After months of speculation about his whereabouts, Hikuleo has finally stepped into a WWE ring for the first time since joining the company. The towering former New Japan Pro Wrestling standout captured his inaugural victory on Main Event, defeating Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson in what marks a significant milestone for the wrestler who seemed to vanish after his 2023 signing.
Breaking the Silence: Hikuleo’s WWE Debut
Wrestling fans in attendance witnessed history as the 34-year-old powerhouse dominated Kit Wilson during Tuesday’s Main Event taping. The match, scheduled to air at an undisclosed future date, represents the culmination of nearly 12 months of anticipation and uncertainty surrounding Hikuleo’s WWE status.
What makes this debut particularly noteworthy is the unconventional path Hikuleo took to reach this moment. Unlike most WWE signings who typically begin their journey in NXT’s developmental system, the former Bullet Club enforcer bypassed the traditional route entirely.
The Mystery of the Missing Months
Hikuleo’s WWE journey reads like a wrestling mystery novel. Despite officially joining the roster in July 2023, he became wrestling’s most famous invisible man, with no television appearances, no NXT matches, and virtually no acknowledgment of his existence within WWE programming.
Reports from March painted a picture of a wrestler caught in limbo. Multiple sources confirmed his presence on internal WWE roster documents, while others placed him in Orlando, home to WWE’s Performance Center, for extended periods. Yet television screens remained Hikuleo-free.
Family Ties and Wrestling Legacy
The wrestling world knows Hikuleo carries serious pedigree in his bloodline. As brother to current WWE star Tama Tonga and cousin to Tanga Loa, he represents another branch of wrestling’s most influential family trees.
His pre-WWE resume spans multiple major promotions, including significant runs in NJPW, Impact Wrestling, and All Elite Wrestling. This extensive background positioned him as a ready-made talent who theoretically needed minimal developmental work.
NXT Champion Drops Major Hint
The first official WWE acknowledgment of Hikuleo’s existence came from an unexpected source: NXT Champion Oba Femi. During recent interviews, Femi name-dropped both Hikuleo and fellow signed-but-absent wrestler Lance Anoa’i as potential future threats.
Femi’s comments suggested these wrestlers represent looming challenges to his championship reign, indicating WWE management views them as upper-tier talent rather than developmental prospects.
Lance Anoa’i: Another Piece of the Puzzle
Hikuleo’s situation mirrors that of Lance Anoa’i, another high-profile signing from 2023 who has remained conspicuously absent from WWE programming. Both wrestlers appear to be following identical timelines, suggesting a deliberate strategy rather than oversight.
This parallel raises questions about WWE’s approach to integrating established international talent into their system.
What This Victory Means Moving Forward
Hikuleo’s Main Event triumph represents more than just a debut victory—it signals the potential beginning of a significant push for the imposing wrestler. His dominant performance against Wilson suggests WWE recognizes his in-ring capabilities and star potential.
The timing also coincides with WWE’s continued expansion efforts and their emphasis on recruiting proven international talent. Hikuleo’s eventual television debut could coincide with major storyline developments involving his family members already on the roster.
With Hikuleo finally breaking his WWE silence in decisive fashion, the wrestling world waits to see whether this Main Event victory launches him toward the main event spotlight he seemed destined for—but will WWE fast-track him to television, or does this represent just the first step in a longer developmental journey?
