'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMVbDZ//xAAhEAADAAAFBQEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBEUIQUSEyRRcf/aAAgBAQABPwDLP0rbPf2Wms1rZTFQfFpqFQ93B+nEKZR4zaRz4mVBUbqo4/A+P//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABERL/2gAIAQIBAT8A06f/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIS/9oACAEDAQE/AMVSf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In a shocking moment, just a week before Crown Jewel, The Bloodline lost the WWE Tag Team Titles to the Motor City Machine Guns on SmackDown. MCMG made their WWE debut just last week.
Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin won another set of tag team titles in only their third match as members of the WWE roster. While they captured the titles, the change was not without some controversy as Jey Uso showed up on SmackDown to even the odds.
After a few months with the belts, The Bloodline can no longer call itself the top team on SmackDown. The Bloodline lost their championships to the Motor City Machine Guns for the next four reasons.
Trending
#4. A title change opens up new feuds
It feels like only three teams have factored into championship matches on SmackDown ever since A-Town Down Under lost the titles in the early summer.
DIY took the belts from Austin Theory and Grayson Waller but then lost them to The Bloodline. Regardless of the champions, the Street Profits have been the third team in the rotation.
With a big title switch, several new feuds can emerge. DIY lost to Shelley and Sabin but could turn heel. Tommaso Ciampa was clearly upset after the loss.
Pretty Deadly would be a hilarious feud for the Detroit natives. In one night, the SmackDown tag team division completely opened up with new possibilities.
#3. It's payback for how they won the titles and cost Jey Uso
When Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu won the titles, it only came after outside interference from Solo Sikoa. He wanted to prove to the world that his group was to be taken seriously, so he ensured a title victory by manipulating the outcome.
Since they cheated to win, it only feels poetic that the group lost the titles in the same fashion. Solo Sikoa and his minions also cost Jey Uso the Intercontinental Championship on RAW by interfering in his match with Bron Breakker.
Because they cost someone else a title, it's fitting that it came back to haunt them and cost them one thing giving them credibility.
#2. The switch makes the Motor City Machine Guns a big deal to casual fans
Fans who have followed wrestling for years are familiar with Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. They've competed mostly in IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Despite that, those who only follow WWE may be unfamiliar with the duo.
Nick Aldis brought them in due to their shared history, showing that he cares about the in-ring product. The WWE Universe was already cheering for the Motor City Machine Guns within three matches.
Now that Shelley and Sabin hold tag titles in WWE, casual fans know that the team is legit and one of the best in the world.
#1. The focus can now be on Bloodline vs. Bloodline and not titles
Most fans and analysts know that a Bloodline civil war is on the horizon. It was the end game of the latest chapter once Solo Sikoa violently took control of the group immediately after WrestleMania 40.
Since April, both Jey Uso and the Tongans captured championships. Both sides minded their own business until Roman Reigns returned. As the horizon moved closer to WarGames, it made sense for any titles to move to new holders.
It allows another team to be featured while also continuing to book WWE's top priority in terms of storylines. The two warring Bloodlines didn't need titles to tell their story inside WarGames but the belts were chapters in the story.
