Multi-Time Champion Finishes Up With NJPW Ahead Of Expected WWE Move
With Bloodline implications, this powerhouse is reportedly heading to WWE.
Following on from plentiful rumours earlier in the year, it appears that Hikuleo has finished up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and is heading to WWE.
Per Cassidy Haynes at BodySlam.net, Hikuleo is now done with NJPW, with his final date for the company being yesterday's Dominion show. At Dominion, the 6'8" star and El Phantasmo lost the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles to TMDK's Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste in a four-team match that also had the IWGP Tag Team Titles on the line.
This report notes how Hikuleo is expected to join WWE, where it's presumed he'll become a part of the Bloodline saga. However, there is no news on when we can expect to see the 33-year-old show up WWE TV, although his free agent status means he could appear as soon as this week's SmackDown.
For those not familiar with Hikuleo, he is the adopted son and nephew of Haku, the adopted brother and cousin of Tonga Loa, and the biological brother of Tama Tonga - Haku and his wife Dorothy, the brothers' maternal aunt, having adopted Hikuleo and Tama at a young age.
Having trained at the NJPW Dojo and the Team 3D Academy, Hikuleo made his in-ring debut in 2016, going on to win the NJPW Strong Openweight Title, the IWGP Tag Team Titles, and have two runs with the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles in the years since; that tag team success all coming alongside El Phantasmo.
Of course, in addition to Hikuleo, WWE also has Jacob Fatu waiting in the wings and ready to be inserted into the Bloodle story, with the Samoan Werewolf signing with the market leader during WrestleMania Week.