Hikuleo Set to Return to WWE SmackDown After Months of Absence – New Bloodline Future in Question

The mysterious case of Hikuleo’s WWE status may finally get some clarity this week. After vanishing from WWE programming for months despite reportedly signing with the company, the towering Samoan wrestler is expected to make his presence felt backstage at Friday Night SmackDown in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Missing Piece of WWE’s Samoan Puzzle

Hikuleo’s WWE journey has been anything but straightforward since his reported signing in July 2024. The former NJPW powerhouse arrived as part of a massive Samoan talent acquisition that saw WWE scoop up Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu during the spring and summer months.

Wrestling fans naturally expected the towering enforcer to slot into Solo Sikoa’s revamped Bloodline faction alongside his real-life brothers Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, plus the formidable Jacob Fatu. Instead, Hikuleo seemingly disappeared into WWE’s developmental system.

Even rumored plans for an NXT debut never came to fruition, leaving the wrestling community scratching their heads about WWE’s intentions for the athletic big man.

SmackDown Appearance Sparks Speculation

According to PWInsider Elite’s latest reporting, Hikuleo is scheduled to be backstage at this Friday’s SmackDown taping. While WWE hasn’t revealed their specific plans for the former Bullet Club member, his presence alone signals potential movement in his stalled storyline.

The timing couldn’t be more intriguing given the recent upheaval within Solo Sikoa’s faction. The landscape has shifted dramatically since Hikuleo first signed with the company.

Bloodline Chaos Creates New Opportunities

Saturday’s Money in the Bank premium live event delivered a seismic shock to the New Bloodline’s foundation. Jacob Fatu, who had served as Solo Sikoa’s most trusted enforcer, finally executed the long-teased betrayal that WWE had been building toward for weeks.

Fatu’s heel turn against his former “Tribal Chief” has left Solo Sikoa’s faction in shambles and created a perfect opening for fresh blood. With the group’s power structure in flux, Hikuleo’s arrival could provide the numbers advantage Solo desperately needs.

What’s Next for WWE’s Samoan Dynasty?

The Samoan wrestling dynasty continues to evolve in fascinating ways, and Hikuleo represents another chapter in that ongoing saga. His impressive size and legitimate family connections to the current storyline make him a natural fit for whatever WWE has planned next.

Whether he emerges as Solo Sikoa’s salvation or takes the narrative in an entirely different direction remains to be seen. Will Hikuleo finally make his long-awaited WWE television debut this Friday, or is this just another step in his gradual integration into the company’s plans?