We are just ten days away, at the time of writing, from Backlash in Tampa, Florida, where the main event is already locked in. Roman Reigns puts the World Heavyweight Championship on the line for the very first time, looking to carry the momentum following his monumental victory over CM Punk at WrestleMania. This championship clash is set to reignite the bitter Bloodline feuds of the past, but the stakes have shifted as a fresh face emerges to challenge the tribal hierarchy.
This past Monday on Raw, Reigns officially accepted the challenge from his own cousin, Jacob Fatu, setting the stage for their first-ever one-on-one encounter. After toppling Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42, Fatu is moving quickly to turn that momentum into championship gold at the expense of his own blood.
Generations of Dominance
To understand the present, one must look back at the deep roots of the Samoan dynasty in WWE. The lineage traces back to the 1970s with blood brothers Peter Maivia and Amituana’i Anoa’i, both of whom are revered as “High Chiefs.” Together, they form the historical foundation of the family’s enduring legacy as arguably one of the most powerful family trees in wrestling history.
As the business grew over the years, so did the family’s influence. Yokozuna, despite being billed from Japan, became the first member of the dynasty to capture the WWE Championship and the first Samoan to main event WrestleMania, doing so in consecutive years at WrestleManias 9 and 10.
The early 90s saw the next generation emerge as Yokozuna’s cousins, Rikishi and Samu, joined the fold. However, the landscape changed forever when The Rock, grandson of Peter Maivia, stepped into the ring, bridging the past and future as the first third-generation superstar in WWE history.
The impact The Rock had not only on WWE but on the family lineage was unfathomable, as his unprecedented charisma transformed him into one of the world’s biggest pop-culture icons. But while he made a significant impact single-handedly, the 21st century saw a major uptick in the number of family members joining the WWE ranks.
Umaga, remembered as the family’s ultimate powerhouse, dominated the landscape from 2006 to 2009, most notably headlining WrestleMania 23 in the iconic “Battle of the Billionaires” match.
2010 marked the debut of one of the most iconic tag teams in WWE history, as Jimmy and Jey Uso, the twin sons of Rikishi, wasted no time establishing themselves as the next great duo to carry the family’s storied banner.
Two years later, Roman Reigns arrived, beginning his main roster journey as a member of The Shield before evolving into the “Tribal Chief.” He went on to make modern history by holding the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for a monumental 1,316 days.
During Reigns’ run in the 2020s, the fold expanded as even more members of the dynasty arrived. Solo Sikoa, the younger brother of the Usos, joined the main roster on September 3, 2022, while Jacob Fatu, son of Sam Fatu, made his debut on June 21, 2024.
The Bloodline Origins
Officially formed in July 2021, The Bloodline was founded following a bitter feud between Reigns and The Usos, with Paul Heyman initially serving as the group’s counsel. Subsequent years saw the faction expand with the additions of Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn, who joined as an “Honorary Uce.”
Following the departures of Zayn and Jey Uso in early 2023, the faction saw the brief addition of The Rock in 2024 before both he and Reigns stepped away. During their absence, Sikoa assumed control as the Tribal Chief, ousting Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman from the group while introducing Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu into the fold. Years of inter-family feuds have seen The Bloodline transform into its current entity: The MFTs.
The modern era has been a busy one for the dynasty. Since 2020, they have competed in a total of 34 matches, with 13 of those bouts having a championship on the line, solidifying their status as the most decorated family in the business today.
Every one of these clashes tells a story of betrayal and respect, but beyond the drama and the promos, The Bloodline has delivered some of the finest in-ring performances in modern history. Let’s count down the five most dominant and emotionally charged matches since 2020 that saw this family truly push each other to the limit.
5. Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens: Night Of Champions 2023
While the first match on our list is not exclusively family vs. family, the storytelling remains absolutely top-tier. Roman Reigns, joined by his cousin Solo Sikoa, attempted to bring the Undisputed Tag Team Titles back to the family after The Usos lost them at WrestleMania 39.
The storytelling in this match focused heavily on Reigns’ dwindling patience and his growing disdain for The Usos. Despite Roman explicitly ordering the twins to stay home, they defied him and appeared anyway, claiming they were only there to “help” and shifted the entire energy of the main event.
During the match, The Usos prepared to level Zayn with a double Superkick, but accidentally hit Sikoa when Zayn ducked out of the way. Reigns reacted by berating them, which finally prompted Jimmy Uso to fire back with a Superkick to the Tribal Chief, costing him and Sikoa the match. As a stunned Jey questioned his brother’s actions, Jimmy famously replied, “I’m doing what you should have done a long time ago,” before leveling Reigns with a second Superkick.
Jimmy Uso reaching his breaking point marked the official beginning of The Bloodline Civil War and gave the fans one of the most shocking moments in the entire saga. While the match may not have been the most technical or fast-paced, its masterful storytelling hit the nail on the head, easily earning it a spot on this list.
