WWE SmackDown wrestler fined for posting rehearsal video

WWE will post behind-the-scenes footage and call it Unreal, but if talent posts their own video, they’ll apparently get in hot water. 

According to Andrew Zarian of Fightful.com, Tama Tonga of the Bloodline has been fined for posting footage from the March 13 episode of SmackDown just before fans entered the building. 

“Word going around at SmackDown is that Tama Tonga was fined by WWE for posting a video of rehearsals last week,” Zarian writes. “Was told it was significant of a fine.

“WWE has an unwritten rule about not recording/posting during rehearsal,” Zarian added.

Tonga has taken the video down, but one fan captured it and re-posted it. When it comes to exposing the business, it’s not exactly Bob Roop’s Plan B from 1979. On Friday, he seemed to respond to the report on social media:

Tonga’s video shows the view from the SmackDown stage at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The graphic on screen reads “DOORS IN: :00.” Tonga then turns to shoot the aisle, where Solo Sikoa is shown sitting nearby as a dozen or so figures mill about the ring, one of whom appears to be Cody Rhodes. 

Tonga then approaches a production assistant, calls him “T,” and asks what time doors open. “Now,” T replies, indicating fans are about to enter the building. Tonga can be heard laughing just before the video ends. 

Tonga did not wrestle on that show, but he was in the corner of Sikoa & Talla Tonga as they lost a non-title tag team match to Erick Rowan & Uncle Howdy.