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Jacob Fatu

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Jacob Fatu
Fatu as the MLW World Heavyweight Champion in 2019
Birth nameJacob Samuel Fatu[1]
Born (1992-04-18) April 18, 1992 (age 32)[2]
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Children7
Parent(s)Sam Fatu (father)
FamilyAnoaʻi
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Fatu[3]
Jacob Fatu[3]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[4]
Billed weight279 lb (127 kg)[3]
Billed from"The Mist of Samoa"
Trained byRikishi[3]
Black Pearl
Sinn Bodhi
DebutSeptember 22, 2012[5]

Jacob Samuel Fatu (born April 18, 1992) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand as a member of The Bloodline stable. He is also known for his time in Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he was a one-time MLW National Openweight Champion and a one-time MLW World Heavyweight Champion, holding the record for the longest reign in the latter title's history at 819 days.[4]

Fatu is part of the Anoaʻi family of professional wrestlers. He is the son of Sam Fatu and the nephew of both Rikishi and Umaga. Fatu was trained by his uncle Rikishi and wrestled for various promotions on the independent circuit between 2012 and 2019 before signing with MLW. He left MLW in early 2024 and signed with WWE that April, making his official debut in June as part of The Bloodline, a faction of wrestlers from the Anoaʻi family.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (2012–2019)

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Jacob Fatu was trained by his uncle, Solofa Jr., and debuted in 2012 in a winning effort teaming with his relative, Black Pearl.[3] 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.[6]

Major League Wrestling (2019–2024)

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See also: Contra Unit and Samoan SWAT Team

In 2019, Fatu signed with Major League Wrestling, joining his relatives Samu and Samu's son, Lance Anoaʻi in the company.[7] Fatu debuted for MLW at their February event SuperFight, alongside his frequent tag team partner Josef Samael in a non-televised match. The duo of Fatu and Samael would then make their televised debut for MLW at the Intimidation Games event on March 2 by attacking the World Heavyweight Champion Tom Lawlor following his cage match against Low Ki, thus forming the heel stable Contra Unit with Simon Gotch.[8] The following week, Contra Unit attacked Ace Romero during his match with Gotch.[9] After months of feuding, Fatu defeated Lawlor at Kings of Colosseum on July 6 to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.[10] He would then retain the title against Lawlor in a rematch.[11] He then headlined MLW's first-ever pay-per-view event Saturday Night SuperFight, where Fatu successfully defended the title against LA Park.

Fatu would eventually be challenged by Alex Hammerstone for the championship, with Hammerstone also putting the MLW National Openweight Championship on the line in a winner takes all match. He lost the match to Hammerstone, thus ending Fatu’s historic 819 day reign as champion. Fatu continued his feud with Hammerstone, culminating in War Chamber, where Contra Unit lost the match, both ending the feud with Hammerstone, and starting a new one with fellow Contra Unit members Madds Krügger and Ikuro Kwon. The feud stretched on, with Fatu repackaging himself with multiple vignettes which cemented his face turn due to fan reaction, thus abandoning the Contra Unit character. Known as the Samoan Werewolf, Fatu traded victories with Krugger in several matches, including earning a victory against Krügger in a no disqualification match and the latter winning in a weapons match, culminating in a final showdown between the two men at Kings of Colosseum in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match. Fatu also simultaneously feuded with Bestia 666.

On April 6, 2023, at MLW's War Chamber, Fatu defeated John Hennigan for the MLW National Openweight Championship.[12]

On February 1, 2024, Rikishi announced that Fatu was now a free agent, ending his five-year tenure with the company with reports linking him to WWE, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). On February 3, 2024, Fatu defeated Yuji Nagata. After the match, Fatu would be attacked by Mads Krule Krügger. On February 17, 2024, Fatu was defeated by Krügger in a Baleki Brawl match. This marked Fatu's final appearance for the company.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2024)

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On January 13, 2024, at Battle in the Valley, Fatu made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut, teaming with Shota Umino and Fred Rosser in a winning effort against Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor and West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs).[13][14]

WWE (2024–present)

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See also: The Bloodline

Prior to signing with the WWE, Fatu was planned to appear on Raw is XXX for Roman Reigns' Acknowledgement Ceremony segment, but legal problems with MLW and WWE prevented his appearance.[15]

On April 7, 2024, PWInsider, Fightful Select[16] and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Fatu had signed with WWE.[17] Fatu made his debut on the June 21 episode of WWE SmackDown, attacking Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes, thus establishing himself as a heel and becoming the newest member of The Bloodline led by his real life cousin Solo Sikoa.[18] At Money in the Bank, Fatu made his in-ring debut in a six-man tag team match alongside Sikoa and Tama Tonga defeating Rhodes, Orton and Owens.[19] In the main event of the August 2 episode of SmackDown, the night before SummerSlam, Fatu and Tama Tonga defeated DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship,[20]but three weeks later he relinquished one half of the Tag Team Titles to Tonga Loa so that Fatu could be Sikoa's personal enforcer. 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.[21] At Crown Jewel on November 2, Fatu, Tonga and Sikoa defeated Reigns and The Usos in a Six-Man Tag Team match with Sikoa pinning Reigns.[22]

Personal life

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Fatu was arrested for robbery at eighteen years old. He credits seeing his cousins Jonathan and Joshua (The Usos) on a jail TV as his inspiration for becoming a wrestler.[23]

Fatu is of Samoan descent and is a member of the Anoaʻi family wrestling dynasty, being the son of professional wrestler Sam Fatu, who is best known as The Tonga Kid, and brother of Journey Fatu.[24] Fatu has seven children.[25]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Bryan, Mike. "MLW Fusion Alpha Has Arrived". Pro Wrestling Post. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Jacob Fatu". profightdb.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Jacob Fatu". Cagematch. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Jacob Fatu". MLW. January 20, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  5. ^ "Jacob Fatu - Matches". Cagematch. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Jacob Fatu". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "Jacob Fatu Signs With Major League Wrestling". prowrestling.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "MLW TV taping spoilers: Intimidation Games". f4wonline.com. March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Powell's MLW Fusion TV Review: Simon Gotch vs. Ace Romero, DJZ vs. Ace Austin in a Battle Riot qualifying match, Alex Hammerstone vs. Isaias Velasquez - Pro Wrestling Dot Net". Prowrestling.net. March 10, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Jacob Fatu Wins MLW World Heavyweight Championship". Heel By Nature - Daily Pro Wrestling News. July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "MLW Fusion #73 « Events Database". Cagematch. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  12. ^ a b CAREY, IAN (April 7, 2023). "MLW War Chamber spoilers: New champions crowned". Www.f4wonline.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 13, 2024). "NJPW Battle In The Valley 2024 Kickoff". Cagematch. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  14. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 13, 2024). "NJPW Battle In The Valley 2024". Cagematch. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  15. ^ https://www.sescoops.com/news/wwe/wwe-mlw-cease-and-desist-raw-30/
  16. ^ Tessier, Colin (April 22, 2024). "Report: Jacob Fatu Expected To Debut On WWE TV Within The Next Week". WrestleZone. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Carey, Ian (April 7, 2024). "Report: Jacob Fatu has told people he's signed with WWE". Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  18. ^ Mrosko, Geno (June 21, 2024). "Jacob Fatu debuts in WWE, joins The Bloodline". Cageside Seats. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  19. ^ Mueller, Doc-Chris. "WWE Money in the Bank 2024 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "The Bloodline Wins WWE Tag Team Titles On 8/2 WWE SmackDown | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  21. ^ Powell, Jason (October 5, 2024). "WWE Bad Blood results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Powell, Jason (November 2, 2024). "WWE Crown Jewel results: Powell's review of Gunther vs. Cody Rhodes for the Crown Jewel Championship, Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan for the Women's Crown Jewel Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Jacob Fatu Says Seeing The Usos On WWE TV While He Was In Jail Made Him Want To Be A Wrestler | Fightful News". www.fightful.com.
  24. ^ Phillips, Jim (March 10, 2023). "Sam Fatu | The Tonga Kid – Wrestling in His Bloodline". prowrestlingstories.com.
  25. ^ "Jacob Fatu: Talks WWE Bloodline Storyline, Wrestling His First Intergender Match & More! (Interview)". YouTube. November 17, 2023.
  26. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 23, 2017). "APW Universal Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  27. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 10, 2017). "APW Worldwide Internet Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  28. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 11, 2019). "APW Tag Team Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  29. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 29, 2019). "DEFY Tag Team 8XGP Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  30. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 29, 2022). "HOG World Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  31. ^ "LIT Knuck If Ya Buck Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 6, 2019). "MLW Fusion #65 - Kings Of Colosseum - TV-Show @ Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois, USA". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  33. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 6, 2019). "MLW World Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  34. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 2, 2021). "MLW Fightland 2021 - TV-Show @ 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  35. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 22, 2022). "PCW ULTRA Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  36. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 20, 2017). "PCW Ultra Tag Team Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  37. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2020 - the Internet Wrestling Database".
  38. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 23, 2017). "SPW Tag Team Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  39. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 11, 2022). "WCPW Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
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