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Jacob Fatu

American professional wrestler (born 1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jacob Fatu
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Jacob Fatu (born April 18, 1990) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand.

Quick facts Birth name, Born ...

Fatu is part of the Anoaʻi family of professional wrestlers. He is the son of Sam Fatu, best known as Tama and Tonga Kid. Fatu was trained by his uncle Rikishi, and made his professional wrestling debut in 2012, performing in various independent promotions until 2019. He then signed with MLW, where he competed for the next five years prior to joining WWE, winning the World and National titles of the promotion. His reign as MLW World Champion is the longest of the promotion with 819 days. In 2024, Fatu signed with WWE and debuted as part of The Bloodline stable. During the following year, he won the WWE Tag Team Championship and the WWE United States Championship at WrestleMania 41.

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Professional wrestling career

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Early career (2012–2019)

Jacob Fatu was trained by his uncle, Solofa Jr., and debuted in 2012 in a winning effort teaming with his relative, Black Pearl.[2] He spent most of 2013 through 2015 competing in California for independent promotions, often teaming with fellow Anoaʻi family members. In 2018, he made his first trip to Mexico for The Crash in a trios match, losing to Octagón and Blue Demon Jr.[2]

Major League Wrestling (2019–2024)

See also: Contra Unit and Samoan SWAT Team

On January 17, 2019, Fatu signed with Major League Wrestling (MLW), joining his relatives Samu and Lance Anoaʻi in the company.[3] On February 2, Fatu debuted for MLW at their SuperFight event in a non-televised match.[4] Fatu and frequent tag team partner Josef Samael made their televised debut at Intimidation Games on March 2, attacking MLW World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor following his steel cage match against Low Ki, forming the heel stable Contra Unit with Simon Gotch.[5]

At Kings of Colosseum on July 6, Fatu defeated Lawlor to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[6] He retained the title in a rematch against Lawlor on the August 31 episode of Fusion.[7] On November 2, Fatu headlined MLW's inaugural pay-per-view, Saturday Night SuperFight, defeating LA Park to retain the title.[8] Throughout his reign, Fatu successfully defended the title against Brian Pillman Jr., Davey Boy Smith Jr., ACH, Calvin Tankman and Matt Cross.[9][10][11][12][13] Fatu was eventually challenged for the title by Alex Hammerstone, who put his MLW National Openweight Championship on the line in a winner takes all match.[14] At Fightland on October 7, 2021, Fatu lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Hammerstone, ending his reign at 819 days.[15] On November 17, at War Chamber, Contra Unit lost to Hammerstone's team in a War Chamber match.[16]

Fatu subsequently turned face after starting a feud with fellow Contra Unit members Mads Krule Krügger and Ikuro Kwon and repackaging himself through a series of vignettes.[17][18][19] Throughout early 2022, Fatu and Krügger traded victories against each other on Fusion.[20][21] At Intimidation Games on April 28, Fatu failed to regain the World Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat match also involving Krügger.[22] Their feud culminated in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match at Kings of Colosseum on July 14, which Fatu won.[23] At Battle Riot IV on November 3, Fatu won the 40-man Battle Riot match, earning the Golden Ticket which required him to cash-in for a World Heavyweight Championship match anytime and anywhere.[24] He received his title match against Hammerstone on the March 21, 2023 episode of Fusion, but lost.[25]

At War Chamber on April 6, Fatu defeated John Hennigan to win the National Openweight Championship.[26] He lost the title to Rickey Shane Page at Fury Road on September 3.[27] On February 1, 2024, Rikishi announced that Fatu was now a free agent, ending his five-year tenure with the company.[28] He made his final appearance for MLW on February 17, where he was defeated by Krügger in a Baleki Brawl match.[29]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2024)

On January 13, 2024, Fatu made his debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) at Battle in the Valley, teaming with Shota Umino and Fred Rosser to defeat Team Filthy (Lawlor and West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs).[30]

WWE (2024–present)

The Bloodline (2024–2025)

See also: The Bloodline (professional wrestling)

Prior to signing with the WWE, Fatu was planned to appear on Raw is XXX in January 2023 for Roman Reigns' Acknowledgement Ceremony segment, but legal problems with MLW and WWE prevented his appearance.[31]

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Fatu (far right) as the enforcer of Solo Sikoa's Bloodline in June 2024

On April 7, 2024, it was reported that Fatu had signed with WWE.[32] Fatu made his debut on the June 21 episode of SmackDown, attacking Randy Orton, Kevin Owens and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, establishing himself as a heel and joining The Bloodline, led by his real life cousin Solo Sikoa.[33] At Money in the Bank on July 6, Fatu made his in-ring debut in a six-man tag team match alongside Sikoa and Tama Tonga, defeating Rhodes, Orton and Owens.[34] On the August 2 episode of SmackDown, Fatu and Tonga defeated DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship, his first championship win in WWE.[35] Later that month, Fatu relinquished one half of the titles to Tonga Loa so that he could be Sikoa's personal enforcer.[36] At Bad Blood on October 5, Fatu and Sikoa lost to Reigns and Rhodes after interference from a returning Jimmy Uso, marking his first loss in WWE.[37] At Crown Jewel on November 2, Fatu, Tonga and Sikoa defeated the original incarnation of The Bloodline (Reigns and The Usos) in a six-man tag team match.[38] At Survivor Series: WarGames on November 30, Fatu, along with The Bloodline and Bronson Reed, lost to Reigns, The Usos, Sami Zayn and CM Punk in a WarGames match.[39]

In January 2025, after Sikoa lost the Ula Fala and Tribal Chief title to Reigns, Fatu began a feud with Braun Strowman. At Saturday Night's Main Event on January 25, Fatu lost to Strowman via disqualification after shoving a referee.[40][41][42] On February 1, at Royal Rumble, Fatu made his Royal Rumble match debut at number 12, eliminating four wrestlers before being eliminated by Strowman.[43] Their feud eventually culminated in a Last Man Standing match on the April 4 episode of SmackDown, which Fatu won.[44][45][46][47][48] On Night 1 of WrestleMania 41 on April 19, Fatu defeated LA Knight to win the WWE United States Championship, marking his first singles championship in WWE.[49] At Backlash on May 10, Fatu successfully defended his title against Knight, Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre in a fatal four-way match with assistance from a debuting JC Mateo.[50]

Singles competition (2025–present)

Following weeks of dissension, at Money in the Bank on June 7, Fatu betrayed Sikoa after attacking him in the namesake ladder match, leaving The Bloodline and turning face.[51][52][53] At Night of Champions on June 28, Fatu lost the title to Sikoa after interference from Mateo, a returning Tonga Loa, and the debuting Talla Tonga, ending his reign at 70 days.[54] On Night 2 of SummerSlam on August 3, Fatu failed to regain the title from Sikoa in a steel cage match.[55]

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Personal life

Fatu's younger brother, Journey, is also a professional wrestler. Fatu was arrested for robbery when he was 18 years old, and credits seeing his cousins Jonathan and Joshua (The Usos) on a jail TV as his inspiration for becoming a wrestler.[56] Fatu has seven children.[57]

Championships and accomplishments

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Fatu is a former and longest-reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion

References

External links

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