Talla Tonga Absence Explained After Release Rumors Following WWE WrestleMania 42

Talla Tonga’s sudden disappearance from WWE television after WrestleMania 42 had fans wondering if he was part of the company’s latest round of releases, but new details from Bryan Alvarez have cleared that up.

Following WrestleMania 42, Tonga was noticeably absent from WWE programming even as The MFTs continued appearing on both RAW and SmackDown. His absence quickly sparked speculation among fans, especially after WWE released 25 wrestlers on April 24, leading many to assume he may have been among those cuts.

However, Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer reported that Tonga has not been released and is instead sidelined due to an undisclosed injury. According to Alvarez, Tonga is expected to return fairly soon once he is medically cleared to compete again.

Tonga was last seen in action during the go-home episode of SmackDown before WrestleMania 42, where he competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Since joining WWE, his in-ring appearances have been limited compared to many others on the roster.

He has only competed in nine televised matches since making his WWE debut at Night of Champions 2025, with just 29 total matches since signing with WWE. Before arriving in WWE, Tonga spent several years competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling before signing with the company in the summer of 2024.

His absence stood out even more because The MFTs have continued appearing regularly on television without him, which helped fuel the release rumors in the first place. That speculation only intensified after WWE released several notable names on April 24, including Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and the Motor City Machine Guns.

With Tonga is dealing with an injury rather than a release, it appears his time away from WWE television is temporary. Once he is cleared, his return could help restore momentum for The MFTs and answer questions that have been building since WrestleMania weekend.

Do you think Talla Tonga’s return will make a difference for The MFTs, or has his absence already slowed their momentum? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.