Jacob Fatu Opens Up About WWE Absence: ‘I Missed Out on a Lot of Opportunities’ Before WrestleMania 42 Clash with Drew McIntyre
“I probably missed out on a lot of opportunities” — Jacob Fatu has broken his silence on the nearly three-month WWE hiatus that derailed his momentum last fall, revealing that a dental procedure forced him off television just as he seemed poised for a promotion into the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.
In an interview with CBS Sports, Fatu opened up about the emotional toll of watching his career stall while he recovered. The 33-year-old “Samoan Werewolf” was abruptly written off WWE programming last October and did not return until January 9, 2026, when he interfered in the Three Stages of Hell Match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes.
The Mental Battle
Fatu admitted that the first month of his absence was the hardest. “I missed out, but what was I going to do? I couldn’t sit there and dwell. No, none of that. I felt that way the first month, but after that, you must learn to keep moving and keep pushing.”
The former MLW World Champion used the unexpected time off to recalibrate. “Instead of the past, you must manifest for the future. I really had to double back and tap in with myself, mentally and physically. I had to remember who ‘The Samoan Werewolf’ Jacob Fatu was at the end of the day.”
That self-reflection appears to have paid off. Since his January return, Fatu has been inserted into one of WrestleMania 42’s most anticipated matches: an Unsanctioned Match against Drew McIntyre.
How Fatu Returned
Fatu’s comeback was characteristically violent. On the January 9 episode of “SmackDown,” during the steel cage Three Stages of Hell Match between McIntyre and Rhodes, Fatu stormed the ring and beat down both men. His brawl with Rhodes allowed McIntyre to escape the cage and reclaim the Undisputed WWE Championship — an assist that set up the current feud.
The animosity escalated on March 6, when Fatu prevented McIntyre from retaining the title in a rematch against Rhodes. That interference cost McIntyre the championship and ignited a personal war between the two powerful big men.
The WrestleMania 42 Match
Fatu is now set to face McIntyre in an Unsanctioned Match at WrestleMania 42 — a stipulation that essentially means anything goes, with WWE taking no legal responsibility for injuries or chaos. For a performer like Fatu, whose “Samoan Werewolf” gimmick relies on raw aggression and high-impact violence, the unsanctioned environment is tailor-made.
The match represents a massive opportunity for Fatu, who joined WWE in early 2024 after a dominant run in Major League Wrestling. Known for his athleticism at nearly 300 pounds, his Samoan heritage (he is part of the legendary Anoa’i family), and his intense in-ring style, Fatu has been compared to a young Umaga crossed with a prime Rikishi.
What He Missed
Fatu did not specify exactly which opportunities slipped away during his three-month absence, but the timing was unfortunate. Last October, he was riding significant momentum after a series of impressive wins and was widely expected to enter the world title scene. Instead, WWE pivoted to other challengers for Rhodes and McIntyre.
The dental procedure that sidelined him — while necessary — could not have come at a worse point in his career trajectory. In professional wrestling, momentum is fragile, and a three-month absence can erase months of hard-earned fan investment.
The Mindset Moving Forward
Fatu’s approach to the missed time is remarkably mature for a wrestler in his position. Rather than complaining about bad luck or pointing fingers at WWE creative, he focused on what he could control: his own preparation.
“Things happen, and the show must go on,” he said, quoting what he described as common wisdom in the wrestling business. That philosophy — accepting setbacks and immediately looking forward — has served many wrestling legends well. Whether it will serve Fatu at WrestleMania 42 remains to be seen.
What to Expect at WrestleMania
The Unsanctioned Match against McIntyre is a massive test for Fatu. McIntyre is a former world champion, a proven main-event performer, and one of WWE’s most physically imposing competitors. A win over McIntyre at WrestleMania would instantly elevate Fatu into the world title conversation — exactly where he seemed headed before his dental procedure derailed him.
A loss, on the other hand, would raise questions about whether Fatu can deliver on the biggest stage. WWE has invested heavily in his presentation, from his entrance to his family connections to his dominant booking. WrestleMania is where that investment either pays off or falls flat.
For Fatu, the message is clear: the past is the past. The missed opportunities are gone. All that matters now is McIntyre, the unsanctioned stipulation, and the chance to remind everyone why they called him “The Samoan Werewolf” in the first place.
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Writer: Sam Michael