So, let me tell you about my latest adventure – diving into the world of the Tonga Twins. I’d heard about these two, Ashley and Steff Manukainiu, for a while now. They’ve been making waves in the wrestling scene, and I finally decided to check them out.
I started digging around, and the first thing that caught my eye was their entrance – they always come out in traditional Tongan gear. It’s awesome to see them representing their heritage like that. Then I found out they were on YouTube, and let me tell you, I spent hours going through their videos. They talked about their journey, their recent free agency after leaving Women of Wrestling, and it was so real and raw.
Here’s where it gets even more interesting. I stumbled upon this old story from when they met Ata Johnson, The Rock’s mom, at a Fifth Harmony concert back in 2023. Apparently, they had a chat, and you know how things lead to other things, that was big time for them.
- I kept going, and I found out they were inspired to get into wrestling because they noticed a lack of Tongan women in the sport.
- They trained with Rikishi, a hall of famer! How cool is that?
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. They talked about some drama with their old management at WOW. They felt like they weren’t being heard, and there were some rumors going around that messed with their reputations. They think they got let go because they spoke up about some problems in the locker room. It’s a bummer to hear that kind of stuff happens, but I admire them for sticking to their guns. It is what it is I guess.
I also learned that they’re related to Haku, who’s considered part of the Anoaʻi family, the same one The Rock is from. Wrestling royalty, right? Their parents, Finau and Katiola, moved from Tonga to the Bay Area, and they raised the twins “the island way,” which sounds pretty strict but also super connected to their roots.
Then, just when I thought I had the whole picture, I saw this announcement about them being part of Queen’s Gambit, this VIP Women’s Wrestling event in Haltom City, Texas. It’s happening on January 31, 2025, at the Haltom Theater. I was like, “Whoa, I gotta see this!”
It’s crazy how much these two have going on. From their unique background to their wrestling journey and all the drama in between, the Tonga Twins are definitely a pair to watch. I’m excited to see what they do next, especially at Queen’s Gambit. I might even try to go to that event, it sounds like a blast!
I just wanted to put their story out there. It is worth knowing. I keep looking for the real, you know?
