Eddie Fatu

Infobox Wrestler
name=Eddie Fatu
names=Ekmo Fatu
O.G. Ekmo
Ekmo
Jamal
Umaga


img_capt=Fatu As Umaga
height=height|ft=6|in=4cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/umaga/bio/|title=Umaga Bio|accessdate=2007-07-10|publisher=WWE]
weight=convert|350|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=birth date and age|1973|3|28
death_date=
birth_place=Samoa
death_place=
resides=Houston, Texas
billed=The Isle of Samoa
trainer=Afa Anoa'i
debut=1995
retired=|

Edward 'Eddie' Fatu (born March 28 1973) is a Samoan professional wrestler better known by his ring names Jamal, Ekmo, and currently Umaga. He is presently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and performs on their SmackDown brand, though he is currently inactive due to a torn PCL received by Jeff Hardy.

He is a member of the Anoa'i wrestling family, and before his current WWE role, he frequently worked as a part of a tag team — variously named The Island Boyz, the Samoan Gangstas, and 3-Minute Warning — with his cousin Matt Anoa'i.

Biography

Fatu was born in American Samoa, a member of the famous Anoa'i wrestling family. His mother, Vera, is the sister of Afa and Sika of the Wild Samoans, and his later Umaga gimmick would be compared to their "wildness".cite web|url= http://www.wildsamoan.com/Jamal.htm?30,90|title=Umaga biography|accessdate=2007-08-29|publisher=Samoan Dynasty] His two older brothers, Sam (better known as Tonga Kid and Tama) and Solofa Jr. (Rikishi, the Sultan), are also professional wrestlers who have achieved success of their own.

Team with Matt Anoa'i

Fatu trained to become a professional wrestler at the "Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center" operated by his uncles, Afa and Sika. In 1995, with his training complete, he started wrestling for Afa's World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW). The next year, both Fatu and his cousin Matt were brought into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to take part in an angle with Solafa Fatu, Jr., Eddie's brother and Matt's cousin, that ended up being quickly dropped. Instead they were sent to the WWF's "farm territory" Heartland Wrestling Association, where they formed a tag team which stayed together through various promotions — including Memphis Championship Wrestling and Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, holding championships in both — under the names Samoan Gangstas and Island Boyz. In 2002 the team was brought back to the (now renamed) World Wrestling Entertainment as 3-Minute Warning, a pair of enforcers for Raw brand General Manager Eric Bischoff. [cite web| title= RAW results - July 22, 2002|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020722.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] The team lasted just shy of a year, with Jamal being released from his WWE contract in June 2003, reportedly after his involvement in a bar fight.cite web|title=Umaga Bio|url= http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/umaga.html|publisher=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2007-07-30] [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/rosey.html|title=Rosey bio|accessdate=2007-08-18|quote=And then, in June, Jamal was released by WWE stemming from an incident at a night club, leaving Rosey on his own.|publisher=SLAM! Sports]

olo career

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003)

After his release from WWE, Fatu reverted to the name Ekmo — used when he was a member of the Island Boyz team — and began working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He worked for TNA between June and November 2003, during which time he was put into a tag team with Sonny Siaki. The team feuded with America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm). Both the tag team and Fatu's time in TNA came to an end when he decided to take bookings in Japan. [cite web|url= http://www.tnawrestling.com/columns/interviews/full2.php?interview=80|title=Exclusive Interview with Sonny Siaki|accessdate= 2007-08-29|publisher=TNAWrestling.com|date=2003-12-08]

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2003-2004)

Fatu left TNA for All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he used the name Jamal, the same name he'd used as a member of 3-Minute Warning. He was again used as a part of tag teams, first forming a short lived team with Justin Credible before forming a more permanent team with Taiyō Kea. With Kea he held the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship and won the World's Strongest Tag Team League tournament in 2004. The team also wrestled a stint in Hawai'i Championship Wrestling, holding the HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship once.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005-Current)

2005-2006

In December 2005, Fatu re-signed with World Wrestling Entertainment. [cite web|first=Rick|last=Scaia|title=Flair's Troubles, WWE Financials, WWE Returning to NBC, and Lots More...|url=http://www.oowrestling.com/columns/oo/20051202.shtml| quote=WWE has re-signed Jamal (real name, Something Fatu, but you remember his as Jamal from 3 Minute Warning).|publisher= Online Onslaught|accessdate=2007-08-04] Initial signs pointed to a reunion of 3-Minute Warning, with the former team of Matt Anoa'i (Rosey) and Fatu (Jamal) wrestling in dark matches together before episodes of "Raw". [cite web|title=RAW results - January 9, 2006|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060109.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] However, Rosey was released from WWE before the team could be brought to the main show. [cite web|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20060412200312/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/roseyreleased|title=Rosey Released|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=WWE|quote=WWE has come to terms on the release of Matt Anoai " [sic] " (Rosey) as of March 21, 2006. We wish Rosey the best in all future endeavors.]

