As the pre-quarterly meeting call roster-cutting looms, WWE has two interesting names on its shortlist of hires: New Japan’s Tama Tonga and free agent Richard Holiday. As previously reported, Holliday was a long-time member of the MLW roster achieving top-of-the-card status very early on as a member of the Dynasty faction and later as a singles star.
WWE Reportedly Interested in New Japan Star Tama Tonga and Former MLW Star Richard Holliday
Tama Tonga has been a star on the international stage mainly as a heel in New Japan’s Bullet Club faction. He would see a great deal of success in title-winning tandems and trios but has recently held singles gold. Both wrestlers are definitely on someone’s radars and have been for some time now.
MLW has a foothold in WWE’s developmental backyard of Florida—where AEW is also based. Kind of crowded. It would be nothing to keep an eye on a Holliday, Hammerstone, or a Fatu for WWE or AEW. New Japan has had an international presence since the mid-2010s. Tama’s work with the company gets noticed by fans and the media and it’s safe to say that someone within both companies is keeping notes. Someone regularly watches the product and is probably seeing how Tama could fit in with the plans.
According to Dave Meltzer, WWE has had its eye on Tama Tonga for a long time. The appeal makes sense, there’s just a minor question of why haven’t WWE scooped him up already. Why haven’t they been able to get it done is another one. There’s no storage of new stars coming into NXT and going to the main roster.
We’ll have to see what becomes of this one as both are reasonable signings for WWE. They could fit in with Triple H’s direction for the product and storylines. At the same time, it’s possible AEW has similar ideas.
The company’s roster split might provide some slots and that means new faces on TV. It’s just an issue of how to introduce them and where to get them in. This is especially true with talent being more vocal about issues with creative via social media.
As for where to catch “The Most Marketable” Richard Holliday now, he will make his in-ring return on June 10, 2023 for Paradise Alley Pro Wrestling. He is also scheduled to debut for GCW on July 8 at its Clean Up Man event.
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