WWE Debut Potentially Planned For SmackDown

A debut may be planned for the post-Money in the Bank edition of Friday Night SmackDown on June 13 from Lexington, Kentucky.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Hikuleo is scheduled to be at Friday night's SmackDown taping. A logical debut for the former NJPW talent would see him align with Solo Sikoa's faction to oppose Jacob Fatu following Fatu's betrayal of Sikoa at Money in the Bank.

Solo Sikoa's faction currently consists of Sikoa, JC Mateo (Jeff Cobb), and Hikuleo's brothers Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. The Tonga brothers are currently off TV, however, due to injury.

Hikuleo actually signed with WWE one year ago in the Summer of 2024 and he has simply never been used by the company. He was at one point assigned to NXT but failed to debut on Tuesday nights for an unknown reason.

The 34-year-old began his career in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2016 and received a sustained push in NJPW from early 2023. The 18-month push saw Hikuleo win the NJPW STRONG Openweight Title, as well as the IWGP Tag Team Championships and NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Titles through his team with El Phantasmo.

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