Report: WWE Signing Hikuleo

Following rumours in recent days, WWE have confirmed to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that Hikuleo is signing with the company. 

Hikuleo was expected to sign with WWE in recent days after he finished up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Dominion on Sunday, with Hikuleo and his Guerrillas of Destiny tag team partner El Phantasmo dropping the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships to Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste of TMDK in a Three-Way that also featured Bishamon. 

Hikuleo's brothers Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa have signed with WWE in recent months and joined The Bloodline. WWE have held a longstanding interest in Hikuleo and the two sides held talks in early 2023. He was prevented from signing with the company then, however, due to the unofficial hiring freeze that was in place while Vince McMahon looked to sell WWE, Fightful Select reported. 

Hikuleo had been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2016 and he had been on the receiving end of a sustained push since the beginning of 2023. He defeated Jay White in a Loser Leaves Japan Match and Hikuleo went on to become a one-time NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion and two-time NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champion with El Phantasmo. 

Another potential future member of The Bloodline who is yet to debut on WWE TV is Jacob Fatu. Plans were initially in place for the former MLW World Heavyweight Champion to debut in April but WWE postponed those plans.