Roman Reigns retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and his status as the Tribal Chief after beating his cousin Jey Uso in a vicious Tribal Combat match at SummerSlam 2023. The match was a no-disqualification contest that saw both men use chairs, tables, kendo sticks, and steel steps to inflict pain on each other.
Reigns and Uso have a heated confrontation on SmackDown
The feud between Reigns and Uso started after WrestleMania 39, when Reigns turned heel and attacked Uso with the help of his new ally, Solo Sikoa. Reigns claimed that he was the head of the table and the leader of their family, and that Uso had to acknowledge him as such. Uso refused to bow down to Reigns and challenged him for the title at Money in the Bank, where he lost by submission.
On the July 21 episode of SmackDown, Uso confronted Reigns and demanded a rematch at SummerSlam. He also said that he wanted to make it a Tribal Combat match, where the loser would have to recognize the winner as the Tribal Chief. Reigns agreed to the stipulation, but warned Uso that he would regret it.
Sikoa interferes in the match and helps Reigns
The match between Reigns and Uso was the main event of SummerSlam 2023, which took place at Ford Field in Detroit. The match was brutal from the start, as both men used various weapons to attack each other. Reigns targeted Uso’s injured ribs, while Uso focused on Reigns’ legs. The match spilled outside the ring several times, where they smashed each other through tables and barricades.
The turning point of the match came when Sikoa interfered and hit Uso with a spear. He then helped Reigns set up a table in the ring and placed Uso on top of it. Reigns climbed to the top rope and delivered a devastating splash through the table, breaking it in half. He then locked in a guillotine choke on Uso, who passed out. The referee called for the bell and declared Reigns the winner.
Reigns forces Uso to acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief
After the match, Reigns grabbed a microphone and demanded that Uso acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief. He said that he did not want to hurt Uso, but he had to teach him a lesson. He said that he loved Uso, but he had to respect him as well. He said that he was not only the champion, but also the leader of their family.
Uso was barely conscious, but he managed to say “I love you too, but you’re not my chief”. He then spat in Reigns’ face, which enraged him. Reigns grabbed a steel chair and was about to hit Uso with it, when Rikishi, their father, came out to stop him. Rikishi pleaded with Reigns to stop hurting his son and to show some compassion. He said that they were family and that they should stick together.
Reigns looked at Rikishi for a moment, then dropped the chair. He hugged Rikishi and apologized for his actions. He then helped Uso up and hugged him too. He said that he was sorry for what he did, but he had to prove a point. He said that he still considered Uso his brother and his family. He then raised Uso’s hand and said “This is my cousin, Jey Uso. And I am his Tribal Chief”.
The crowd cheered for the reconciliation between Reigns and Uso, as they embraced each other. Sikoa joined them in the ring and hugged them too. The three men raised their arms together, as fireworks went off in the background. The show ended with Reigns holding his title high and smiling.
