Jacob Fatu Will Take over Bloodline, Key to Wyatt Sicks Success, More WWE Quick Takes

WWE's eventful week coming out of Clash at the Castle did an exceptional job of setting the stage for what is shaping up to be a stellar summer season for the company.

The highly anticipated arrival of Wyatt Sicks on the June 17 edition of Raw couldn't have been better executed. The Uncle Howdy-led faction perfectly captured the presence of the late, great Bray Wyatt and left viewers with one of the most compelling cliffhangers in recent Raw history.

Of course, the key with the group will be in the follow-up and avoiding the pitfalls that sabotaged Wyatt's many iconic characters. That includes nailing the tone, putting them in proper programs and not waiting another three months for them to finally wrestle.

Meanwhile, Jacob Fatu left a lasting impression of his own in his SmackDown debut days later, single-handedly destroying Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Already, he feels like the biggest threat in all of The Bloodline.

That means Solo Sikoa's days as the supposed crown jewel of the stable are numbered.

This installment of Quick Takes will analyze how far Fatu can go in WWE, if Chad Gable is indeed buried, a dark horse to win the women's Money in the Bank ladder match, and more.

Although Jacob Fatu has reportedly been under contract to WWE since WrestleMania 40 weekend, it was wise for the company to hold off on bringing him to television until after The Bloodline's other new members, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, were established first.

Ahead of his arrival, pro wrestling insider WrestleVotes noted there was a concerted effort to make Sikoa out to be as aggressive as possible to ensure he wouldn't be outshined by Fatu:

Evidently, it didn't take long for Fatu to do exactly that.

In his first appearance on WWE TV, he made an immediate impact by laying out three top names, including the undisputed WWE champion, on Friday's SmackDown.

For those unfamiliar with his work in MLW and on the independent scene, Fatu is an incredibly impressive prospect in the ring and has a swagger to his promos thanks to his unmatched intensity.

Sikoa is clearly intended to be the focal point of The Bloodline before Roman Reigns returns to battle him for the title of Tribal Chief, but the bigger bout WWE should ultimately be building to is Reigns vs. Fatu.

Sikoa could soon find himself ousted from his own faction if Fatu's stock continues to skyrocket—and The Bloodline would be better off for it.

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre have effectively kept their bad blood alive for several months despite the former being sidelined with a torn triceps since January. They've knocked it out of the park anytime they've interacted, regardless of whether it's been face-to-face or online.

Saving their first singles match for SummerSlam—assuming Punk is cleared to compete by August 3—is the correct choice. McIntyre's latest vicious assault on his rival saw The Second City Saint taken away in an ambulance in his hometown of Chicago on Friday.

However, the Scot stealing Punk's handmade bracelet during the attack could be a sign that The Best in the World's wife and three-time Divas champion, AJ Lee, is on her way back for a cameo imminently.

Beth Phoenix once resurfaced on Raw to confront Randy Orton after he sidelined her husband, Edge, in early 2020 and this could be a similar situation. Lee was last seen on WWE TV on the post-WrestleMania Raw in 2015 and would receive a strong reaction for returning.

For as accomplished as she was in the ring, Lee was also an excellent character and a talented talker. Thus, she could more than hold her own in an exchange with The Scottish Warrior.

For as hot of a program as Punk and McIntyre have going at the moment, getting Lee involved would make matters that much more personal.

Chad Gable's post-WrestleMania heel turn resulted in his biggest singles push to date, and yet he still hasn't been able to win when it has mattered most.

Fans held out hope his rivalry with Sami Zayn would culminate in him becoming intercontinental champion, but Zayn's decisive defeat of the Olympian at Clash at the Castle indicated that wasn't in the cards.

Not only has Zayn moved on to other potential challengers, but Gable was also swiftly beaten by Braun Strowman on Monday's Raw, left behind by his Alpha Academy stablemates and brutally attacked by Wyatt Sicks at the end of the night.

While Gable's recent booking has been far from ideal, he isn't being "buried," though. He remains one of the most featured stars on the show and has been receiving great heat as a heel.

His involvement in the upcoming men's Money in the Bank qualifier on Raw means there's a chance he could advance to the premium live event. Winning it could be a bit of a long shot, but a strong showing would at least lend him some credibility.

Gable will need to start winning more matches soon, but he could be in a much worse spot on the show than the one he finds himself in right now.

Only one-third of the field for this year's women's Money in the Bank ladder match has been confirmed as of Friday's SmackDown, but Chelsea Green can already be considered the dark horse to win the briefcase.

In addition to being the Canadian favorite in Toronto, the two-time WWE women's tag team champion has had an extremely entertaining run since returning to the company at the onset of 2023.

Despite racking up more losses than wins, Green has been a permanent fixture on Raw and SmackDown for the last year and a half. She's also become an undeniable fan favorite in that time with the reaction she received from the Chicago crowd on Friday being a prime example.

The Ms. Money in the Bank gimmick would perfectly fit her current character. She wouldn't necessarily need to cash it in successfully, though she has earned herself a singles title run and would excel in that role.

Tiffany Stratton is the best bet to capture the contract as of now, but Green can't be counted out completely.

The abundance of buzz Wyatt Sicks received their first night on Raw makes the follow-up all the more important.

Everything about their debut came across like a cinematic masterpiece, and it's imperative they find ways to sustain that momentum.

Causing chaos by continuing to target everyone on the roster is a solid start, but relying on supernatural smoke and mirrors will only get them so far. Bray Wyatt suffered from a similar issue during his run as The Fiend and when he returned to the company in late 2022.

The Fiend fizzled out because of bad booking decisions and the character's unnecessary placement in the world title picture. During his second stint with WWE, he went almost four months before finally wrestling a televised match that unfortunately fell well below expectations.

Wyatt Sicks must get in the ring on the sooner side to avoid the angle growing stale. Establishing their motivations and what tone the group will have is also going to prevent them from failing.

Wyatt always had his outstanding mic skills and connection with the crowd to fall back on whenever the booking wasn't in his favor. While Wyatt Sicks will need to collectively carry the load and tread lightly with what they do next, they have the potential to be an exciting staple on Raw this summer if handled with care.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.