In a chaotic match defined by constant interference and a shocking debut, Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu to capture the United States Championship at Night of Champions on Saturday. The nature of the finish has drawn sharp criticism from veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter.
The championship contest quickly devolved from a one-on-one bout into a multi-man assault. The interference began with JC Mateo distracting the referee, which opened the door for Tonga Loa to make his first appearance since Survivor Series and attack Fatu. Despite overcoming the initial odds, Fatu’s fate was sealed by the debut of the imposing Hikuleo, who blindsided the champion with a chokeslam onto the announce table.
This final attack incapacitated Fatu, allowing Sikoa to drag him back into the ring and secure the victory with a Samoan Spike. The win marks Sikoa’s first reign as United States Champion.
The booking of the match drew an immediate and irate reaction from Apter. In an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda Wrestling, the senior editor questioned the officiating and the creative direction behind the abrupt title change.
“Solo Sikoa gets the US title. Why do they even have a referee? I don’t get it. There was so much interference that happened during that match and the referee saw some of it. Why don’t they disqualify? As soon as someone runs in, it’s supposed to be a disqualification. What the hell did they do there to force them to take the title off Jacob Fatu and put it on Solo?” Apter stated.
Sikoa’s victory effectively served as the official unveiling of his expanded faction, which now includes Mateo, Loa, and Hikuleo. For Jacob Fatu, the loss represents a significant turn in his storyline, cutting his championship reign short just as his recent transformation into a fan-favorite had been gaining significant momentum.
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