The issue between The MFTs and Bakusai has intensified outside the ring, with Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga and Haku delivering a pointed warning to Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki in a new WWE digital vignette.
The message followed a volatile recent stretch between the two sides. Bakusai and The MFTs met in a non-title match on SmackDown two weeks ago, a contest that ended when Kyoki was awarded the victory by disqualification. While the WWE Tag Team Titles were not at stake in that bout, the result did little to settle the conflict. Instead, it appears to have created a larger question around whether Nakamura and Kyoki will receive another opportunity against the champions with the titles on the line.
In the video, Tama Tonga addressed Bakusai directly and framed the confrontation as a consequence of the challengers pursuing something The MFTs believe belongs to them.
“Nakamura, Kyoki, this ain’t the dojo. I told you what would happen if you came for what’s ours, but you never learned. So you had to find out the hard way.”
For more background on this topic, read WWE Reportedly Surprised by The Rock’s Praise for AEW in PAC Tribute.
Talla Tonga then continued the warning, emphasizing the message that The MFTs intend to make an example out of any team that steps forward for their championships.
“Now, everybody knows the cost of coming for our titles. Next time, the price goes up.”
The vignette also featured Haku, who brought a wooden stick into the presentation and connected it to his family’s history. Haku stated that the weapon carries the power of Tonga, while making clear that Bakusai should expect an even harsher response if they continue their pursuit of The MFTs.
“Bakusai, this wooden stick has been in my family for generations. It carries with it the power of Tonga…and that is what you felt.”
“If you come for us again, you will be destroyed by the Mother-****ing Tongans!”
A Rivalry Left Unfinished on SmackDown
The prior non-title meeting provides the central backdrop for the latest threats. Kyoki’s disqualification win gave Bakusai a result over The MFTs, but it did not produce a clean, decisive conclusion inside the ring. That distinction is important as the teams move forward. A disqualification finish can offer a challenger momentum and a reason to demand another match, while also allowing the titleholders to insist that they were not conclusively beaten.
For Bakusai, the victory establishes that they were able to leave the match with their hands raised, even if the result came through the actions that triggered the disqualification. For The MFTs, the ending has seemingly been used as justification for escalation rather than reflection. Their new video was not an attempt to explain away the result in sporting terms. It was a warning that the consequences will become more severe if Nakamura and Kyoki remain in their path.
Bakusai had already vowed retribution against The MFTs following their actions in the non-title bout. The new comments from Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga and Haku make it clear that neither group considers the matter complete. Rather than stepping away after the previous clash, The MFTs have publicly challenged Bakusai to decide whether they are willing to continue the fight under even more hostile circumstances.
That stance gives the rivalry a clear direction, even though no rematch has been confirmed. The WWE Tag Team Titles remain the most obvious prize at the center of the dispute. A non-title victory is often the kind of result that can strengthen a team’s case for a championship opportunity, and Bakusai now have both that result and a stated desire for payback against The MFTs.
The MFTs Lean Into Intimidation
The language used in the vignette was deliberately severe. Tama Tonga invoked the dojo while speaking to Nakamura and Kyoki, presenting the confrontation as something beyond a routine championship rivalry. Talla Tonga reinforced that idea by talking about a rising price for anyone seeking their titles. Haku’s appearance, the family stick and his final threat all added another layer of intimidation to the message.
The MFTs did not offer any indication that they are interested in resolving matters through a simple rematch. Their presentation instead suggested that they want Bakusai to understand that pursuing the WWE Tag Team Titles carries a personal cost. Whether that is enough to deter Nakamura and Kyoki remains to be seen, particularly after Bakusai publicly promised retaliation.
There is also a strategic element to the champions’ approach. By releasing such a direct statement before another match has been announced, The MFTs are attempting to control the tone of the rivalry. They are positioning themselves as the side setting the terms, with Bakusai cast as outsiders who have entered territory they were warned not to enter.
That may prove difficult to maintain if Bakusai can continue to turn the champions’ aggression against them. The disqualification in the earlier encounter showed that emotions can affect the outcome when the teams share a ring. Should WWE schedule a title match, The MFTs will need to balance their desire to punish their opponents with the need to retain the championships. A disqualification result in a championship setting would carry a different level of risk depending on the stipulations involved, and it would not necessarily settle the underlying rivalry.
What a Title Match Could Mean
No WWE Tag Team Title match between The MFTs and Bakusai has been officially announced. Still, the circumstances leave the possibility open. The champions have a rivalry that is growing more intense, while Bakusai possess a recent non-title win and a clear motivation to pursue both retribution and championship gold.
If the teams meet again, the match would offer an opportunity to answer several questions left behind by the previous bout. Can Bakusai defeat The MFTs without a disqualification? Can The MFTs remain composed long enough to prove they are the superior team in a decisive contest? And can Nakamura and Kyoki withstand the additional pressure being placed on them by Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga and Haku?
The presence of Haku in the vignette also ensures that the conflict has a broader edge than a conventional two-on-two rivalry. His words made clear that he views the issue as tied to family and legacy, not simply possession of the WWE Tag Team Titles. That can make an already contentious title picture more unpredictable, particularly if the verbal threats carry over into future SmackDown appearances.
For now, Bakusai have not publicly backed away from their promise of retribution, and The MFTs have answered that promise with a warning of their own. The previous match ended in controversy. The champions’ latest statement has made it apparent that a return meeting, should it happen, would likely begin with no shortage of hostility.
The WWE Tag Team Titles remain in the hands of The MFTs, but their situation with Bakusai is far from settled. Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga and Haku have made their position unmistakable: they believe Nakamura and Kyoki have already been warned once. Bakusai must now decide whether the pursuit of the champions, and potentially the titles, is worth facing the consequences The MFTs have promised.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.