Tonight, World Wrestling Entertainment comes to Atlanta, Georgia. For the first time in 20 years, “Bad Blood” will air as a premium live event. State Farm Arena will be the site for what could be one of WWE’s most violent nights, in recent memory.
The main event is a tag team match featuring (Undisputed WWE Champion) “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes teaming with “The O.T.C.” Roman Reigns to battle “The Tribal Chief” Solo Sikoa & “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu of the Bloodline. Ever since winning the 2023 men’s “royal rumble”, Rhodes has had an on & off history with the Bloodline. He thought he finally “finished the story”, when he defeated Reigns at “WrestleMania XL” for the championship, but Sikoa wanted the title back in the Bloodline. Sikoa took the title of “Tribal Chief”, while Reigns was in seclusion, & waged war with Rhodes. Along the way, he would replace Roman’s Bloodline members, Jimmy Uso & “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman, with Tama Tonga, “The Infamous” Tonga Loa, & Fatu. When Sikoa thought he would defeat Rhodes for the title at “SummerSlam”, Reigns returned & led Sikoa to defeat. After Reigns helped Rhodes win a steel cage match against Sikoa on “SmackDown”, Sikoa made a challenge for this tag team match. After Reigns was attacked by the Bloodline, Rhodes came to his aid & they cleared the ring of the Bloodline. A contract was laying in the ring, which was first signed by Reigns, then Rhodes. Despite some noticeable tension, Rhodes & Reigns want to put an end to their Bloodline problems, once & for all. However, Sikoa & Fatu may want Reigns & Rhodes to acknowledge them.
Another match that will take place will be a “Hell in a Cell” match between “The Best in the World” CM Punk & “The Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre. This rivalry had been brewing, since Punk returned to WWE at last year’s “Survivor Series”. McIntyre called Punk a “cancer” & has made it crystal clear that Punk is toxic for WWE, as well as professional wrestling. However, things escalated as McIntyre attacked an already injured Punk. When McIntyre won the World Heavyweight Title from Seth “Freakin’ ” Rollins at “WrestleMania XL”, he taunted Punk at the broadcast table. Punk attacked him, allowing Damian Priest to cash in “money in the bank” & defeat McIntyre for the World Title. Punk has also cost McIntyre several opportunities to regain the title, including McIntyre’s “money in the bank” cash in, during a World Title match between Priest & Rollins. Things got even more personal when McIntyre attacked Punk & stole a bracelet with the names of his wife (AJ Lee) & dog (Larry). Now, after nearly a year of physical & verbal battles, Punk & McIntyre will cause destruction inside WWE’s satanic structure. The bad blood will surely boil over in the cell.
There will be some championship action in the A-T-L, as “The Irresistible Force” Nia Jax defends the WWE Women’s Title against “The Role Model” Bayley. Since returning to WWE, Jax had made the most of her 2nd chance. She won the “Queen of the Ring” tournament, allowing her to compete for the WWE Women’s Title at “SummerSlam.” Jax defeated Bayley at “SummerSlam” to win her 2nd women’s championship in WWE history. However, Bayley has won 4 women’s championships in her WWE career. She has known to overcome the odds, in the past. If Jax is overconfident, she could make Bayley become a 5-time champion. If Jax is focused, though, Bayley might meet a similar fate to the one she had at “SummerSlam.”
The Women’s World Title is on the line, as Liv Morgan defends the title against “The Nightmare” Rhea Ripley. This rivalry has been going on for nearly 2 years. At one point in time, these women were a rising tag team. However, after failing to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, Ripley attacked Morgan. After going their separate ways, Ripley (as part of Judgment Day) would injure Morgan. After a run as Women’s World Champion, Ripley would be forced to vacate the title, after being injured by a recently returning Morgan. Morgan would capture the title, then when she had to defend it at “SummerSlam” against Ripley, she retained the title, after “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio interfered. At first, it appeared that helping Morgan win was an accident, but it turned out it was a plan. Morgan is the champion, has replaced Ripley in Judgment Day, & has Mysterio by her side. Now, Ripley has nothing left to lose except her opportunity to win her 3rd women’s championship. She’ll have her best chance, tonight, because Mysterio will be locked in a shark cage above ringside. This 2-year war may finally come to an end, one way or another.
Another former Judgment Day member who will be looking for revenge will be Damian Priest, as he takes on (World Tag Team Champion) Finn Bálor. These men had been 2-time Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. However, when Priest won the World Heavyweight Title, it secretly triggered some jealousy in Bálor. At “SummerSlam”, the jealousy was no longer a secret, Bálor cost Priest his championship to “The Ring General” Gunther. Since then, Priest has gone through the other Judgment Day members (Carlito, Mysterio, & Bálor ‘s tag team partner…JD McDonagh), individually. Now, Priest wants the man who betrayed him by ending his World Title run. However, Priest knows how Judgment Day operates better than anyone. He knows that Bálor will resort to having the other Judgment Day members interfere, if it can result in victory. In this battle of former partners, either Bálor will deliver the ultimate Coup de Grâce or Priest will send him South of Heaven.
Check out WWE “Bad Blood”, hosted by (WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions) Jade Cargill & “The E-S-T” Bianca Belair and Naomi. Tonight at 6:00 eastern (5:00 central, 4:00 mountain, 3:00 pacific), exclusively on Peacock.