WWE SmackDown Notes: John Cena vs. Bloodline Tag Match Announced for Fastlane 2023

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Glendale, Arizona featured the official announcement of a tag team match of John Cena & mystery partner vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso) for Fastlane 2023, which takes place on October 7th in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This match was initially setup following an in-ring promo segment by Cena and Styles. Cena gave a speech to the crowd and stated that tonight would be a special night since he was not going to be a special guest referee or be the host of the show but instead wanted to wrestle. Cena called out the Bloodline over their actions last week and stated that he found a partner willing to help him, which he revealed to be Styles. This led to Styles coming out and asked Cena if he was sure he wanted to team up together. Styles then called out the Bloodline to come out for a fight. This led to Sikoa and Uso coming out teasing a response only to hop off the apron and walk to the back instead.

"I'm more than just excited, I'm actually also angry… at #TheBloodline." 👀

In that case… tonight is a VERY GOOD NIGHT to have a match, @JohnCena! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/h0IejLPaeo

— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2023

In a follow up segment, WWE official Adam Pearce told Cena and Style backstage that he would have a talk with Paul Heyman to try to get their tag team match made official. This was later followed up in another segment involving Pearce, Heyman, Uso, and Sikoa involving Pearce stating that he had a contract made for the tag team match which Heyman stated was fine as long as the match did not take place tonight. Uso then interrupted stating that he would sign the contract in the ring later in the show despite not getting permission first from Roman Reign.

This match was announced afterwards to be taking place at next month’s Fastlane 2023 event.

During the main event match contract signing segment, Cena came out to the ring and signed the contract but Styles did not come out. Instead a video on the big screen showed The Bloodline attacking Styles backstage resulting in Styles being sent to the hospital. The Bloodline then made their way to the ring while Cena was busy attending to Styles backstage which led to Karl Anderson saying Styles should have never gotten involved with the Bloodline. Uso then gave a promo in the ring mocking Cena and Styles leading to Cena coming out for a fight that resulted in Cena being laid out by Uso and Sikoa. After the extended beatdown, Uso and Sikoa signed the match contract and tossed it on the fallen Cena.

Jimmy @WWEUsos, @WWESoloSikoa and @JohnCena have all signed the contract for #WWEFastlane… ✍️

But, without a partner in Cena's corner, will this match still happen? 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Ijwihapzp2

— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2023

Current card for WWE Fastlane 2023:

• John Cena & mystery partner vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso)