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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Narin Flanders

WWE's Solo Sikoa talks Sami Zayn, Logan Paul and fan reaction ahead of UK show

When WWE hosted their first UK stadium pay per view in 30 years last month there was a lot of outside intervention in the main event, even factoring in the drama and high stakes of the occasion.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett popped up to give challenger Drew McIntyre his first distraction as he took on Roman Reigns in front of a home crowd, while the entire event ended with Tyson Fury celebrating punching Austin Theory in the face with an enthusiastic and surreal singalong.

But arguably the biggest surprise was the main roster call up of Solo Sikoa, real name Joseph Fatu, youngest brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso, who came to his cousin Roman Reigns' aid by yanking the referee out of the ring by the foot before he could complete a winning pin for McIntyre.

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His debut has launched him into the main event scene, something that he admits still feels a bit surreal - even more so because when he was told to get on a plane to Cardiff with Reigns he had no clue what was going on.

Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport he told us: "Roman didn't say much. I was wondering 'am I there to watch the show or am I there to do something?' Then I got pulled into the back with Triple H, my first time meeting him, and he said 'hey man, you know this is your call up, right? Welcome to Smackdown.'"

The 29-year-old was smuggled under the ring to wait for his big moment in front of the 60,000 strong crowd, watching what was happening in the ring with a nerve-wracking two second delay. As McIntyre pinned Reigns and the referee began to count it was time for his surprise entrance.

He said: "The timing was everything. If I had messed up pulling the referee from the ring I don't think I would have been talking to you today.

"I slid out and popped up so fast, I must have looked like The Terminator. It got quiet and then the noise came back and they were booing me so loud my leg was shaking. I've never heard anything like that, especially for me debuting, the fans seeing me for the first time. I've come from NXT where I was a baby face, straight in the deep end where the sharks are."

Solo Sikoa in the ring at NXT before his main roster call up (WWE)

Sikoa is better placed than most to adjust to life in the big leagues though. As well as his immediate Bloodline fraternity his wider family includes big names like Rikishi - his dad - Umaga, The Rock, and The Wild Samoans, making the Anoa'i family arguably one of the biggest ever dynasties in wrestling.

"When we sit at family barbecues I think we all take a moment to realise our family has really come a long way," he said. "We're really doing it, and we're going to keep doing it. And after, when we're long gone, there's going to be more after this - our kids or their kids, our grandkids, the blood line is going to keep multiplying forever.

"When we talk about wrestling families, our family is one of the top names that always gets brought up."

As part of The Bloodline, Sikoa works closely with his family in and outside the ring. But it's the honorary member of the family, Sami Zayn who causes him the most trouble when they're out in front of a crowd - for now Sikoa is the only other member of the faction with the possible except of Paul Heyman who hasn't broken character to laugh at the Canadian's antics, despite his best efforts.

Sikoa said: "Sami Zayn is naturally really, really funny on and off camera. Some things we go over before he does them but there's certain things we don't. And afterwards I ask 'why did you come up to me like that? Like, why don't why were you in my face like that? You didn't tell me you were gonna do that.' And he says 'I'm going to get you man, one day I'm going to get you to crack one time on TV. I'm going to make you laugh one time.' I'm looking forward to that day. It's hard."

Despite notionally still being a heel faction, crowds have clearly been enjoying the change in dynamic Zayn brings to the Bloodline. Are we seeing a baby face turn by stealth for the Head of the Table and his posse? Sikoa wouldn't go that far but says they have noticed the shift in crowd reaction to Reigns and The Usos alongside their new additions.

He said: "I think the bottom line is they've been taking care of business so long that the seriousness is over and they can kind of ease back and enjoy some of the moments and have fun a little bit. They're cracking jokes, I'm trying to stay serious, I'll try not to laugh. But once we get in the ring, there's a mission - we handle Bloodline business and that's all that matters."

Following the defeat of McIntyre in the UK, next in the sights of the Bloodline is controversial Youtuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul who will go head to head with Reigns in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel. Despite their different backgrounds getting into the industry Sikoa is complimentary to Paul and the new audiences he brings to the WWE.

"Logan Paul is a hell of an athlete. He's a great boxer," he said. "I think he's always been a fan of wrestling and wanted to try to get into it. And once he found out what we actually do, he took it even more seriously.

"I'm happy to see everybody that comes from the outside world that takes our sport seriously, like Paul or Bad Bunny, because everybody wants to say it's scripted. But that ring ain't scripted, that ring hurts. I'm happy to see Logan Paul progressing his journey. But come November 5 it's a whole different ballgame."

* Before he heads to Saudi Arabia, Solo Sikoa will be appearing with The Usos at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on October 30. Also on the card are Drew McIntyre, Karrion Kross, Natalya and Sheamus, among others. Tickets for the event are available here.

WWE is shown in the UK on BT Sport which is available with a no contract monthly pass here or on the WWE Network.

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