ve lost the Ula Fala, and I’ve lost my US Title. I’ve been living in the shadow of others for way too long.”
Sikoa’s promo came on the heels of Zayn making good on his promise to restore the prestige of the US Title by reviving the Open Challenge tradition. His first challenger, Rey Fenix, pushed the champion to his limit in an instant classic before Zayn put him away with an exploder suplex followed by a Helluva Kick.
The title change itself, which occurred just a couple of weeks ago, ended Sikoa’s 62-day reign in a chaotic main event. That victory gave the 41-year-old Zayn his first-ever run with the United States Championship.
Sikoa’s path has been turbulent since he was defeated by Roman Reigns back in January. His original title win came after turning on Jacob Fatu, who has been absent from programming recently. While many fans believe Sikoa still has massive potential, this deeply personal vendetta against Zayn seems to be the first step in forging a new path on his own.