Jacob Fatu Written Off WWE TV After Backstage Attack on SmackDown – The October 17 episode of WWE SmackDown from the SAP Center in San Jose featured a shocking moment that removed Jacob Fatu from television — and it appears his absence could last for the rest of the year.
The show opened with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis announcing that Drew McIntyre would face Jacob Fatu in a #1 Contender’s Match for Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes later addressed his Crown Jewel loss before turning his focus to the upcoming main event, drawing cheers from the San Jose crowd as he mentioned their hometown star, Fatu.
Backstage, Fatu crossed paths with Rhodes, promising to show him “the real meaning of ghost ride the whip” once he defeated McIntyre. Rhodes responded with confidence, saying, “I hope you’re right.”
However, before the highly anticipated match could begin, tragedy struck. Cameras cut to a scene backstage showing Fatu pinned beneath a pile of production equipment, blood visible from his mouth as officials rushed to his aid. The broadcast quickly went to commercial, and when it returned, Fatu had been removed from the scene while McIntyre proceeded to the ring to compete.
The angle effectively wrote Fatu off television, with reports confirming that he is sidelined due to a non-wrestling-related injury.Although details regarding the nature of the injury remain undisclosed, it’s believed that Fatu will be out of action for the remainder of 2025.
The development is a major setback for the “Samoan Werewolf,” whose momentum had been building steadily since joining the main roster earlier this year. His hard-hitting style and connection with fans, especially in his home state of California, made him one of SmackDown’s breakout stars.
Jacob Fatu Written Off WWE TV After Backstage Attack on SmackDown
