Haku Returns To WWE, Leads Sons Tama And Talla Tonga On SmackDown

A WWE Hall of Famer made a shocking return on the final SmackDown before SummerSlam, as Haku appeared alongside his sons Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga to officially cement their new direction.

The surprise appearance came during the July 31 edition of WWE SmackDown, where Tama and Talla continued to distance themselves from Solo Sikoa and the MFT faction.

Haku Delivers Powerful Message To His Sons

Earlier in the show, WWE aired a vignette featuring Tama and Talla Tonga discussing their recent split from Solo Sikoa’s group.

The brothers explained that their pursuit of championships had taken a backseat while they were focused on internal family conflicts. They emphasized that it was time to put family first and return to what truly mattered.

The segment took an emotional turn when Haku appeared on screen.

The legendary wrestler spoke about the family’s Tongan heritage and reminded his sons of the legacy they carry every time they step into the ring. Haku’s appearance immediately drew attention, marking his first significant WWE television involvement in quite some time.

Champion Vs. Champion Match Breaks Down

Later in the evening, WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth faced AAA World Tag Team Champions The War Raiders in a non-title champion-versus-champion showdown.

The match quickly spiraled out of control.

As tempers flared, the referee was knocked down while attempting to restore order. With no official able to maintain control, the bout was ruled a disqualification. Even after the bell, the four competitors continued brawling throughout the arena.

The MFTs Make A Statement

As chaos unfolded, Tama and Talla Tonga stormed the ring.

The duo attacked everyone in sight, laying out both teams in dominant fashion. Tama connected with the Cut Throat on Erik, while Talla delivered a devastating chokeslam to Priest.

With the ring cleared, the brothers stood tall holding both the WWE and AAA Tag Team Championships.

Moments later, Haku made his way to the ring and joined his sons, creating a memorable image as the show headed toward its conclusion.

New Chapter After Solo Sikoa Split

Tama and Talla officially severed ties with Solo Sikoa on the June 26 episode of SmackDown.

At the time, the brothers claimed they were acting on instructions from “the elders” and voiced frustration over Sikoa’s obsession with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline power struggle.

Since then, they have begun carving out their own path, and Haku’s return appears to solidify that direction.

Now being presented as The MFTs, Tama and Talla have added one of the most respected figures in wrestling history to their corner as they continue their pursuit of championship gold.

SummerSlam Implications

The timing of Haku’s return is particularly noteworthy with SummerSlam just around the corner.

After standing tall over both the WWE Tag Team Champions and the AAA World Tag Team Champions, Tama and Talla have sent a clear message to every team in WWE.

With Haku now serving as their mentor and on-screen leader, The MFTs appear poised to become a major force in WWE’s tag team division moving forward.

Whether their actions on SmackDown lead directly to a championship opportunity remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Tonga family made a statement just one night before SummerSlam.

WWE SmackDown Preview 7/31/2026

WWE SmackDown live tonight at 8/7c on USA Network and Netflix internationally from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The last show before this weekends two night SummerSlam.

  • WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. AAA World Tag Team Champions The War Raiders
  • Interim WWE Women’s Title Ladder Match Qualifying Match: Giulia vs. Lash Legend
  • Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk goes Face-to-Face with Cody Rhodes ahead of their title match at SummerSlam

Report Provides Encouraging Update On Randy Orton’s WWE Return

Randy Orton’s absence from WWE television could soon be coming to an end.

“The Viper” has not been seen on WWE programming since WrestleMania 42, where his night ended in dramatic fashion following a failed attempt to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship.

After coming up short in the title match, Orton snapped and launched a vicious attack on Cody Rhodes, leaving fans wondering when the former world champion would resurface and what his next move would be.

Return May Be Imminent

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Orton is expected to return to WWE television in the near future.

While no exact date was provided, the report indicated that Orton’s comeback could happen as soon as the next week, suggesting WWE may already be preparing plans for his reappearance.

The update is the strongest indication yet that the multi-time world champion is nearing a return after several months away from television.

Unfinished Business With Cody Rhodes?

Orton’s last appearance left plenty of questions unanswered.

Following his WrestleMania defeat, the veteran star’s post-match assault on Rhodes appeared to signal a major character shift and potentially the beginning of a new rivalry. However, with Orton disappearing from television immediately afterward, WWE has yet to follow up on the storyline.

Should Orton return in the coming days, many fans expect Rhodes to be at the center of whatever comes next.

The history between the two stars stretches back years, making a renewed feud one of the most anticipated possibilities upon Orton’s return.

A Major Addition To WWE Programming

Whenever Orton returns, he will instantly become one of WWE’s most prominent stars.

The future Hall of Famer remains one of the company’s biggest attractions and has continued to perform at a high level despite spending more than two decades in the industry. His presence could have a significant impact on the championship picture heading into the latter part of 2026.

For now, WWE has not officially announced Orton’s return date, but if Meltzer’s report proves accurate, fans may not have to wait much longer to see The Viper back in action.

After months away from television, Orton’s next appearance could be one of the most anticipated returns of the year.

