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Who is Hikuleo? Former NJPW stars who made his debut on WWE Main Event recently

Abhijit has been telling sports stories through his words at Khel Now since 2024. He covers Pro wrestling, MMA, Boxing & Formula 1.
Published at :June 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Modified at :June 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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(Courtesy : WWE)

The former NJPW star made his debut at the Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Tautuiaki Taula Parmar Koloamatangi, better known by his ring name Hikuleo, began his pro wrestling career in 2016 in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Taula is a second-generation pro-wrestler; he is the nephew and adopted son of pro wrestler Tonga Fifita

Born in Tonga, Hikuleo was adopted by Fifita and his wife, Dorothy Koloamatangi, who brought him and his siblings to the United States. Koloamatangi grew up in Kissimmee, Florida, and attended Osceola High School.

Koloamatangi was trained by Bully Ray and Devon at the Team 3D Academy in Florida. He made his debut on November 12, 2016, in Auckland, New Zealand, at NJPW’s On the Mat Internet PPV. Hikuleo, in his time with NJPW, was a member of Bullet Club and Guerrillas of Destiny (GoD).

He has captured the Strong Openweight title and the  IWGP Tag Team titles with partner El Phantasmo once, and is a 2-time Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion. Koloamatangi also has had brief appearances in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and TNA Wrestling.

Hikuleo signed with the WWE in July 2024 and was training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. He has been linked to the Bloodline members due to his lineage and relation to WWE star Tama Tonga.

After months of speculation, he made his debut during the Main Event tapings, which were held before the June 13 episode of Friday Night SmackDown at the  Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Hikuleo defeated Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson to register his first win in the WWE.

The match will air on the next episode of Main Event, and fans questioned his first appearance on an under-the-radar programming. Fans are now waiting for Koloamatangi to make his on-air debut, likely on the main roster.

It will be interesting to see which brand he’s assigned to and what storyline the promotion chooses for him. The WWE brass is likely preparing him for the main roster, and this was possibly more than anything a warm-up match.

Championships and accomplishments

  • New Japan Pro-Wrestling
    • Strong Openweight Championship (1 time)
    • Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with El Phantasmo
    • IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with El Phantasmo
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • Ranked No. 350 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 of 2022

Finishers and signature moves

  • T-Bomb (Neck Hanging Bomb)

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Abhijit Singh
Abhijit Singh

Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.

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