Last Friday, the WWE announced the release of over 15 superstars from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. The releases included fan favorites like Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, Jakara Jackson, and two Chemical X members, Gigi Dolin and Shotzi. After the initial outrage, fans started speculating over who the WWE may sign in their place. Here are three signings that the WWE may make soon.
Former AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May could join the WWE after her contract expires this summer. May had a three-day tryout back in June 2019 in the brand-new UK WWE Performance Center, but unfortunately, she was not signed back then. She has since had a very successful AEW career. In 2024, two months before winning the Women’s World Championship, she also won the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, defeating Willow Nightingale by pinfall.
Recent activity on social media has only sparked these rumors. Not long ago, there was a post on May’s Instagram stories that read: “You can’t make the wrong decision because every decision leads you to where you’re supposed to be.” Is the place she is supposed to be the WWE? She followed that up with a post that said, “I have nothing else to post.”
May has not made an AEW appearance since her “Hollywood Ending” match nearly two months ago at Revolution, in which she lost her World Championship to Toni Storm. Perhaps the next time she appears, it is not associated with the letters AEW, but instead NXT.
Next, we have the Tonga Twins. After not having any matches since the end of their Women Of Wrestling (WOW) run in December of 2023, the twins resurfaced this past January under the VIP Wrestling promotion. Taahine and TalaVou Tonga (formerly Kona and Kaoz, respectively) looked just as dominant while defeating Morgan Mercy and Nova Phoenix in tag team action. The return of The Tonga Twins once again sparked previous WWE rumors that started last year when they were spotted at the Performance Center in Orlando.
Although not technically related, the Tonga Twins are extremely close to the legendary Anoa’i and Fatu families. They were trained by Rikishi alongside SmackDown superstars Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. Their in-ring performance reflects this as they look just as explosive, dominant, and fiery as Solo and Jacob.
It looks as though many members of the WWE Universe are eager to see them. The comments on many of their recent X post are full of “Come to NXT. When are you coming to NXT?” and “Naomi needs your help!” posts.
The Tonga Twins have often entertained the idea by reposting and commenting on posts suggesting a WWE signing. There was recently a “Tonga Twins to #WWENXT” post via X that Taahine responded to by simply posting the word “Hello” followed by a wink emoji. The next day, she reposted a picture of her, Nia Jax, Naomi, TalaVou, and Ava with the words “Bloodline” in the background.
This last one may be a coincidence. On a post by Taahine promoting The Tonga Twins upcoming match on May 17th, TalaVou commented: “Philly, You up nxt!!!” Exactly, next without an e. Maybe that statement is a sign of things to come.
This WWE signing just seems destined to happen, right? Zilla Fatu, of course, is part of the legendary Anoa’i and Fatu families. He is the son of the late great Eddie Fatu, aka Umaga. He is also the first cousin of Raw superstar and World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso and SmackDown superstars Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and the United States Champion, Jacob Fatu. Wrestling in general, but especially the WWE, is in his blood.
Zilla was trained by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. He also competes under his promotion, Reality Of Wrestling. Fatu has the same power and explosiveness possessed by his late father and cousin Jacob. This is especially apparent with his jaw-dropping signature move, the Super Samoan Spike. This devastating move, inspired by Roman Reigns and Umaga, has led to the defeat of many opponents in Zilla’s short, yet very successful career thus far.
“I would love to be there with my family, but Triple H, the creative team, the whole WWE organization, they have a way to incorporate me,” said Zilla during an interview on The Wrestle Era Podcast. He also mentioned during that same podcast that he was destined to be there.
A potential path to incorporation may be beginning to open with the ongoing tension between Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa on SmackDown. Perhaps Solo, along with fellow Bloodline member Tama Tonga, turns on Jacob out of jealousy due to his recent success. Then maybe, the outnumbered Jacob is joined by his cousin, and former independent circuit tag team partner Zilla, to even the odds.
Each of these potential signings seems to be imminent as they have all dropped hints and nuggets recently. Only time will tell if Mariah May, The Tonga Twins, and/or Zilla Fatu will ultimately wreak havoc on NXT, Raw, or SmackDown.
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