• WWE Slightly Changes Tala Tonga’s Ring Name
WWE has made a small adjustment to the ring name of its newest star, previously known as Hikuleo. Just days after his official debut at Night of Champions, where he helped Solo Sikoa defeat Jacob Fatu for the United States Championship, the former NJPW talent was introduced as Tala Tonga. That name appeared on WWE’s official announcement and was printed on a Topps Now card marking his debut.
However, the spelling of his name has since been updated. WWE.com’s recap of the most recent SmackDown episode now refers to him as Talla Tonga. His Instagram profile uses the same spelling, and a WWE UK video clip also calls him Talla Tonga as part of Sikoa’s faction. No official explanation has been given for the change. WWE filed to trademark Talla Tonga in June 2024.
Also Read: Solo Sikoa Reveals His New Faction Name
• RAW Wrestler Is Waiting For WWE To Use Him On TV
Tyler Bate has made it clear he’s not injured, he’s just not being used. The former NXT UK Champion posted on Instagram, writing that he’s simply “waiting,” shutting down any speculation about physical issues. The comment followed talk that both Bate and Pete Dunne were possibly injured, which may have explained their absence from WWE programming. But Bate’s message suggested otherwise. Frustration from fans quickly followed. Many resurfaced a tweet from Triple H dating back to 2016, when he praised a 19-year-old Bate as “the future of this industry.” That old message has now become a target for fans upset that Bate hasn’t been seen on TV in weeks.
Bate joined WWE in late 2016 and officially moved to the main roster in January 2024. After recovering from a nine-month injury layoff, he returned in March of this year and reunited with Pete Dunne to reform the New Catch Republic.
Despite that return, Bate hasn’t wrestled since a WWE Main Event taping on May 26. As of now, he remains ready, and waiting, for WWE to give him a spot.
• Top Star Written Off WWE TV On This Week’s RAW
On the July 7th episode of RAW, Sami Zayn was taken off WWE TV following a brutal attack. Before his match against Bron Breakker, Karrion Kross assaulted Zayn with a metal pipe to the ribs. Despite the injury, Zayn pushed to continue with the match. During the bout, Breakker delivered two Spears, one outside and another inside the ring, leading to his victory. Michael Cole emphasized that Sami was clearly hurt and urged the referee to stop the match. Zayn’s ribs had already been taped due to the earlier attack from Kross on the previous week’s RAW.
Later backstage, Paul Heyman announced that Sami Zayn would be out of action indefinitely. No official timeline has been shared regarding how long the former Intercontinental Champion will be away from WWE TV.
• Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins’ Home Robbed
WWE stars Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch are dealing with an unsettling situation after their beachside home in Southern California was broken into early Tuesday morning, according to TMZ Sports. According to law enforcement, the couple’s residence in Playa Del Rey was burglarized around 3 a.m., mere hours after Rollins and Lynch had wrapped up their appearances at Monday Night RAW in Providence, Rhode Island’s Amica Mutual Pavilion.
Thankfully, the house was empty at the time of the incident. Police say the intruder, or intruders, forced entry through a sliding door at the back of the property. Cash was reported stolen during the burglary. It was Rollins himself who phoned 911 to alert authorities once the crime was discovered. So far, there have been no arrests in the case, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2021 and share a four-year-old daughter named Roux, often spend time at the Playa Del Rey property. Lynch even posted a snapshot to Instagram last month featuring Rollins relaxing in the home’s living room.
Both Seth & Becky have a big weekend ahead of them. On Saturday Night’s Main Event, Rollins (who is the current Mr. Money In The Bank) will face LA Knight. On Sunday, Lynch will defend her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in a triple threat match at the Evolution 2 PLE.
Also Read: Karrion Kross Outsold 3 Major WWE Names In June
