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'I Remember Looking Out A Jail Cell Window' Jacob Fatu Found Wrestling While Incarcerated
via IMAGN Image Services

When Jacob Fatu made his WWE debut in June 2024 as part of Solo Sikoa's new Bloodline, hardcore wrestling fans roared, having known the wrestler from his time in Major League Wrestling. However, casual fans weren't familiar with this Anoa'i family member and son of former WWE star The Tonga Kid. They'd quickly find out though, and now, despite still officially being a heel, Fatu has become a fan favorite on SmackDown, where he holds the United States Championship. Despite his success, Jacob Fatu's life hasn't been easy. When he was a teenager, he actually spent time in jail, but then he turned on a TV and saw a WWE match involving his cousins, the Usos.

Jacob Fatu Discovered Wrestling In Jail

Jacob Fatu may have had wrestling in his blood, but it's not the direction his life first took. In his younger years, Fatu found himself in trouble, which landed him in a California jail when still a teen. In 2022, two years before he signed with WWE, Jacob conducted an interview on MLW's YouTube channel, where he spoke about the match that changed his life.

"I didn't want to wrestle at all until the day I caught my case for the 211 when I was 18. I was locked down, went to jail for some crazy reason. Every dorm has a TV. It's just so happened to be flipping through the channels right? Who comes on my brothers, The Usos, man Jimmy and Jey coming on and I will never forget it. They came out with Tamina [Snuka] and they was wrestling against Tyson Kidd, another former MLW Superstar Davey Boy Smith, and Natalya. Man, when I was 18, locked down in Sacramento County Jail. I was flipping through the channels and I seen my brothers and them. I think that's kind of like where I made my mind up." (h/t Fightful)

Jacob Fatu Is On The Verge Of Being A WWE Main Eventer

Jacob Fatu followed his new dream, becoming a wrestler two years later. From 2019-2024, he was signed with Major League Wrestling, where he became their World Heavyweight Champion. In less than a year, he evolved into the standout star of the new version of the Bloodline. At WrestleMania 41, he achieved his biggest success yet, becoming the United States Champion. Shortly after, Jacob Fatu talked about the surreal turn his life had taken with the Club 520 Podcast, saying:

“I remember looking out a jail cell window, man, to looking out of an airplane." (h/t PW Mania)

This article first appeared on The Sportster and was syndicated with permission.

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