Who Is Tama Tonga? Former NEVER Openweight Champion And WWE's New Recruit

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s ex-superstar Tama Tonga is headed to WWE, reports say. The former NEVER Openweight Champion recently announced his departure from NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Tonga’s decision saw him relinquish the Never Openweight Championship at the wrestling event, as he set the stage for his next venture. For those unaware of the star’s identity, Tonga comes from a lineage of rich wrestling history. He also has a cousin/adoptive brother named Tanga Loa, who goes by the name of Camacho in WWE. Tonga and Tanga are former multi-time tag team champions in both Ring of Honour and New Japan Pro Wrestling. In NJPW, Tonga finished his career as a four-time Never Openweight Champion.

Tonga’s real name is Alipate Aloisio Leone and he is the nephew/adopted son of the legendary Haku. Having a massive impact in Japan, Haku’s identity spans from sumo wrestling to All Japan Pro Wrestling. During his career, the legendary figure assumed a plethora of nicknames, including Leone’s title of Tama Tonga, King Tonga and Meng. Tonga also happens to be a co-founder of the Bullet Club and was one of its longest-tenured members before he departed in 2022.

There have been several speculations that the next destination for the Tama Tonga is no place other than the WWE. As per several media reports, Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer Radio recently shed some light on Tonga’s possible connection to the WWE. This is what he said about the former NEVER Openweight champion – “He’s on his way. Don’t know the role.”

As per the same reports, Meltzer said that the chances of Tonga joining the WWE are quite high as he is considered family by WWE’s Bloodline. “Very likely, at some point, could be part of the Bloodline situation because he’s considered family by all those guys. So if they need somebody new, it could be him.” Meltzer also talked about how Tonga had already been in talks with the WWE a year ago and it could be pretty soon that we see the wrestler in Vincent McMahon’s company. “A year ago, he had been talking with WWE. I don’t know a start date or anything but he’s done in New Japan, so in theory, he should be starting pretty soon,” Meltzer concluded on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Tonga previously had an unsuccessful trial with WWE back in 2008. It will be exciting to see if the former tag team specialist will make his way first into WWE NXT or qualify for the main roster straightaway.