4 Reasons why Jacob Fatu was WWE star's replacement on SmackDown - Bloodline dominance, major injury

There is a massive Gauntlet Match scheduled for SmackDown tonight to determine the number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga were scheduled to participate in the match, but there was a change at the beginning of the show.

SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis informed Tonga Loa that his eye injury would prevent him from competing in the match. Solo Sikoa named Jacob Fatu as Tonga Loa's replacement and instructed him to bring the tag titles home to The Bloodline.

Listed below are four reasons Jacob Fatu replaced Tonga Loa in the Gauntlet Match tonight on WWE SmackDown.

#4. Jacob Fatu replaced Tonga Loa on WWE SmackDown due to his eye injury

Last week on WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens teamed up to defeat Grayson Waller and Austin Theory in the main event. However, The Bloodline attacked after the match and brutally beat both stars down.

"The Infamous" Tonga Loa suffered an eye injury during the brawl as Kevin Owens kept attacking it. Tonga Loa showed up to tonight's edition of the blue brand sporting an eye patch, making it obvious that he was unable to compete. Sikoa quickly chose Jacob Fatu as his replacement for the Gauntlet Match tonight.

#3. Jacob Fatu needs to prove his worth as the new Enforcer of The Bloodline

Fatu is the newest addition to The Bloodline. [Photo: WWE.com]

Jacob Fatu made his WWE debut on the June 21 edition of SmackDown. He helped The Bloodline attack Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes during his debut with the promotion. The former MLW star has already acknowledged Solo Sikoa as his Tribal Chief, but the 31-year-old may want to see more from the new Bloodline member.

The veteran has only competed in one WWE bout before tonight's Gauntlet Match, and it was The Bloodline's victory in the six-man tag team match at Money in the Bank. Sikoa could be watching the Gauntlet Match tonight to see what Fatu is capable of in a WWE ring.

#2. Jacob Fatu replaced Tonga Loa on SmackDown to showcase The Bloodline's dominance

The Bloodline poses following an attack on Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. [Photo: WWE.com]

Nick Aldis tried to inform The Bloodline that they would be forfeiting their spot in tonight's Gauntlet Match, but Solo Sikoa wasn't having it. He cut off the SmackDown General Manager and noted that the faction does not forfeit anything.

Jacob Fatu was quickly named as Tonga Loa's replacement, and it would be an impressive feat if The Bloodline were to emerge victorious tonight. It would prove that the faction is versatile and every member is difficult to beat.

#1. Solo Sikoa could have more faith in Jacob Fatu to get the job done

Solo Sikoa is trying to make The Bloodline more powerful than ever in Roman Reigns' absence. The Tribal Chief has not appeared since WrestleMania XL, and Sikoa has kicked Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman out of the group so far. Heyman warned that the new additions to The Bloodline are savages, but that could be exactly what Solo Sikoa is looking for.

Sikoa could be thrilled with the idea of replacing Tonga Loa with Jacob Fatu in tonight's Gauntlet Match. Fatu has been referred to as a "game changer" by Triple H in recent weeks, and Sikoa could have the same opinion of the 32-year-old star. He may believe that Jacob Fatu gives the faction a much better opportunity to capture the Tag Team Championship in the weeks ahead.