The men in the Samoan dynasty returned to prominence this week on WWE television. On SmackDown, fans learned that MFT apparently stands for RHM. Meanwhile, on Raw, a beloved “Main Event” star revealed his intentions to climb to the top and give back to the WWE Universe later this summer.
YEET or get off the pot
This week on Raw, “Main Event” Jey Uso delivered a heartfelt speech. He spoke about last year’s Money in the Bank, where he said he lost his brothers Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa and his cousin Roman Reigns — his family. Despite this emotional setback, he stayed in the game, believing he could succeed on his own, which earned a warm ovation from the crowd.
Uso thanked the fans for sticking with him and said it was time for him to deliver for them. He declared for this year’s Money in the Bank ladder match on July 6 and said he planned to climb the ladder and become Mr. Money in the Bank.
If Uso is to claim his place as a headliner, it’s time for him to YEET now or forever hold his peace.
Last year at SummerSlam, Uso failed to capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from Reigns. In 2024, he came up short in his bids to win the World title, the Intercontinental Championship, and the King of the Ring. Thus, Money in the Bank is a do-or-die situation for Uso.
Win, and he’s likely world title bound. But if he loses, his future looks murky. WWE could protect Uso at Money in the Bank by having Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline keep him from winning the sacred briefcase. Such a scenario could lead to a reunion with brother Jimmy as they face Solo and his guerrillas. Outnumbered, the Usos might turn to The Tribal Chief for help, igniting the next chapter in the Samoan dynasty’s civil war.
The fans want Roman, but they keep getting Solo
On SmackDown, Solo Sikoa officially welcomed Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa into the family stable. Tama Tonga, once Sikoa’s MFT, is now his RHM — right-hand man. As for Loa, he’s just “infamous,” which simply spells trouble. The ceremony was cut short by Kevin Owens and the Street Profits, but not before the Kentucky natives let their voices be heard as they filled the Yum! Center with chants of “We Want Roman!”
What they got was more Solo.
After Sikoa got his team disqualified, he and the Tongas punished Owens and his friends before Sikoa unveiled some familiar instruments of torture. With merciless precision, Sikoa struck Montez Ford with a Roman Reigns-like spear, sending him crashing to the canvas. Then, in a display of savage unity, The Bloodline orchestrated a devastating triple powerbomb reminiscent of The Shield, Reigns’ previous supergroup, as they drove Kevin Owens through a table.
Sikoa and his band of un-merry men had a point to make this week, most notably to Roman Reigns. But instead of sending a cheery postcard to say, “Hey Big Uce, missing you, can’t wait for you to come home soon,” Sikoa opted for a decidedly more ominous message, one that barked, “This is my yard now. Believe that!”
The plot, as they say, thickens.
Legacy of Legends: Sam Fatu, the original Tama
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25482738/Ringside_Wrestling__12_magazine_1985_03.png "It’s time for Jey Uso to YEET or get off the pot (1)")
Long before Tama Tonga graced a WWE ring, his father Haku teamed up with a kid billed from Tonga, known as Tama, to form the tag team The Islanders. A coincidence? Probably not. But for anyone lucky enough to witness Sam Fatu’s electrifying performances in the 1980s and 1990s, he was an absolute force of nature.
In 1984, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka’s feud with Rowdy Roddy Piper was heating up when Snuka had to take a break due to personal reasons. To keep the storyline going, WWE wrote Snuka off with an injury attributed to Piper. That opened the door for Rikishi’s brother, Sam Fatu, known as the Tonga Kid at the time. Under 20 years old, Fatu instantly became a headliner, taking on Piper across the United States for the rest of the year.
In the coming years, he would be repackaged as Tama and placed in a tag team with Haku. Together, they were The Islanders, and though they didn’t win tag team gold, they were always a threat in the division. The highlight of their WWE run was when they and their manager, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, kidnapped Matilda, the lovable bulldog and mascot of The British Bulldogs.
In his prime, Fatu was a gifted athlete who could launch himself into the air with the explosive force of a firecracker and come hurtling down onto an opponent with the impact of a meteor. On-screen, Fatu was a captivating presence. As a good guy, his smile and occasional dance moves could light up an arena. As a villain, that smile turned into a mischievous grin, signaling danger.
His charming features would carry over to the big screen as he starred in the 1986 cult classic “Body Slam.” Ironically, Fatu, playing the part of Tonga Tom, was paired with Piper as his tag team partner as the duo sought tag team gold while pioneering the rock and wrestling connection.
In the late ’80s and early ‘90s, he ventured to World Championship Wrestling, where, as the Samoan Savage, he joined the Samoan Swat Team with Rikishi (then known as Fatu) and their cousin Samu. Though he came up short in that team’s pursuit of championship glory, he was part of some exciting matches against the Road Warriors and Rock ‘n’ Roll Express.
Today, as the sons of his old partner Haku help Solo Sikoa run wild on SmackDown, the question on most people’s minds is when will Jacob Fatu, Sam’s son, enter the picture. Despite having a different style in the ring, The Samoan Werewolf is poised to carry on his father’s legacy once he debuts in WWE.
