The October 10, 2025 edition of WWE SmackDown featured the return of Tama Tonga after a six-month absence. Tonga reappeared during the United States Championship Open Challenge match between champion Sami Zayn and challenger Shinsuke Nakamura, attacking both competitors and bringing the contest to an abrupt halt.
U.S. Champion Sami Zayn issued an open challenge for his title. The challenge was answered by Shinsuke Nakamura, who entered the arena using his former entrance music. The match began with a series of back-and-forth sequences. Nakamura countered a Blue Thunder Bomb and delivered a kick to Zayn’s head. The action spilled outside the ring, where Zayn gained control, executing an Exploder Suplex that sent Nakamura into the barricade, followed by a Helluva Kick.
After Zayn returned Nakamura to the ring, Nakamura countered with a Sudden Impact kick and attempted a pinfall, but Zayn placed his foot on the bottom rope to break the count. Nakamura then delivered a kick to the back of Zayn’s neck and began to set up for his Kinshasa finishing maneuver. Before he could execute the move, the match was interrupted by the appearance of an unknown individual.
A hooded man emerged from the crowd, pulled Nakamura out of the ring, and threw him over the ringside barricade. The individual then removed his hood, revealing himself to be Tama Tonga, who was last seen on WWE programming in April. Tonga was now sporting face paint similar to what he wore during his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Following the reveal, other members of the M.F.T. faction appeared, and under the watch of Solo Sikoa, the group proceeded to attack both Nakamura and Sami Zayn.
Tonga’s last appearance was on the April 18, 2025, episode of WWE SmackDown. In that storyline, he was attacked in a parking lot by LA Knight, who smashed his hand in a car door. His return on October 10 marked the end of a nearly six-month hiatus.
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LOOK WHO'S BACK!!!@SamiZayn and @ShinsukeN are outnumbered 😱 pic.twitter.com/4e7tLpZjtJ
— WWE (@WWE) October 11, 2025
