Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), the AEW World Champion, recently highlighted Tama Tonga’s version of the Hidden Blade, declaring it superior to Will Ospreay’s original move. Tama Tonga has been incorporating this maneuver, which gained popularity through Ospreay, into his WWE matches, drawing attention across wrestling promotions.
Tonga’s Performance and Recent Matches
Tama Tonga showcased the Hidden Blade on WWE Smackdown when he executed the move on Carmelo Hayes during a 10-man tag team match. The bout featured Tonga’s team, including Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa, and JC Mateo, facing off against Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, Shinsuke Nakamura, Apollo Crews, and Matt Cardona. This appearance highlighted Tonga’s growing prominence within WWE TV.
Championships and Upcoming Defenses
Tama Tonga and Solo Sikoa currently hold the WWE Tag Team Championships, having claimed the titles from the Wyatt Sicks on the January 23rd episode of Smackdown. Meanwhile, Carmelo Hayes defends the WWE United States Championship. On a parallel track, MJF recently retained his AEW World Championship by defeating Brody King at Grand Slam Australia and is slated to defend the title against Hangman Page at AEW Revolution next month. Notably, MJF and Ospreay have a competitive history, having exchanged the AEW International Championship in matches during July and August 2024.
Impact and Future Implications
MJF’s endorsement of Tama Tonga’s version of the Hidden Blade could fuel further intrigue in this signature move, bridging audiences from AEW and WWE. This moment reinforces Tonga’s rising status and the cross-promotional attention top wrestling talents command. Fans will likely watch closely as MJF prepares for his next title defense and as Tama Tonga continues to evolve his in-ring repertoire on WWE programming.
“Wayyyyyyyy better than Ospreay man” — Maxwell Jacob Friedman™️ (@The_MJF) February 14, 2026
Wayyyyyyyy better than Ospreay man
— Maxwell Jacob Friedman™️ (@The_MJF) February 14, 2026
