In a thrilling turn of events, Tama Tonga achieved a rare feat in his in-ring debut at WWE Backlash France last Saturday. The wrestler, who made a name for himself in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as part of Bullet Club and Guerillas of Destiny, marked his WWE debut in an unconventional manner. Tonga, alongside Solo Sikoa of The Bloodline, was initially scheduled to face Kevin Owens and Randy Orton in a tag team match. However, the bout quickly turned into a brawl before the bell even rang, prompting security and WWE personnel to intervene.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis capitalized on the chaos, declaring the match a Street Fight. This unexpected twist led to Tonga becoming the third WWE Superstar in history to make his in-ring debut in a Street Fight, joining the likes of Jesús in 2004 and Dominik Mysterio in 2020.
The match itself was filled with drama, as Owens nearly secured a win for his team before Tanga Loa pulled the referee outside the ring. Loa then attacked Owens and Orton with steel steps, allowing Sikoa to capitalize and secure the victory with the Samoan Spike on Owens.
Tonga’s WWE journey is off to an exciting start, with many speculating about potential future encounters. Notably, former WWE Champion and Bullet Club leader AJ Styles, who was drafted to SmackDown alongside Tonga, has already commented on the newcomer’s arrival in WWE. Given their shared history in NJPW and Styles’ past conflicts with The Bloodline, a fascinating rivalry could be brewing.
As Tonga continues to navigate the WWE terrain, fans will be watching closely to see how he builds upon his impressive debut. With his unique blend of skills and experience, the sky’s the limit for this talented wrestler.