Tama Tonga Bids Goodbye to NJPW After Title Loss

Tama Tonga announced at Wrestle Kingdom 18 that he would leave the company this month and this led to a lot of discussion. That is exactly what happened as he dropped the NEVER Openweight Championship this week and big goodbye to the company afterwards.

Before Tama Tonga’s NEVER Openweight Title match against EVIL on January 20 at NJPW New Beginning in Nagoya, EVIL asserted that NJPW had already fired Tama Tonga. EVIL highlighted his listing as the NEVER Openweight Champion on the NJPW website, suggesting there was no need for Tonga to compete against him.

The real reason for this confusion was also revealed after that. During Saturday’s NJPW The New Beginning in Nagoya event, EVIL beat Tama Tonga in the main event to win the NEVER Openweight Title. Insisting on a restart, Tama Tonga requested the bout be turned into a lumberjack match. Unfortunately, he was pinned after interference from Dick Togo and Ren Narita.

After the match, Tama Tonga delivered a promo expressing gratitude to the fans, as the former NEVER Openweight Champion bid goodbye to New Japan for good.

“Thank you for giving me a chance to know you. I love you.”

Tama Tonga previously had contract talks with WWE, so it remains to be seen whether he will end up making his way to WWE after he leaves the company this month. In the end, the world is truly his oyster.

What do you think of what Tama Tonga had to say? Where do you think he will go next? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!