A new story suggests that a member of MFT was fined backstage for sharing rehearsal videos online. This happened after last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, where Tama Tonga posted clips of in-ring rehearsals before the show.
Fans didn’t think much of it, since behind-the-scenes content is common now due to WWE Unreal, but the company reportedly didn’t like it.
Tama Tonga responds after reportedly incurring a fine from WWE
Tonga posted the clips on his TikTok. The videos showed top stars like Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton practicing their match moments, including Orton’s big turn on Rhodes. It also showed Solo Sikoa sitting beside the entrance ramp.
Even though WWE shares some backstage content, rehearsals remain very private.
According to Andrew Zarian from the MatMen podcast, there were talks backstage that Tonga was “significantly fined” for posting those clips. WWE has an unwritten rule that talent shouldn’t record or share rehearsal footage because it can reveal too much. Zarian tweeted–
“Word going around at SmackDown is that Tama Tonga was fined by WWE for posting a video of rehearsals last week. Was told it was significant of a fine. WWE has an unwritten rule about not recording/posting during rehearsal.”
Rehearsals often show how matches are planned, how cameras are used, and how storylines are built. So, it was quite a natural reaction from WWE.
Tonga has also responded to the reports. He posted a neutral-face emoji on X.
Despite this issue, Tonga is still doing well in the ring. As part of the MFTs group led by Solo Sikoa, he has been picking up big wins lately. He has beaten names like Shinsuke Nakamura, Ilja Dragunov, and Carmelo Hayes.
As of now, he is set to defend the WWE Tag Team Championships alongside Solo Sikoa on the March 20, 2026, episode of SmackDown.
Read More: Jacob Fatu’s Biggest ‘What-If’ Has A Bittersweet Bloodline Connection
