There is no such thing as a shortage of wildly talented Samoans in skilled wrestling, especially those that come from the storied Anoa’i Family, however the member of the family who made his debut most recently in WWE is the talk of the corporate, partially, resulting from his immense popularity amongst fans that continues to grow by the week. “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu, the son of the Tongan Kid Sam Fatu, is already in Major League Wrestling’s history books because the promotion’s longest-reigning World Heavyweight Champion, and now, he’s looking to put in writing his own history in WWE.
The 32-year-old Fatu had a rough start in his life and did some jail time in his late teenage years, but his decision to coach as an expert wrestler under the tutelage of his uncle in California seems to have pulled the now-father of seven out of a dark place. His supportive family actually helped, as Fatu is the nephew of Rikishi and cousin to the Usos and Solo Sikoa.
Fatu worked hard to make a reputation for himself on the independent scene, first in California, then across the country, before finally signing with WWE to be amongst the vast majority of his family within the WrestleMania 40 fallout that saw Roman Reigns lose the championship, as well to his right at “Tribal Chief.” Fatu was initially brought in to be by the side of Sikoa as WWE attempted to raise him, but Fatu emerged as a fan-favorite force to be reckoned with.
Fatu’s Early Life Struggles
Fatu was arrested for armed robbery when he was just 18 years old and hung out in jail. Not much is thought about that a part of Fatu’s past, but his time within the Sacramento County Jail is when he actually decided he desired to be an expert wrestler and a part of the “Samoan Dynasty.” In an interview posted to MLW’s YouTube Channel back in February 2022, Fatu discussed the precise moment while watching TV in jail when he knew he desired to turn out to be a part of the family business.
“They simply so occur to be flipping through the channels and who comes on? My brothers, the Usos, man, Jimmy, and Jey,” Fatu explained. They were coming on, and I’ll always remember it, they got here out with Tamina they usually were wrestling against Tyson Kidd, one other MLW star, Davey Boy Smith, and Natalya. Once I was 18, locked down, sitting in Sacramento County Jail they usually were flipping through the channel and I saw my brothers and them, I believe that is sort of why I made my mind up.”
Elsewhere within the interview, Fatu said he used to go to his uncle Rikishi’s house in the summertime and play on the trampoline together with his cousins, which was placed between the wrestling ring and the swimming pool. Fatu said that is how he learned to do his backflips, from going to the ring, to the trampoline, into the pool.
Start in Major League Wrestling
Fatu joined his relatives Samu and Lance Anoa’i in Major League Wrestling in January 2019 and made his debut for the promotion in an untelevised match at SuperFight in February. Fatu didn’t just debut at SuperFight alongside Josef Samael, he also created a stable, which included Simon Gotch, which might go on to be often known as Contra Unit. The group, and Fatu, would make their TV debut at MLW’s Intimidation Games and would run through the promotion’s roster all year long as its top heel stable.
Fatu would win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at Kings of Colosseum from Tom Lawlor in July 2019, solidifying his and Contra’s spot at the highest. Fatu successfully retained his title for the primary time in a rematch against Lawlor on an August episode of “Fusion.” In storyline, it was Contra who took over and shut down MLW in May 2020 in the course of the pandemic before the promotion began hosting shows again in November.
That month, Fatu headlined MLW’s first Saturday Night SuperFight pay-per-view and defeated LA Park to retain the title once more. Throughout his time as champion, he successfully defended the gold against the likes of Brian Pillman Jr. (“WWE NXT’s” Lexis King), Davey Boy Smith, Matt Cross, ACH, and more. Fatu was at the highest until one “winner takes all” challenge modified his course in MLW and certain, his entire profession.
