WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: The Bloodline crush Kevin Owens' throat, put Cody Rhodes through a table

The Bloodline 2.0 is starting to look like a worthy successor to the original stable

Solo Sikoa's version of The Bloodline is not a cheap imitation. Sikoa's group has been on a roll since "The Samoan Werewolf" Jacob Fatu debuted in June. The Bloodline 2.0 had one of their most impactful weeks laying out Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens on WWE SmackDown.

Rhodes' chances at retaining the undisputed WWE championship at SummerSlam diminish with each passing week. The group decimated Rhodes and Owens, crushing Owens' throat with a steel chair and powerbombing Rhodes through the announcers' table. The Bloodline's strength grows as Rhodes' allies dwindle.

This week's episode of SmackDown also prominently featured feuds revolving around the United States and WWE women's championships.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Bloodline continues to decimate Rhodes and friends

Rhodes walked to the ring at the show's top, stopping briefly to give boxing welterweight champion Terrance Crawford a fist bump. Rhodes felt guilty about how Randy Orton was caught in the middle of Rhodes' issues with The Bloodline. Rhodes was soon interrupted by A-Town Down Under who blamed Rhodes for Jacob Fatu's attack on Austin Theory last week. Theory and Waller jumped Rhodes who evened the odds with a steel chair handed to him by Crawford.

Rhodes ran into SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis backstage and demanded a tag team match against A-Town Down Under. Aldis granted him the match on the condition that Rhodes found a tag team partner

Rhodes and Kevin Owens def. A-Town Down Under (Theory and Waller) via pinfall after hitting Theory with Cross Rhodes. The Bloodline walked down to the ring post-match but were immediately greeted by Rhodes diving through the ropes. The Bloodline's numbers advantage, particularly the presence of Jacob Fatu, soon overwhelmed the heroes. The Bloodline made Rhodes watch as Fatu decimated Owens. Rhodes was driven through the announcers' table with a triple powerbomb before Owens had his throat crushed with a steel chair.

WWE's primary objective is to make The Bloodline 2.0 look like serious business. They've succeeded in doing so ever since Fatu was brought into the fold. This week was arguably the biggest statement Sikoa's faction has made, taking out two main event players in a painful fashion. Rhodes vs. Sikoa is looking more competitive with each passing week. There are some minor gripes to be had. While I acknowledge Rhodes and Owens are fighting babyfaces, Rhodes looks silly fighting The Bloodline head-on every week without proper reinforcements. Rhodes' guilt in seeing his friends brutalized is also undercut by the reality that Owens and Orton were feuding with Sikoa's Bloodline well before Rhodes entered the mix. Not a perfect storyline but it's accomplishing it's number one priority well. Grade: B+

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Andrade def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall after hitting The Message.
• Jax stormed out of a satellite interview with WWE women's champion Bayley ahead of their SummerSlam title match.
• Bianca Belair def. Chelsea Green via pinfall with an O'Connor roll.
• LA Knight goads Logan Paul into signing a contract for a United States title match at SummerSlam.
• Mia Yim def. Tiffany Stratton via pinfall with a schoolboy pin following a distraction by Bayley.
• Sikoa and The Bloodline cut a promo boasting about laying out Orton last week.