Fatu re-debuted on the April 3 2006 episode of "Raw" with a new gimmick and name.cite web|title=RAW Results - April 3, 2006|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060403.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] Now called Umaga — the same name of the final and most painful part of the Samoan tattooing process, meaning "the end" [cite web|url=http://www.samoa.co.uk/tattoos.html|title=Samoan Sensation|accessdate=2007-02-15] — he was depicted as a destructive savage who could only be controlled by his manager, Armando Alejandro Estrada. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/armandoimmigration|title=From Havana to WWE|last=Tello|first=Craig|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=WWE|quote=he controls RAW’s undefeated "savage", Umaga.] [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04242006/|title=Brilliance Before Backlash|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=WWE|quote= The "savage" newcomer Umaga was also in action] The pair started out feuding with Ric Flair, whom Estrada interrupted in the middle of a promo to tell how much of a fan of his he used to be, but that now he was old and needed to retire. It was in offering the fans a new "hero" to watch that he introduced Umaga, who proceeded to beat down Flair. For the next few weeks Umaga participated in squash matches, destroying various jobbers, [cite web|title=RAW Results - April 10, 2006|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060410.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-08-04] [cite web|title=RAW Results - April 24, 2006|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060424.html| publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-08-04] until he dispatched Flair at Backlash at the end of the month. [cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2007|title= Backlash 2007 results|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=Pro Wresting History]

Umaga then returned to defeating jobbers. His next actual feud started at August's SummerSlam, where he was supposed to be an enforcer on behalf of The McMahons (Vince and Shane) during their match against D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H), only to be attacked by Kane as he made his entrance. [cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|publisher=Kappa Publishing|date=2007|pages=121] Kane and Umaga feuded for the next two months until Umaga won a Loser Leaves "Raw" match, sending Kane off of the brand. [cite web|title=RAW results - October 9, 2006 Results|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061009.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling| accessdate=2007-07-10] After being separated by different brands, Umaga and Kane had one final match at Cyber Sunday where Umaga again defeated Kane after fans selected him over Chris Benoit and The Sandman to be Umaga's opponent for the night. [cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts| work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|publisher=Kappa Publishing|date=2007|pages=122]

2007-current

Umaga, having still not been pinned in the WWE, was then deemed #1 contender for the WWE Championship and placed into a feud with then-champion John Cena over the title. Cena retained his belt at the New Year's Revolution pay-per-view by pinning Umaga with a roll-up, officially ending his streak — which had lasted 34 televised matches and spanned from his debut in April 2006 to January 2007. [cite web|title=New Year's Revolution 2007 Results|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/newyearsrevolution07.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate= 2007-07-10] In that time Umaga was never pinned or made to submit on television, although he did lose two matches by disqualification and another went to a double count out.cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/u/umaga.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|title=Umaga profile| accessdate=2007-02-15] For the rest of the month, Estrada played down Cena's victory, claiming it was a fluke, until a Last Man Standing rematch was signed for the next pay-per-view, the Royal Rumble. [cite web|title=RAW results - January 8, 2007|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070108.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] On an episode of "Raw" between the two pay-per-views, Umaga attacked Cena causing a (worked) injury to his spleen and putting the match in jeopardy. [cite news|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2007|work=Arena Reports|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|month=May|page=132] Cena (kayfabe) refused a medical exam, the results of which could cause him to forfeit his title, and then defeated Umaga by submission, wrapping a loosened ring rope around his neck during an STFU. [cite news|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2007|work=Arena reports|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|month=June|pages=130]

Though he was out of the world title picture, Umaga was named Vince McMahon's "representative" for the WrestleMania 23 "Battle of the Billionaires" with Donald Trump. Immediately after choosing Umaga, McMahon "granted" him a match against the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Hardy, which he won handedly to take the title. [cite web|title=RAW results - February 19, 2007|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070219.html| publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] After Bobby Lashley was named Trump's representative, the two began a feud which lasted even beyond WrestleMania. [cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070226.html|title=RAW results - February 26, 2007|accessdate=2007-08-04| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Despite Umaga losing in the "Battle of the Billionaires" hair versus hair match and causing Vince McMahon to get his head shaved, [cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#23|title=WrestleMania 23 results|accessdate=2007-08-04| publisher=Pro Wresting History] the McMahons (Vince and Shane) continued to second him to the ring. Two weeks after WrestleMania, Lashley interfered in a match and helped a planted fan — Santino Marella — defeat Umaga for the Intercontinental title. [cite web|title=RAW results - April 16, 2007|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070416.html| publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] At the April 29 Backlash event, the team of Umaga, Vince, and Shane McMahon wrestled Bobby Lashley for his ECW World Championship in a Handicap match, winning the title for Vince. [cite web|url= http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2007|title=Backlash 2007 results|accessdate=2007-08-04| publisher=Pro Wrestling History] While Umaga worked with the McMahons, Estrada became less and less involved until he stopped appearing altogether.

In June, Umaga was re-entered into a feud with Marella, the man who took his Intercontinental Championship earlier in April. When they met at the pay-per-view, