The lineage remains WWE most captivating plot, which spans four years and shows no signs of stopping. The story of Bloodline is now considered one of the longest stories in professional wrestling history and gave rise to one of the biggest factions in WWE. Most of the story was built on the legacy of the Anoa’i family. However, with all the exciting moments and compelling characters this story provided the wrestling audience, none were as well-received as Sami Zayn’s role in The Bloodline.
Ironically, the only member of the bloodline without blood relations to the Anoa’i family is loved as if he were part of the family. Some fans – and your “guy” Jey Uso – would argue that “Sami Uso” is part of the family.
The notion may seem absurd on paper, but looking back at the history of The Bloodline and Sami’s presence in it, it makes more sense why the Canadian superstar deserves his place as Honorary Use. With recent developments teasing Sami’s return to the Original Bloodline to fight the new incarnation of Solo’s group, it’s time to look back at the history of the Honorary Uce.
Sami Zayn’s introduction to the WWE lineage by participating in a tryout
Starting April 22, 2022, episode of WWE SmackDown
Shortly after Roman Reigns ended his wrestling trilogy with Brock Lesnar by becoming the undisputed WWE Universal Champion, he and the bloodline would slowly enter a feud with aspiring challenger, Drew McIntyre. McIntyre himself was already in the middle of a feud with Sami Zayn, who was at a disadvantage and knew it. This would lead to Zayn knocking on the Bloodline locker room door waiting for help. Still a top heel, Zayn would try to get into the Tribal Chief’s good graces by exploiting the fact that they shared a problem with Drew McIntyre.
Within weeks, Zayn was calling himself the Tribal Chief’s confidant and a self-proclaimed locker room leader, ready to offer quiet information to Reigns through his special advisor, Paul Heyman. Even if the bloodline wanted nothing to do with Sami Zaynthe latter became convinced he was a genuine member, mirroring what R-Truth would later do with Judgment Day. Eventually, Zayn approached The Usos asking to be an “honorary” member for the first time on the May 27 episode of SmackDown. Although Jey visibly wasn’t amused, Jimmy warmed to the idea with a “why not?”, and became the first to befriend Sami Zayn.
Sami becomes an honorary Uce
Winning over the family and the public
The bloodline would treat Sami Zayn like a jester who existed to make them laugh for fun. However, when Zayn helped The Usos defeat RK-Bro to become the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions on June 3, Bloodline (and fans) slowly grew to love Sami’s idiotic behavior. At this point, The Bloodline at least starts to see Zayn as a jerk they could manipulate. A specific turning point occurred on the August 19 episode of SmackDown, where Zayn pushed a lone Roman out of the way of Claymore, something Reigns would strangely thank Zayn for the following week.
Jimmy Uso was friends with Sami Zayn while Reigns was preparing for the former NXT Champion. Speaking of which, weeks after Clash at the Castle, Solo Sikoa was called up from NXT to join Bloodline. Solo liked Zayn instantly, trusting him more than his brothers. Everyone except Jey was aboard the Zayn Train, but the trust from the rest of the team was enough. The September 23rd SmackDown was critical as Roman Reigns demanded that Zayn take off his Bloodline shirt – so he could present him with his first Honorary Uce t-shirt, officially indoctrinating Sami into the family.
Sami Zayn brought conflict to the bloodline
The Beginning of the End
Despite still being a heel, Sami Zayn was endearing himself to the WWE Universe, even becoming WWE’s most entertaining Superstar. He provided much-needed levity and comic relief to the always serious Bloodline, and his presence added another layer to what was already a compelling story. It was hard not to fall in love with Zayn, especially since he finally achieved his goal of joining The Bloodline – but that wouldn’t end his journey. His induction would only begin The Bloodline’s tests against Samiespecially since Roman Reigns entered into a feud with frequent rival Kevin Owens, a former best friend of Zayn.
Sami would remain conflicted, but would always choose The Bloodline at every trial. Zayn proved instrumental in defeating Team KO at Survivor Series for WarGames, which would finally win Jey Uso into his good graces and make him feel “insecure”. Zayn continued to be tested, being put on trial by The Bloodline in a move that only Jey could save him from, but all good things must come to an end. Ultimately, his childhood friend Kevin Owens, along with constant abuse and trials, managed to bring Sami back to the good side.
After the KO failed in another effort against the Tribal Chief, Sami was expected to attack him with a chair after the match at Royal Rumble 2023. However, Sami hit Roman with a chair shot that was heard around the world. Just as the audience supported Sami during his sympathetic struggle to join the bloodline, they were influenced by his struggle between friendship and loyalty. For a short winter, Sami Zayn was the hottest babyface in the industry.
Sami Zayn is a free man… or is he?
Will Sami join forces with the OG bloodline?
That’s when the real challenge for Zayn began. After stabbing Roman in the back, he immediately drew the wrath of Jimmy Uso, who superkicked him. Jey Uso, for his part, was totally conflicted. Jey went from openly hating Sami Zayn to seeing him as familybut turning against his royal family was another matter. When Zayn challenged Reigns for his WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber 2023, every member of the crowd in Montreal believed he would win, but Jey’s distraction led to Zayn losing the match.
In retaliation, Zayn rekindled his friendship with Kevin Owens to dethrone The Usos for the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Titles in the main event of WrestleMania 39 Night One. Zayn and Owens would go on to feud with The Bloodline, later retaining the titles against Reigns and Sikoa at Night of Champions. During all this time, Zayn tried to be the voice of reason in Jey Uso’s ears, eventually leading Jey Uso to part ways with The Bloodline himself and becoming one of the biggest singles stars currently in WWE.
After WrestleMania, Jey and Sami would renew their friendship as members of the Raw roster. Having lost all of his titles and two of his members with Roman stepping away from the scenes after Mania the bloodline inevitably fell apart and Solo Sikoa overtook the family and claimed the title of Tribal Chief creating a new bloodline with the dangerous Tongans and Jacob Fatu. However, Sami Zayn’s role in this story is not over yet.
After Roman Reigns’ explosive return to reclaim the Tribal Chief title, the Usos also reunited and, along with Roman, attempted to fight Solo and his wildlings. During Crown Jewel 2024, Sami ran into the ring to save Jey (officially), but ended up hitting Roman with a Helluva Kick in the process. Zayn called out his former brothers on a recent episode of Raw to explain his actions. While Jimmy remains cold towards Zayn despite being the first to accept him into the family, Jey proudly declared that Sami is family.
At this point, Roman’s response will be what tips the scales regarding Sami’s renewed role in Bloodline. While the Canadian star hasn’t expressed any desire to rejoin or go through the trials, he appears willing to help. However, the shadow of his kick to Roman still lingers, making fans think that this could all be a ruse and Sami Zayn could turn heel again. As WarGames approaches, a reunion seems inevitable, but anything is still possible, proving once again that The lineage History is the gift that keeps on giving to WWE fans.