In the case of the WWE, and probably all of professional wrestling (particularly in the USA), it’s fully doubtless that no story is extra necessary or far-reaching than that of the Bloodline. What started a number of years in the past because the dominance of now-former Undisputed WWE Champion Roman Reigns and his cousins has became the story of a household rift which has touched mainly each different story within the promotion, and continues to take action.
Whereas this has made each Uncooked, Smackdown and upcoming WWE occasion must-see viewing for followers like myself, as an individual of colour, there may be one factor that retains bothering me about the best way the Bloodline is talked about.
First, I Am A Massive WWE Fan And Love The Bloodline Story
It wasn’t till I stumbled upon the wild occasions of Wrestlemania 40 that I turned an enormous fan of sports activities leisure. Now, I’ve binged so many hours of WWE content material that, had been I so as to add all of them up, I’m positive it will garner me some type of world report. A part of the rationale for this obsession is unquestionably the story of the Bloodline.
Not solely has this cleaning soap opera-like storyline touched historic former champ Reigns and others in his (precise) household like Fundamental Occasion Jey Uso and “Massive Jim” Jimmy Uso, however different main WWE wrestlers like present champ Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, CM Punk, the ever-fashionable Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre and even Dwayne Johnson (regardless of The Rock’s now, considerably complicated, place in all of this) proceed to both be immediately concerned or cope with the consequences of their proximity to the intriguing story. So, yeah, y’all. I fucking love the Bloodline and what the WWE is doing proper now. I’m hooked!
Nevertheless, I’m Very Bothered By How The New Bloodline Are Typically Known as “Savages”
The New Bloodline noticed Solo Sikoa (one other of Reigns’ cousins) break off from the group after Reigns misplaced his title, which led to him bringing in Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and the Somoan Werewolf, Jacob Fatu, to again him up and assist guarantee he stayed feared by the roster and in energy.
They’re far meaner than the OTC Bloodline, and now, with Sikoa having misplaced to Reigns and seemingly given up in the meanwhile, Tonga and Fatu (particularly) are operating rampant and simply destroying wrestlers at any time when potential. I get that the entire concept is for them to be unstoppable monsters, however each time one of many commentators calls them “savages” my entire Black lady physique seizes up.
Why? Primarily as a result of there are white heels within the WWE and after they do one thing horrible/despicable/terrifying, the primary phrase used to explain them is by no means “savage.” Plus, it is a phrase that white individuals have traditionally used to explain individuals of colour as lower than human and subsequently worthy of being denied primary rights.
So, whereas Samoans and Tongans are “savage” for beating somebody till they bleed from their eyeballs, a white dude may be merciless, a monster and even evil, however virtually by no means so dangerous that he’s not even human. (To not point out that the time period “monster” is at present utilized to a white face, Braun Strowman)
I do know this concept of Samoans, particularly, who wrestle being referred to as and/or seen like that is an concept that goes means again, however that doesn’t imply it’s a great factor. Particularly, it makes it appear that there are probably some un-resolved racial biases at play at any time when the commentary workforce lobs a “savage” the best way of Fatu, Tonga or the others. In any other case when McIntyre went up towards Punk all through 2024, they’d have used the identical phrase for him on a regular basis, however they didn’t.
Hear, I don’t know what the behind-the-scenes discuss any of this may need been. For all I do know Fatu and others had been requested in the event that they had been OK with being referred to as “savages” on a weekly foundation they usually’re superb with it. To offer the commentary workforce some credit score, I’ve by no means heard them check with different heels of colour this manner, so it would really have been determined as a mainly New Bloodline-only factor.
All I really need is for some thought to enter issues like this, and for there to be an consciousness that possibly simply because one thing is custom, doesn’t imply that it’s the one or one of the best ways to do issues.