Jacob Fatu is making up for misplaced time. Final yr, Fatu was one match away from difficult undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes earlier than struggling an undisclosed damage. Now, he is on the surface trying in as Rhodes defends the title in opposition to Randy Orton.
Issues transfer quick in skilled wrestling. Accidents, fan reactions and decision-makers’ whims can upend artistic course and, by nature, expertise trajectory. Fatu was scheduled to wrestle Drew McIntyre in a No. 1 contenders match for the undisputed WWE title again in October. As an alternative, an damage wrote him off tv earlier than the match.
It is too daring to declare that Fatu’s damage value him a world title or WrestleMania 42 foremost occasion. These weren’t the almost definitely situations. However Fatu was arguably SmackDown’s largest breakout star in 2025, and primed to hold that momentum right into a foremost occasion program. By his admission, the 11-week absence value him.
“I most likely missed out on lots of alternatives, however it’s what it’s,” Fatu instructed CBS Sports activities at WWE 2K26’s hands-on occasion in in February. “They are saying on this enterprise, ‘Issues occur, and the present should go on.’ I missed out, however what was I going to do? I could not sit there and dwell. No, none of that.”
Fatu’s fortitude wasn’t foolproof. He admittedly licked his wounds for the primary month on the shelf. However the day off rekindled the identical spirit that drove him from WWE debutant to foremost occasion prospect in two years.
“I felt that manner the primary month, however after that, you should study to maintain shifting and maintain pushing,” he mentioned. “As an alternative of the previous, you should manifest for the longer term. I actually needed to double again and faucet in with myself, mentally and bodily. I needed to bear in mind who ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ Jacob Fatu was on the finish of the day.”
Fatu’s emphatic return in January immediately reinserted him into the title image. For a lot of 2026, he nonetheless seemed to be within the operating for a WrestleMania foremost occasion. A lot of the yr was spent feuding with McIntyre and Rhodes, each of whom held the undisputed WWE title at factors throughout this system. Fatu and McIntyre have since cut up off right into a non-title feud, however “The Samoan Werewolf” could be very a lot on the primary occasion scent.
Fatu has a meaty comfort prize within the absence of an undisputed title match. He’s sinking his enamel right into a WrestleMania program with McIntyre, the latest undisputed champion earlier than Rhodes. It is a main milestone 22 months into his foremost roster run.
“It is the place I am alleged to be. It is the very best match proper now,” Fatu mentioned. “I am not with common folks. These are usually not common folks. These are names which have accomplished large issues in WWE. Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. It isn’t overwhelming, however there is a fan facet of me typically, a bit bit, that appears like, ‘Rattling, I am actually right here. Tapping in with them.’ It will be a great outlet.”
Fatu realized the exhausting manner that WWE would not wait round for many. After a meteoric rise from debutant to foremost occasion contender, he is studying to maneuver with it. The alternatives he missed could also be gone, however the model of himself chasing the following one appears extra sure than ever.