Highlights
- Haku is Tama Tonga’s father and his tough legacy continues in wrestling.
- Tama Tonga was a key figure in the Bullet Club during his time in NJPW.
- Tonga’s recent success included singles championships and his long-awaited WWE debut.
On the April 12 SmackDown, the first after WrestleMania 40, Paul Heyman came out to the ring with the remnants of the Bloodline, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso. Before the Wiseman could speak very long, Solo interrupted him and spoke about consequences and change due to the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, losing his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes. With that, he hugged his brother, Jimmy, before a mystery man showed up and attacked Jey Uso’s twin. When his hoodie came down, the man was revealed to be Tama Tonga, making his long awaited WWE debut. He got a good pop from the crowd, despite never stepping foot in a WWE ring before. That’s because Tama Tonga had already built himself a long legacy elsewhere in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
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Tama Tonga’s NJPW Accomplishments: |
7-Time IWGP Tag Team Champion, 4-Time NEVER Openweight Championship, 4-Time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship |
Tama Tonga’s Connection To The Bloodline
Haku Is The Father Of Tama Tonga
- Haku was part of the Islanders
- Haku was in the Colossal Connection with Andre the Giant
- Haku became Meng in WCW
Tama Tonga is the nephew and adopted son of wrestling legend Haku, who also went by Meng in WCW. Haku was born as Tonga Ê»UliÊ»uli Fifita in the Kingdom of Tonga and is called “Uncle” by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Haku is known as someone you don’t mess with. Though he might be seen laughing hysterically on a Dark Side of the Ring episode when shown a clip of the Shockmaster’s WCW debut, he’s also regarded as one of the toughest men to ever step in the ring.
Haku had a great career, wrestling throughout the 80s and early 90s in WWE, first in the tag team The Islanders with Tama, before going on a short solo run as King Haku, then tagging with Andre the Giant of all people as the Colossal Connection. In 1994, Haku joined WCW and became Meng. He flourished as part of the Faces of Fear and became a Hardcore Champion, but he never quite reached his potential. Still, he is a well known name in the business, and in Tama Tonga he has an adopted son to carry on with what he started.
How Haku Proved To The Steiner Brothers He Was The Toughest Man In WrestlingÂ
During a bar fight, The Steiner Brothers witnessed Haku live up to his tough guy reputation by fighting off several cops who tried to restrain him.
Tama Tonga Was Part Of The Original Bullet Club In NJPW
Tama Tonga Won Multiple IWGP Tag Team Championships
- Tama Tonga joined New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2010
- Tama Tonga was part of the Guerrillas of Destiny
- Tama Tonga attacked Kenny Omega
Tama Tonga, real name Alipate Aloisio Leone, acquired his wrestling name when he joined New Japan Pro Wrestling, after being trained at a school run by the Dudley Boyz. He spent much of his time in NJPW as a tag team specialist, teaming with his brother, Tanga Loa, in the Guerrillas of Destiny, which later added Jado, Hikuleo, and El Phantasmo. Tonga and Loa became 7-time IWGP Tag Team Champions, and three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions, twice with their cousin, Bad Luck Fale, and once with Taijiri Ishimori.
The accolades are great, but what many fans will remember him for most is his association with the Bullet Club. The heel faction began in 2013 when Prince Devitt (now known as Finn Balor in WWE) formed a partnership with Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale, and Tama Tonga. Later, the Young Bucks and Doc Gallows joined as well. A year later, Devitt left for NXT and AJ Styles came in. Two years after that, Gallows and Anderson went to WWE, which was great for Tama Tonga, as the Guerillas of Destiny became more of a focal point of the Bullet Club and the faction’s top tag team. Eventually, the Bullet Club splintered when new leader Kenny Omega brought in Cody Rhodes. Cody ended up turning on Omega. The Tongans ended up turning on Omega, Cody, The Young Bucks, and “Hangman” Adam Page, forming Bullet Club OG.
Tama Tonga: Age, Height, Weight, Finisher & More To Know
Tama Tonga is WWE’s most recent signing and the newest member of The Bloodline. Here is everything you need to know about Tama Tonga.
Tama Tonga Was Kicked Out Of The Bullet Club By Jay White
Tama Tonga Became A Singles Champion In New Japan
The Guerrillas of Destiny ruled the New Japan tag divisions for years and even won the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championships once. By 2022, however, Jay White kicked the brothers out of the Bullet Club, sending them to singles careers and making the tag team a new faction. Tama Tonga had just as much success on his own as in a team, winning the NEVER Openweight Championship four times. This year, on his way out, he dropped his title to EVIL, and then, in the perfect send off, he and Tanga Loa teamed one more time, this time against G.O.D. members Hikuleo and El Phantasmo.
Tama Tonga is 41, but with the incredible shape he’s in, his wrestling career could have many years left. There are so many avenues to explore with him in WWE. There is not only his addition to the Bloodline, but an old rivalry with Cody Rhodes, and even one with Roman Reigns. The two got into a Twitter spat back in 2018, with Tonga making fun of Roman’s promos, his “fist cocking”, and saying:
“Your bark can’t seem to get OVER your Yard for me to hear you. My yard has no fences, come test your skills here anytime.”
It’s likely the Tribal Chief hasn’t forgotten that.