WWE SummerSlam 8/1/2026 and 8/2/2026 (Card)

WWE SummerSlam – Saturday August 1 and Sunday August 2 – US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota 

SummerSlam Night 1 Card

  • Undisputed WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
  • Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Iyo Sky
  • Hell in a Cell: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
  • Gunther vs. Nick Aldis
  • The Usos, Jacob Fatu vs. Royce Keys, LA Knight, Solo Sikoa
  • Fatal Influence vs. The Bella Twins & Paige

SummerSlam Night 2 Card

  • World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins
  • Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Lash Legend or Giulia
  • Undisputed WWE No. 1 Contender’s Match: Finn Bálor vs. Sami Zayn
  • United States Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Baron Corbin
  • Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. Chad Gable
  • Human Monies on a Pole Match: Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio — $100,000 on the line

Motor City Machine Guns Are All Elite, Debut On Collision

After months of speculation regarding their future, the Motor City Machine Guns have officially arrived in All Elite Wrestling.

Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley made their long-awaited AEW debut during the July 30 edition of AEW Collision in Detroit, Michigan, appearing just hours after officially becoming free agents following the expiration of their WWE non-compete clauses.

Hometown Heroes Receive Massive Reception

AEW opened the show with a memorable moment as the Detroit crowd welcomed Sabin and Shelley with a thunderous ovation.

The hometown fans showered the legendary tag team with chants of “Motor City,” creating an emotional atmosphere as the duo made their way to the ring.

Sabin addressed the crowd first, jokingly asking whether anyone truly believed they wouldn’t show up in Detroit. He and Shelley reflected on their long history representing the city throughout their careers and thanked the fans for supporting them over the last two decades.

The pair then turned their attention to their future.

Sabin spoke about their excitement to join AEW, while Shelley made the announcement official by confirming that the Motor City Machine Guns had signed with the company. Moments later, the familiar “All Elite” graphic appeared on the arena screens, confirming their status as AEW’s newest additions.

Motor City Machine Guns Make Immediate Impact

The duo didn’t wait long to get involved in the action.

Later in the evening, the Bang Bang Gang picked up a victory over the Death Riders in an eight-man tag team match. However, the celebration was cut short when The Dogs stormed the ring and launched a post-match attack.

That brought Sabin and Shelley back out to a huge reaction.

Armed with steel chairs, the newly signed AEW stars chased off The Dogs and evened the odds. With the heels retreating, the Gunns capitalized by laying out members of The Dogs with their finishing move, bringing the segment to a close.

The confrontation immediately hinted at a potential alliance between the Motor City Machine Guns and the Bang Bang Gang moving forward.

A Long-Awaited Arrival

While this marked their official signing with AEW, it wasn’t the first time Sabin and Shelley had appeared for the promotion.

The pair previously competed at AEW All Out 2022, teaming with longtime friend Jay Lethal in a trios match against FTR and Wardlow. Although they came up short in that contest, their performance left many fans hoping for a more permanent relationship with the company.

Rumors linking the Motor City Machine Guns to AEW intensified after their WWE departures earlier this year. Even before becoming free agents, many within the wrestling industry expected AEW to emerge as their eventual destination.

One Of Wrestling’s Most Decorated Tag Teams

Few tag teams arrive in AEW with résumés as impressive as the Motor City Machine Guns.

Throughout their careers, Sabin and Shelley have captured championships across multiple major promotions, including WWE, TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Their influence on modern tag team wrestling has earned them recognition as one of the greatest teams of their generation.

Now, with AEW officially added to their list of destinations, the focus shifts toward championship gold.

Given their track record and the immediate reaction they received from the Detroit crowd, it may not be long before the Motor City Machine Guns find themselves in the hunt for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.

For now, though, one thing is certain: after months of rumors and anticipation, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are officially All Elite.

Thursday Night iMPACT! Preview 7/30/2026

Thursday Night iMPACT! LIVE tonight at 9/8c on AMC from the The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • TNA International Championship Match: Mustafa Ali (c) vs. Jason Hotch
  • TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship Match: DemonXBunny (c) vs. The Elegance Brand
  • TNA Knockouts Television Title Tournament Match: Jada Stone vs. Jody Threat
  • TNA Knockouts Television Title Tournament Match: Indi Hartwell vs. NXT’s Thea Hail
  • Leon Slater & Ricky Sosa vs. The System Cedric Alexander & Eddie Edwards
  • We’ll hear from The Hardys
  • We’ll hear from KC Navarro

AEW Collision Preview 7/30/2026

AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max from the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Will Ospreay vs. Daniel Garcia
  • Hazuki & The Brawling Birds vs. Athena, Diamante, & Billie Starkz
  • Death Riders vs. Bang Bang Gang

Adam Copeland Confirmed For Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Northern Rising Event

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has officially revealed the mystery behind its recent “Who Will Answer The Call?” promotional campaign, and the answer is a Canadian wrestling icon.

During Wednesday night’s MLP MAYHEM broadcast, it was announced that AEW World Tag Team Champion Adam Copeland will appear at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Northern Rising event on October 3.

Emotional Video Tribute Reveals Copeland

The announcement came through a cinematic vignette celebrating both Copeland’s career and the history of professional wrestling in Canada.

