Hikuleo Makes WWE Debut BEFORE SmackDown Airs (WWE News)

Ex-New Japan star Hukuleo signed a WWE contract in July 2024 following months of rumours, but he didn't show up in front of live crowds until Friday's taping for Main Event on 13 June 2025. For the record, that happened before the evening's SmackDown show went live, and Hikuleo defeated Pretty Deadly's Kit Wilson on the night. The match will air on the next episode of Main Event, which is obviously one of WWE's lesser shows and has been for years.

Hikuleo's first appearance coming on such lowkey programming did raise some eyebrows on social media. Many fans talking about it couldn't believe that the company would waste his debut on Main Event. In fairness, Triple H is surely only readying Hikuleo for bigger and better things on the main roster - this was a warm up match, if anything.

The impressive 6ft 8 inch star has been training at WWE's Performance Center for moments like this. Anybody concerned that he debuted on Main Event shouldn't necessarily worry.

Hikuleo Is Expected To Join Solo Sikoa's Faction

There had been chatter about Hikuleo possibly debuting on SmackDown proper as a replacement for Jacob Fatu in Solo's group alongside fellow newcomer JC Mateo. That's likely to be the long-term plan, but some of the shock select fans are feeling about the Main Event stuff stems from believing WWE would pull the trigger on that immediately after Fatu's turn on Solo at Money In The Bank last weekend.

Creative would rather play the waiting game, it seems.

Again, those fretting shouldn't get too concerned. There's still a solid chance that Hikuleo will burst onto the scene as another hurdle for Fatu to overcome. In fact, it'd make perfect sense if he was cast as an "improvement" on Jacob (Sikoa might use that exact wording) in the bodyguard role.