Jacob Fatu has taken WWE by storm since his 2024 debut. (Credit: Eric Johnson/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
Jacob Fatu is a singles champion for the first time in WWE, thanks to a decisive win over LA Knight at WrestleMania 41.
One of WWE’s fastest rising stars over the past year, “The Samoan Werewolf” accomplished what seemed inevitable inside Allegiant Stadium when he captured the United States Championship over the uber-popular Knight. Fatu blasted Knight with a trio of top rope moonsaults to continue his incredible ascension less than a year after his WWE debut.
Yes, it was only in June 2024 that Fatu made his first official WWE appearance, and it didn’t take long for fans to realize that he’s a star in the making. Roughly 10 months later, Fatu won his first singles championship and second title overall in what was essentially a prophecy fulfilled.
Even before Fatu debuted in WWE last year, there was reportedly concern within the company that Fatu would quickly outshine Solo Sikoa, who had taken over as the leader of The Bloodline. Well, whoever was looking into that crystal ball definitely got it right.
Fatu has quickly surpassed Sikoa, seemingly the heir apparent to Roman Reigns, in virtually every aspect, from in-ring work to promos to character development. Thus, it came as no surprise to many that Fatu quickly began generating babyface reactions from fans for his incredible displays of athleticism and strength, most notably during a stellar feud with Braun Strowman.
As Fatu’s popularity soared, there were even rumblings that he would face Sikoa at WrestleMania 41 in a move that could have perhaps solidified a full-fledged babyface turn. That obviously didn’t happen, and instead, Sikoa was left off the WrestleMania 41 card together while Fatu transitioned to a feud with the wildly popular Knight and the two stars delivered a highlight-filled slug fest on Saturday.
And even Knight, one of WWE’s most beloved fan favorites, couldn’t prevent fans from jumping on the Fatu bandwagon.
In the weeks leading up to WWE WrestleMania 41, Fatu’s crowd reactions only grew louder, and his win over Strowman in an instant classic No. 1 contender’s Last Man Standing Match gave fans even more reason to support him in Las Vegas, where there dueling chants for both stars. What Fatu has done is, well, easier said than done: getting over organically, much like new World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso.
Yet, that’s precisely what Fatu has been able to do in less than a year, and his WrestleMania 41 victory over Knight was ultimately just the cherry on top.
WWE has the best of both worlds with Fatu. He’s a fantastic and believable heel who’s so good at what he does that WWE can either instantly turn him babyface or continue to push him as an unstoppable villain. Consider what WWE was able to do with Reigns during his WWE Championship reign or Gunther during his historic Intercontinental title run, and there’s reason to think that Fatu could easily follow suit.
Fatu is poised to dominate the upper midcard for the foreseeable future, pass the torch when the time comes and then make the jump to the main event once and for all.
And he can do it as a heel, a babyface or something in between.
