Jacob Fatu is one of the most popular performers in WWE today and a proud member of the anoaŹ»i family, who have created some of the most iconic pro wrestlers in the industry.
This bloodline was produced by top pro wrestling talents such as The Wild Samoans, Yokozuna, The Rock, Jimmy and Jey Uso, their father, Rikishi, and many more. So to say that thereās a lot of pressure living up to the family name would be an understatement.
Jacobās Road to WWE Has Been Long and Testing
For Jacob Fatu, his life before WWE took a very different path than that of much of his family. Raised in Sacramento, California, getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, at 18-years-old, he made some life choices that led him to serve a prison sentence, convicted for armed robbery.
Yet, when Jacob saw his cousins, The Usos, on TV performing in WWE while in jail, something switched, and his life began to change for the better when he served his sentence in 2010.
Being Shot at Before a Life in WWE
Jacob explains that there was a time when he thought heād never make it where he is now, 33-years-old with his career in WWE just beginning. āThere was a time when I got shot at, and I never thought I was going to make it,ā Jacob recalls.
āAt that precise moment in my life, I wasn’t doing anything wrong; I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. There have been close calls in my life. Iām very fortunate to be where I am now. But you know, it ain’t how you start, itās how you finish, and Iām happy to be here now.
āRight here, right now, itās very cool to be here looking at this Xbox playing WWE 2K26. Iām very happy to be part of all this,ā he rejoices during our conversation at the WWE Headquarters. āThis whole journey to where Iām at has been nothing but great, man. Thereās always a plan in motion, I believe that.ā
Jacobās Rise Is More Than Just a Bloodline
Some might assume that his bloodline guarantees Jacob a head start in his career; they would be greatly mistaken. His career began in the world of professional wrestling in 2012, performing on the indies as well as well-known and major promotions such as Major League Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The long journey to WWE would last 12 years, making his official debut on 21 June 2024 on SmackDown, destroying top Superstars, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. Jacob was introduced with a huge impact, joining Solo Sikoaās (his cousin) Bloodline as a heel.
Traditionally, a heel is supposed to be booed by the crowd, being the bad guy and all. While that may have initially been the case, it wasn’t long before those boos turned into cheers, with fans unable to resist Jacobās natural charisma and brutal, yet athletic, high-octane skills inside the squad circle.
Jacobās natural gift, charisma and talent in the ring would carry him to be a WWE Tag Team Champion and United States Champion. Perhaps if it weren’t for some injuries, he might have had more and longer reins. I can only speculate. But I feel this is merely the beginning of what could be a historic career in WWE.
A Message to Youths, Struggling to Find a Way Out
Itās fair to say that Jacob Fatu knows a thing or two about getting out of a bad situation as a teenager and, with a lot of hard work, making a real go of life. It feels like gun and knife crime is evermore prominent in the UK and US, as well as many other countries across the world.
āWhat I will say to these kids is that itās gonna be ok. You gotta put God first. Thereāre gonna be more days that you feel like giving up, but itās those days when you don’t feel like hustling that you gotta get up and get to it. It could be anything that helps put you on the right path. It could be working out or something like staying off your phone,ā Jacob explains.
āNowadays, everything’s online, and everything’s so easily accessible, for better or worse. The internet makes you think that everything you need to see in life is on that small screen, but itās not. Youāve gotta get out and keep pushing on.
āThe reason why I tell everyone that everything is gonna be ok, is that when someone asks me what I would tell my younger self, Iād say, itās gonna be ok. All those days wasted, stressing and trying to figure life out, it wasn’t all for nothing. Keep pushing and keep grinding. Learn how to forgive people and let people forgive you. Hold no grudges and keep moving on with your life.ā
Finding Joy in Life, in and out of the WWE Ring
āSeeing my kids smile at Christmas and being able to help loved ones who have helped me out in my life. To see the life that my wife and kids have makes me feel blessed. Donāt get it twisted, I donāt have a big mansion, and Iām only on my first WWE contract.
āI haven’t been with the company for long, but WWE took a chance on me, and the fans took me in. I was able to debut against Randy Orton, Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes. These guys are on top, and it doesn’t get any better than that. Iām very blessed, very happy, and it’s all because of God that this is possible.ā
As I said earlier, Jacobās career in WWE has only just begun, and for the man whose motto is āAll gas, no brakesā, by the time the fuel tank is empty many years from now, itās time to call his pro wrestling career, the Samoan Werewolf, would make for one epic WWE 2K Showcase star.
WWE 2K26 is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 for those who own the āKing of Kingsā, āAttitude Eraā or āMonday Night Warsā editions. Then the standard edition with CM Punk on the cover launches this coming Friday.
