WWE SmackDown - Best and Worst (June 7, 2024): Roman Reigns blatantly mocked; major star to quit & more

WWE SmackDown kicked off with Tonga Loa officially being anointed a member of The Bloodline. While that ended in chaos, a couple of matches were added to WWE's upcoming Clash at the Castle Premium Live Event next week.

On the other hand, LA Knight was on the hunt for Logan Paul who was absent, gearing up for his Tetris Tournament over the weekend. The US Champion sent a video response telling Knight to get off his back and that a 'mid-card' wrestler like him should not bother trying to pick up a feud with the champion.

Let's dive into the best and worst of SmackDown this week:

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Best: Cody Rhodes raises the stakes against AJ Styles

Cody Rhodes was spotted backstage on WWE SmackDown, waiting for AJ Styles to show up to the arena. The Phenomenal One's 'fake retirement' last week did not sit well with the Undisputed WWE Champion who was determined to get his way.

The two men clashed at Backlash: France in an exceptional match. Styles was unhappy at not winning the title and pretended to be so disappointed that he chose to hang up his wrestling boots.

Rhodes is known for his participation in stipulation matches - Bull Rope match, Hell in a Cell and much more. This time, The American Nightmare was so furious that he invoked an 'I Quit' match stipulation for Clash at the Castle which was immediately approved by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, present ringside.

Styles' WWE contract is slated to expire soon which could be a probable reason for the match stipulation. If he loses, the 47-year-old has a few options in front of him - being traded to RAW, possibly working on TNA Wrestling (in light of their new alliance with WWE) or simply taking time off and making a blockbuster return down the line.

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Worst: DIY still losing the crowd on SmackDown; trouble in tag team paradise for the champions?

Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano were a favorable duo on WWE NXT. Despite being on the main roster for a little over a year, the tag team seemingly still have a lot of work to do in winning over the crowd. Ciampa teased going his own way and turning on his tag team partner a few months ago.

On SmackDown, Grayson Waller went head-to-head with Johnny Gargano, with the former securing victory. Fans picked up on 'Johnny Wrestling' chants mid-match, a catchphrase the 36-year-old had going for him on NXT.

Austin Theory got hit during the match, which went unnoticed by Waller. Eventually, when the tag team champion won and celebrated his triumph, he seemed incognizant of Theory on the floor. The two have been showing hints of trouble and probable tension over the last few weeks on the blue brand.

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Best: Paul Heyman hyping Roman Reigns' imminent return; Solo Sikoa mocks The Shield on SmackDown?

Solo Sikoa's takeover of The Bloodline has suggested group violence at its best. Roman Reigns disappeared from WWE television after dropping his Undisputed WWE Title to Cody Rhodes.

Sikoa was seemingly put in charge of the group by Reigns himself but the outcome might not have been what he expected. The Enforcer appointed Tama Tonga as his Right Hand Man, which was previously Jey Uso's designation, and recently anointed Tonga Loa on SmackDown.

The SmackDown segment was met with some disagreement from the fans when Paul Heyman took over and proclaimed Solo Sikoa was the acting Tribal Chief until Roman Reigns returned. Later, a six-man tag team match was set up between The Bloodline and Kevin Owens and The Street Profits.

The Bloodline was close to being overcome when Solo caused a disqualification and took out their frustration by attacking their opponents following the main event. Solo Sikoa used Reigns' signature moves like the Spear, and then the trio hit KO with a Triple Powerbomb, much like how The Shield used to. This hints at a major rumbling with Solo Sikoa imitating the OG Tribal Chief in his absence.