Wrestling is weird. One minute you're the "Original Tribal Chief" standing tall, and the next, you're looking at a disconnected phone screen while a 330-pound monster named Bronson Reed turns your ribs into dust. If you missed WWE SmackDown November 15 2024, you missed what might be the most desperate moment in Roman Reigns’ career. It wasn't just a bad night at the office in Milwaukee; it was a total systematic collapse of the OG Bloodline.
Honestly, the energy at the Fiserv Forum was electric, but by the end of the night, it felt more like a funeral for Roman’s ego.
The Bloodline's Newest Nightmare: Bronson Reed
Most of us expected a standard brawl. We’ve seen the OG Bloodline (Roman, Jey, Jimmy, and Sami) square off against Solo Sikoa’s crew before. But nobody—and I mean nobody—saw Bronson Reed coming.
The OG Bloodline actually looked like they had things under control for a second. Roman hit a Spear on Solo, the crowd was deafening with "OTC" chants, and it felt like the momentum was finally shifting. Then, out of nowhere, Reed appeared. He didn't just join the fight; he demolished the ring. He blindsided Roman, and the "numbers game" we always hear the commentators talk about became a terrifying reality.
Jacob Fatu and Bronson Reed together is just unfair. Fatu hit a triple-jump moonsault that looked like it defied gravity, and then Reed finished the job by squashing Roman with a Tsunami. Seeing Roman Reigns—a guy who held the title for over 1,300 days—lying there helpless while Solo Sikoa stood over him was a massive "oh boy" moment for the road to Survivor Series: WarGames.
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"The Number You Have Reached Is Not In Service"
The most heartbreaking part of the night happened after the cameras usually would’ve cut away. Jey Uso, seeing his cousin broken on the mat, told him the words Roman never wanted to hear: "Make the call."
We all knew what that meant. He needed Paul Heyman.
Roman grabbed his phone, his hands probably shaking a bit, and tried to reach out to the Wiseman. And then, the ultimate slap in the face: a recorded voice told him the number was disconnected. The look on Roman’s face was pure gold—shock, realization, and a hint of "I'm totally screwed." It's a brilliant bit of storytelling because it leaves the OG Bloodline with no fifth man and no mastermind just weeks away from the cage.
The Women’s Title Chaos: Nia Jax and the Brawl
While the Bloodline was imploding, the women’s division was basically having a riot. Nia Jax defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Naomi, and man, Naomi worked her heart out. She hit that split-legged moonsault—the one that usually finishes everyone—and for a split second, the Milwaukee crowd thought we were getting a title change.
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Of course, Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae couldn't just let a fair match happen.
The ringside area turned into a scene from a disaster movie. Bayley ran out to help Naomi, but then everyone else showed up: Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, even Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez from Raw. It was absolute bedlam. In the middle of all those bodies flying around, Nia Jax hit the Annihilator and kept her belt.
Quick Hits from the Undercard
- LA Knight vs. Berto: Knight is still the United States Champion. Berto (formerly Humberto Carrillo) actually looked great here, hitting a springboard heel kick that almost got the three-count, but he eventually walked right into a BFT.
- The Tag Team Mess: The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defended against The Street Profits. This was shaping up to be a classic until Tommaso Ciampa decided to ruin it. He attacked both teams, leading to a No Contest. Ciampa’s heel turn is getting darker by the week, and honestly, I'm here for it.
- Bayley’s Tournament Progress: Earlier in the night, Bayley beat Candice LeRae and B-Fab in a Triple Threat. This was part of the tournament for the new Women’s United States Championship. Bayley winning wasn't a shock, but B-Fab’s performance was. She’s gotten significantly better in the ring.
Cody Rhodes and the Kevin Owens Problem
Cody Rhodes started the show looking like a man who hadn't slept in three days. He's furious about what Kevin Owens did to Randy Orton—the piledriver that sent Orton off in an ambulance with "cervical trauma."
Nick Aldis, the ever-stressed General Manager, had to come out and play peacemaker. He told Cody that Owens is suspended and isn't even in the building. Cody didn't care. He wants a fight. Later in the show, KO posted a video from home basically saying he’s just doing his job and he’ll see Cody next week in Salt Lake City. The tension here is palpable because it feels less like "wrestling drama" and more like a genuine falling out between friends.
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Why This Episode Matters for Survivor Series
If you're trying to figure out where we're going from here, keep an eye on the "Fifth Man" spot. With Roman's call to Heyman failing, the OG Bloodline is one person short for WarGames.
Speculation is everywhere. Some people think Seth Rollins will eventually cave and join them. Others are whispering about a potential return for someone like Brock Lesnar (unlikely, but hey, it’s WWE). The fact that Roman is now the underdog is such a weird, fascinating flip of the script.
Actionable Takeaways for WWE Fans:
- Watch the Socials: WWE often drops "exclusive" clips of the Bloodline's backstage arguments on X (Twitter) and YouTube that don't make the main broadcast.
- Keep an eye on Seth Rollins: His interactions on RAW will tell us if he’s willing to forgive Roman for the years of Shield-related trauma.
- Mark your calendars: The confrontation between Cody and KO in Salt Lake City next week is going to be a "must-watch" segment for the Undisputed Title picture.
The road to Vancouver for WarGames is looking incredibly bleak for Roman Reigns, and for the first time in four years, the "Head of the Table" looks like he doesn't have a seat at all.