WWE Superstar Handed 'Significant' Fine For Sharing Behind-The-Scenes Footage

Fightful's Andrew Zarian broke the news that Tonga had been fined for sharing SmackDown rehearsal footage on social media. The exact amount Tonga has been fined remains unknown, but Zarian's report claimed it is "significant", so feel free to let your imaginations run wild as you attempt to figure out just how much Tonga has been charged for his supposed mistake.

The offending clip, which Tonga has taken down - further suggesting he really is in hot water - shows ringside footage the Superstar filmed right before fans entered the building for the March 13, 2026, edition of SmackDown. Tonga shows Solo Sikoa, along with a few other Superstars, walking around, and asks an employee when the doors open, to which the employee replies "now".

Tonga posted a clenched-teeth emoji on X on Friday night, which many have interpreted as a response to the news that he got in trouble with WWE and was issued a fine, becoming public domain. Despite the hit to his bank account, Tonga will likely be warmed by the reactions to the reports, as most fans appear to be on his side.

Fans Point Out The Hypocrisy Of Tama Tonga's Fine

The most common comparison used by fans coming to Tonga's defense is the one between what he did and WWE Unreal. Created specifically for its still-new relationship with Netflix, Unreal is a controversial show that takes fans deeper behind the scenes than ever before. It even includes footage from inside the room where matches are booked, showing Triple H and the creative team discussing ideas and shooting down different directions for feuds and match finishes.

Fans have questioned how, when the inner workings of WWE are already so exposed by a show like Unreal, Tonga did any harm by posting a clip that didn't really show much of anything at all. Tonga's infraction has also been compared to the rehearsal footage shared by Tiffany Stratton last year.

Stratton shared a clip of her rehearsing a scary ladder spot which almost broke her neck, yet she still went ahead and performed the spot the following night when the cameras were rolling. If Stratton was fined for sharing that clip, it was never reported. There was a far longer gap between the footage being shot and Stratton sharing it than the length of time Tonga waited between filming and sharing his own clip.