Several fans recently discovered that Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Tonga Loa were once part of the same faction in TNA Wrestling called The Rising.
In 2015, The Rising featured Drew McIntyre then known as Drew Galloway, LA Knight then called Eli Drake, and Tonga Loa then known as Micah. They formed the faction in April 2015 but split up just three months later in July.
The Rising gained attention again following the recent segment between McIntyre and Knight’s segment with Tonga Loa’s new Bloodline members, Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, on WWE SmackDown.
During SmackDown, Jacob Fatu, the new United States Champion, faced off with Drew McIntyre and LA Knight. General manager Nick Aldis sets up a number one contender’s match between McIntyre and Knight, but Damian Priest interfered and attacked McIntyre, causing a disqualification.
Afterward, Knight argued with Priest, but Jacob Fatu took both men down. With Priest now involved, it looks like Jacob Fatu might have to defend his title against Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Damian Priest. Could this set up a fatal four-way match? Only time will tell.
Drew McIntyre reflects on his time with LA Knight & Tonga Loa in The Rising
Drew McIntyre spoke about his time in The Rising during a September 2024 interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. “I was back and forth to the U.K. literally every three weeks and for most TNA tapings, I’d be in like Scotland, England, the industry 2014 to ’17 was just so hot. It led to the creation obviously of AEW … I had fun with those guys, I kind of didn’t understand why I needed a group, but at the same time, I was friends with Camacho — not sure what he wrestles as these days, something Loa? Tonga Loa? I’d never really been around LA at the time and at first I wasn’t too sure of him … I don’t know his personality — sometimes he can rub you the wrong way at first. We were supposed to be on the same team, it was a lot at times.” [H/T: Wrestling Inc]
Read More: LA Knight Didn’t Know He Had Heat With Drew McIntyre After WWE Royal Rumble
