New WWE Tag Champions
MFTs Dethrone Priest & R-Truth to Capture WWE Tag Team Titles on SmackDown
Key Points
The finish saw the MFTs deliver a Brothers Keeper on R-Truth to secure the pin and capture the WWE Tag Team Championships.
The match ran for roughly ten minutes, featuring a back-and-forth three-way dynamic among the MFTs, Damian Priest & R-Truth, and the War Raiders before the title change.
Haku continued to serve as the MFTs’ ringside presence, having returned weeks earlier and previously been involved in post-match activity as part of their push.
During the match, the War Raiders were actively involved, with early sequences showing Ivar hitting a cannonball and the war raiders later contributing to the onslaught before the MFTs secured the win.
The MFTs — Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga — are the new WWE Tag Team Champions. The brothers captured the titles on the August 14 episode of SmackDown, defeating Damian Priest & R-Truth and the War Raiders in a triple-threat match, according to WWE and Wrestling Inc.
The win ended Damian Priest and R-Truth's reign after roughly 147 to 148 days. It gave Tama Tonga his third tag title run and Talla Tonga his very first, per Wrestling Attitude.
Brothers Keeper Finishes R-Truth to Seal the Win
The match ran about ten minutes. All three teams traded offense in a fast back-and-forth format. Early on, Ivar of the War Raiders hit a cannonball to set the tone, according to Wrestling Inc.
The MFTs closed it out by hitting their Brothers Keeper finisher on R-Truth. That pinfall handed them the championships. POST Wrestling noted the finish was decisive, with Tama and Talla walking out as champions.
Haku Joins Ringside Celebration After Title Change
The MFTs did not celebrate alone. Their father, Haku, was at ringside for the match, per Wrestling Inc. He joined the celebration after the win, adding a family moment to the title change.
Haku had returned to SmackDown weeks earlier as part of the MFTs' ongoing push. His presence at ringside has been a steady part of their storyline heading into this title match.
Nakamura Teases New Partner After MFTs' Rise
The title change is rippling through SmackDown's tag division. Shinsuke Nakamura was shown teasing a dangerous new partner in the wake of the MFTs' win, according to Sacnilk.
The MFTs' rise has reshaped the tag landscape on SmackDown. New challengers are expected to emerge. The storyline around the family's dominance looks set to be a major thread heading into the coming weeks.
SmackDown Was Already a Packed Night of Title Changes
The August 14 SmackDown was not short on title news. Jacy Jayne won the Women's U.S. Title on the same show, per POST Wrestling. Chelsea Green also remained Women's Champion despite Nick Aldis asking her to relinquish the title due to a broken orbital bone.
Green refused to give up the belt, arguing no one had beaten her. The MFTs' win added to what was already a major night of championship activity on SmackDown, per POST Wrestling.
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