WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: The Bloodline are champions, stipulation added to SummerSlam match

Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa will be contested under Bloodline Rules at SummerSlam

The Bloodline 2.0 is as hot as it has ever been. Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga captured the WWE tag team titles on Friday's episode of SmackDown. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa stacked the deck in his favor against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.

WWE is dropping breadcrumbs ahead of an eventual showdown between the two iterations of The Bloodline. The success of that storyline requires strong showings from Sikoa's version of the faction. That was executed well this week as The Bloodline reintroduced tag team gold into its ranks.

SmackDown also featured the final meeting between United States champion Logan Paul and LA Knight before SummerSlam, tension in the WWE women's title picture and a WWE women's tag team title match.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

The Bloodline are champions, Sikoa wins the mental battle

Rhodes and Sikoa traded barbs in SmackDown's opening segment. Rhodes reminded Sikoa how he beat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, prompting Sikoa to proclaim Reigns as a diminished Tribal Chief by the time they wrestled. Sikoa's bold statement teases Reigns' eventual return. Sikoa successfully goaded Rhodes to agree to a Bloodline Rules stipulation for their SummerSlam match. It was particularly dangerous for Rhodes to accept the stipulation, considering most of his allies are nowhere to be seen after repeated attacks by The Bloodline.

WWE Tag Team Championships -- The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga) def. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) (c) via pinfall to capture the tag team titles. It was a relatively dominant performance by The Bloodline, highlighted by Fatu's viciousness. Gargano had an inspiring comeback spot against The Bloodline but was ultimately felled. Fatu hit Gargano with a popup Samoan Drop, jump-up moonsault and impaler DDT successively to pin Gargano. Sikoa took hold of both championship belts post-match.

Fatu is the gift that keeps on giving. His aura and athleticism have tremendously elevated The Bloodline's credibility under Sikoa's leadership. Giving them a title was the perfect way to further the group's dominance. Having The Bloodline as tag champs also remedies SmackDown's lukewarm tag team division since the brand split. Sikoa talking down Reigns will have serious repercussions in the coming months, especially with Survivor Series: WarGames set for November. That sentence was the most crucial in his spat with Rhodes. I have mixed feelings about The Bloodline Rules stipulation. It's good that Sikoa is presented as a thoughtful villain but Rhodes' fighting champion spirit makes him look boneheaded week after week. Grade: A-

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Andrade def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall with a victory roll.
• Santos Escobar def. Apollo Crews via pinfall after hitting a Phantom Driver.
• LA Knight stole Logan Paul's vehicle following a verbal spat between the two.
• WWE Women's Tag Team Championship -- Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill def. Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Islaw Dawn) (c) via disqualification after Blair Davenport attacked Belair and Cargill. The titles do not change hands in a DQ ruling.
  
• Nia Jax presented Tiffany Stratton with a new pink Money in the Bank briefcase, before threatening her about not cashing it in at SummerSlam.