MLW Takeover & Championship Reign
Fatu was challenged by then-MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Hammerstone in a winner-takes-all match. Hammerstone toppled Fatu from his spot at the highest of the promotion at Fightland in October 2021, ending Fatu’s reign at a record-setting 819 days. The next month, Fatu and Contra Unit would lose to Hammerstone’s team in a War Chamber match. Following the loss, Contra as MLW had known it began to dissolve and Fatu began feuding with former stablemates Mads Krule Krugger and Ikuro Kwon. Fatu was finally going his own way and repackaged himself as a babyface through a series of video vignettes.
Fatu and Krugger would face off quite a few times, trading victories at first of 2022, including in a triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship at Intimidation Games on April 28 where Fatu did not get the title back. Fatu won the ultimate bout of their feud in a Weapons of Mass Destruction Match at Kings of Colosseum in July 2022.
He was successful in winning the 40-man Battle Riot match on the event of the identical name in November, earning a Golden Ticket to money in for a top championship match anytime, anywhere. Fatu challenged Hammerstone once more on a March 2023 episode of “Fusion” but did not win the championship. Fatu would taste gold in MLW yet another time when he defeated John Hennigan at War Chamber in April for the National Openweight Championship. He would lose the belt in September to Rickey Shane Page at Fury Road.
“The Samoan Werewolf” was announced as a free agent after five years in MLW by Rikishi in February 2024. Fatu made his final MLW appearance that month and was defeated by Krugger in a Baleki Brawl match.
Blip on Radar of NJPW
Following the announcement of his foray into free agency by his uncle, Fatu made his debut for Latest Japan Pro-Wrestling at its Battle within the Valley event in San Jose, California in January 2024. Fatu teamed with Shota Umino and Fred Rosser to defeat Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson, and Royce Isaacs. Battle within the Valley could be Fatu’s only appearance for NJPW and his only appearance outside of MLW before making it to WWE.
Fatu announced he desired to work outside of america more often, though that was reportedly difficult resulting from his criminal record. He stated during a Signed By Superstars live event on Facebook in February 2024 that there was “nothing weird” about him not wrestling outside of the States. He said on the livestream that the whole lot was “going good” and gave a shoutout to Rocky Romero and everybody he worked with at NJPW, in addition to those that he said welcomed him with open arms, including Eddie Kingston, Matt Riddle, and Will Ospreay.
Following Fatu’s WWE debut, nonetheless, Fightful reported he was kept off television for awhile after signing resulting from issues with him wrestling in other countries. On the time, WWE had three premium live events overseas, including Backlash in France, King & Queen of the Ring in Saudi Arabia, and Clash on the Castle in Scotland. Fatu could be debut the Friday after WWE returned stateside from Glasgow.
WWE Debut to Unite with Bloodline
Reports that Fatu had signed with WWE emerged in April 2024, shortly after Reigns lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes and the Bloodline seemed headed for implosion. He didn’t make his debut until the June 21 episode of “WWE SmackDown,” where he attacked not only Rhodes but Randy Orton and Kevin Owens in a show of brute force that he would soon turn out to be known amongst WWE fans for. Fatu aligned himself with Sikoa’s “Latest Bloodline” because the last member alongside Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
He made his in-ring debut within the primary event of Money within the Bank that July in a six-man tag team match alongside Sikoa and Tonga in a victory over Rhodes, Orton, and Owens. Fatu had a powerful showing within the match, however it was Sikoa who pinned Rhodes for the win while Fatu got a downed referee back within the ring to count the autumn.
His first championship in WWE was the WWE Tag Team Championship he won alongside Tonga when the pair defeated #DIY’s Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa at first of August on a “SmackDown” episode. Fatu hit a moonsault to Gargano after a Samoan Drop and pinned him for the victory. He didn’t hold the title for long, nonetheless, but relinquished it to Loa, keeping it within the Bloodline, to concentrate on becoming Sikoa’s personal enforcer, in storyline. Outside of the angle, there was concern Fatu had been injured while interfering on behalf of Sikoa during his match with Rhodes at SummerSlam.
Samoan Werewolf Headed to WrestleMania
