Jacob Fatu has revealed the unexpected inspiration behind his “Samoan Werewolf” nickname — and it all traces back to Twilight. During his interview with Stephanie McMahon on What’s Your Story?, Fatu explained that the popular movie series played a direct role in shaping the moniker he’s used throughout his wrestling career.
“It started from the movie Twilight,” Fatu said.
When Fatu first entered wrestling, his trainers — Gangrel and his uncle Rikishi — joked that his in‑ring movement resembled a werewolf. With Gangrel already portraying a vampire, the dynamic fit perfectly, especially with Twilight fresh in pop culture.
“And then when I first came in… Gangrel, David Heath, had a lot to do with my training,” Fatu said. “We were on the same team. He was a vampire. Twilight, vampires need a werewolf.”
Fatu also joked about the comparison to Taylor Lautner’s character in the films, saying Lautner’s physique was far superior to his own.
“But I told my wife… his body looked way more better than my body. All right. So shout out to Jacob on Twilight.”
The nickname stuck, and the “Samoan Werewolf” became one of the most recognizable identities in modern wrestling — born from family influence, Gangrel’s gimmick, and a pop‑culture phenomenon.
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