The video opened with footage of the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens, a venue deeply connected to Canadian wrestling history. As images of a young Copeland appeared on screen, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on the significance of the building and his connection to it.

The segment built toward Copeland appearing on camera and asking whether the venue was ready for “one more incredible night,” officially confirming his involvement with the event.

Returning To A Historic Venue

Although Maple Leaf Gardens has since been transformed into the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the building remains one of the most iconic locations in Canadian sports and wrestling history.

According to Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, Northern Rising will mark the first time Copeland has competed at the historic venue.

In a statement released following the announcement, Copeland spoke about the impact Maple Leaf Gardens had on him growing up.

The former AEW TNT Champion explained that much of his childhood was spent watching both Maple Leaf Wrestling and Toronto Maple Leafs games from the arena, making the opportunity to be part of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s revival especially meaningful.

Copeland praised the promotion for helping restore a piece of Canadian wrestling history and expressed excitement about participating in what he described as a special night.

More Announcements Expected

While Copeland’s appearance has now been confirmed, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is not revealing all of its plans just yet.

The company stated that additional Copeland-focused vignettes will be released in the coming weeks, suggesting more details regarding his role at Northern Rising are still to come.

Whether that means a major singles match, a special attraction bout, or another surprise remains unknown.

Busy Schedule Continues For Copeland

The announcement adds another notable appearance to an already active period for Copeland.

Currently one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Copeland continues to play a prominent role on AEW programming while also taking part in select appearances outside the promotion.

His involvement with Northern Rising gives Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling a major attraction for one of its biggest events of the year and provides Canadian wrestling fans with an opportunity to see one of the country’s most accomplished performers return to a venue tied closely to his childhood memories.

As October approaches, anticipation is likely to grow regarding exactly what Copeland has planned when he steps into one of Canada’s most historic wrestling buildings.

Copeland’s appearance instantly adds star power to Northern Rising, and the combination of his Canadian roots and the history of Maple Leaf Gardens could make for one of the most memorable moments on the promotion’s 2026 calendar.

AEW Dynamite Preview 7/29/2026

  • AEW Dynamite, live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan.
  • Fallout from Redemption
  • AEW World Trios Championships: The Conglomeration (c) vs. The Demand
  • TBS Championship Match: Maya World (c) vs. CMLL Women’s World Champion Persephone
  • 3-Way AEW National Championship Match: Andrade El Idolo (c) vs. Nick Wayne vs. Jungle Jack Perry
  • Newly crowned AEW Women’s World Champion Willow Nightingale celebrates her victory after defeating Thekla for the title at Redemption
  • Renee Paquette sits down with the Young Bucks and AEW World Tag Team Champions Christian Cage & Adam Copeland. The Young Bucks will challenge Christian and Copeland for the tag titles at the All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, August 30.
  • AEW World Champion Kenny Omega to speak
  • Rhino is scheduled to appear

Update On TNA Contract Status Of Mara Sadé

Mara Sadé‘s future in professional wrestling appears to be up in the air following reports that her contract with TNA Wrestling has expired.

According to Fightful Select, sources close to Sadé have indicated that she is now a free agent after her TNA deal recently came to an end. While an exact expiration date has not been disclosed, the report notes that discussions between Sade and TNA regarding a potential new contract are ongoing.

At the same time, Sade is reportedly exploring other opportunities and has been in contact with additional wrestling promotions.

TNA Status Remains Unclear

Despite her contract situation, Sade has continued to be featured in TNA programming in recent weeks.

Her most recent appearance came during TNA’s television tapings in Albany, where she advanced in the tournament to crown the inaugural TNA Women’s Television Champion. However, it remains unclear whether she is involved in this week’s tapings in Philadelphia, including Thursday night’s live episode of TNA Impact.

With negotiations reportedly still taking place, her status with the company remains one of the more intriguing situations to watch in the Knockouts division.

From WWE NXT To TNA

Before arriving in TNA, Sade was known to WWE fans as Jakara Jackson.

During her time in NXT, she was a member of the popular Meta-Four faction alongside Lash Legend, Noam Dar, and Oro Mensah. Jackson frequently teamed with Legend and was featured in several high-profile matches during her run with the developmental brand.

One of the most notable moments of her WWE career came at Crown Jewel 2024, where she and Legend competed in a Fatal Four-Way Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.

Sade was released by WWE in April 2025 and signed with TNA just two months later, quickly becoming a regular presence in the Knockouts division.

Multiple Options Available

At just over a year removed from her WWE departure, Sade now finds herself in a position with several possible paths forward.

TNA remains a potential landing spot if the two sides can agree on a new contract, but her reported conversations with other promotions suggest she may be weighing all available options before making a decision.

Given her television experience in both WWE and TNA, Sade could attract interest from several major companies looking to strengthen their women’s divisions.

For now, her future remains undecided, but the former NXT standout has officially become one of the more notable free agents currently available on the wrestling market.

Sade’s contract situation will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks, especially as TNA continues to reshape its roster and other promotions look to add experienced talent to their women’s divisions.