Tama Tonga Responds to WWE Fine for Rehearsal Footage Leak
WWE Superstar Tama Tonga has responded to his five-figure WWE fine after he posted restricted rehearsal footage from a recent episode of SmackDown in Phoenix, Arizona. The former two-time WWE Tag Team Champion addressed the situation on social media Friday.
As per reports, WWE issued the fine after Tonga shared a 29-second video showing the stage, aisle, and wrestlers including Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa, during rehearsals. The footage could have exposed match planning and production details that WWE keeps tightly protected.
Tonga posted the rehearsal clips before later taking them down, but a fan had already reposted the video. Tonga did not wrestle on the March 13 SmackDown but was in the corner of Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga during a tag team match.
In a TikTok clip shared on social media, Tonga appeared to respond to the report. He stated the fine was worth it and urged fans to stay positive, accept the hit, and keep moving forward.
"It’s all good. It was worth it. I had to go to my happy place, after that shenanigans. I had to go to the world’s happiest place to get myself smiling again. I think that’s the biggest thing, when you get hit with something, you just take the hit and keep moving. You can’t let that bring you down, you know? You gotta keep on moving."
Tonga then joked that he has "been in the doghouse" his whole life and made clear the punishment would not change his mindset. He is treating the situation as something to accept rather than a major setback.
"Am I in the doghouse? I’ve been in the doghouse my whole life. No getting out of the dog house. I move in life like I’m in the dog house always."
The incident highlights WWE's strict policies regarding behind-the-scenes content. Rehearsal footage is considered highly sensitive as it can reveal production methods and match choreography that the company prefers to keep private.
