3 reasons why Hikuleo did not make his debut on WWE SmackDown

WWE SmackDown this week featured Jacob Fatu addressing his actions at Money in the Bank. The United States Champion was confronted by Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo, and Sikoa sent a major warning to Jacob by hinting that his actions would lead to consequences.

Before tonight's show, Hikuleo was also expected to make its debut by many fans. However, his long-awaited arrival did not happen on the blue brand. In this article, we will discuss three reasons why the former NJPW Strong Champion did not make his debut on the Friday night show.

#3. He already made his debut in WWE before SmackDown

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Hikuleo didn't make his presence felt on the blue brand, but before the show, the 32-year-old star had already made his debut in the company. The former NJPW star was part of the Main Event show tapings against Kit Wilson, where he emerged as the winner after an impressive match.

This suggests that WWE may not have plans for him to make his television debut yet. Instead, the company may give him some time to prepare before being part of the main storyline.

#2. He may debut with Solo Sikoa next week

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Solo SIkoa sent a warning to Jacob Fatu on this week's SmackDown, revealing that he would be on the show next week and that he wanted to hear 'I Love You Solo' from the US Champion. If this doesn't happen, the Samoan Werewolf will suffer consequences.

It's conceivable that Hikuleo might make his debut on SmackDown next week, along with the former Ula Fala holder. In a potential scenario, when Fatu refuses to stand with Solo, the former IWGP Tag Team Champion will make his debut and destroy Jacob.

This could be why Hikuleo was absent from the blue brand this week and didn't make his arrival on television.

#1. WWE is only testing the waters with Hikuleo

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Hikuleo was signed with the Stamford-based promotion for almost a year and finally made his WWE debut before SmackDown. One of the potential reasons why the company may not have brought him directly onto the blue brand could be due to its plans of testing the waters with the future Bloodline member.

By not booking him on weekly shows, i.e., RAW and SmackDown, WWE could be testing the potential of Hikuleo. This test by the Triple H creative regime will give them an indication as to whether the former NJPW star needs to be inserted directly into the high-profile story or not.

About the author

Love Verma is a WWE features writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Legislative Law. His experience in legal drafting helps him cross-check reports with reputed media to ensure their accuracy. Despite being an avid WWE fan, Verma manages to maintain objectivity in his work, ensuring unbiased writing that resonates with both the casual reader and die-hard fan.

Love became a pro wrestling fan after watching Royal Rumble 2014, and became a Brock Lesnar Guy following the 2015 edition of Royal Rumble. He admires the sheer power and dominance The Beast Incarnate displayed in his Triple-Threat Match against John Cena and Seth Rollins. However, one of his favorite matches is Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 31, where Orton delivered one of the greatest RKOs ever.

Outside of wrestling, he enjoys painting, sketching, and immersing himself in the world of PC and PlayStation gaming, showcasing his creativity and love for entertainment.

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Edited by Jacob Terrell