Jacob Fatu Reflects on His Troubled Past, WWE Journey, Showdown with Solo Sikoa – Jacob Fatu, one of WWE’s most explosive new stars, opened up about his path to the company during an emotional and revealing appearance on the Cheap Heat podcast during SummerSlam weekend. Fatu shared how professional wrestling helped turn his life around after a troubled past, offering rare insight into his personal transformation, family support, and the meaning behind his upcoming United States Championship Steel Cage match against cousin Solo Sikoa.
“It Saved My Life”
Fatu, a member of the famous Anoa’i wrestling family, spoke candidly about the mistakes of his youth.
“My background, you know, when I was 18, I got, what, 211 robbery. And I’m from California,” Fatu said, referring to a robbery charge. He noted that he was incarcerated several times and vividly remembered the pain of being locked up. “Being locked up in jail that first time… You don’t get no privacy over there… that was the worst man, seeing my parents come visit me in that thing… man, what the hell.”
He credited wrestling for giving him a second chance. “That’s why, when y’all see me here, I’m so thankful I’m here, because I know what it could have been. Man, my kids could have grew up with no dad.”
The WWE Opportunity
Fatu previously dominated the independent scene and Major League Wrestling, but revealed he never pushed for a WWE job through family connections. He shared that WWE’s William Regal would contact him over the years, but it was Paul Heyman—who has long-standing ties with the Anoa’i family—who officially reached out.
“It was from Paul Heyman,” Fatu said. “Mr. Heyman had always been, I mean, always been tapped in… it wasn’t like Paul Heyman just been around Roman… like Paul Heyman’s really been around the family.”
Inspired by The Bloodline
Despite not being part of the early stages of The Bloodline saga, Fatu revealed that watching his cousins rise to prominence on WWE television gave him added motivation.
“It was more motivating for me watching them, because I’m a fan of my brothers… I’m such a fan of their work. I felt what they was doing as a fan,” he said. “Because what they were doing up here, okay, the independents, we can’t get them. Okay, we’re gonna get the closest thing, Jacob Fatu.”
Solo Sikoa Feud Is Personal
Fatu addressed the real-life dynamic between him and his current rival, Solo Sikoa. The two will battle inside a Steel Cage at SummerSlam, and Fatu acknowledged that some of Sikoa’s on-screen comments were based in truth.
“I know we’re going through this right now, me and Solo… But Solo’s done a lot, like in those promos, he is right, like he has helped me out,” Fatu admitted. “There has been times where before I got to WWE, you know, I didn’t care about nothing but myself.”
Ultimately, Fatu sees their conflict as a family affair. “At the end of the day, it’s family, you know, if you don’t fight with your family, man, you ain’t family.”
A Grateful Heart
Throughout the interview, Fatu emphasized the importance of the people who stood by him—especially his wife.
“If you don’t got nobody outside when you go to jail, you’re not getting commissary, you’re not getting money on your books… that’s why I knew my wife was the one,” he said. “It feel good to come up with somebody who was there in the gutter with me grinding. So when they say, ‘congratulations, Jacob Fatu, you deserve it,’ nah, bro, that woman… my wife, and God, done put a whole lot of hard work into this.”
Jacob Fatu challenges Solo Sikoa for the WWE United States Championship in a Steel Cage Match this Sunday, August 3, at SummerSlam.
Jacob Fatu Reflects on His Troubled Past, WWE Journey, Showdown with Solo Sikoa
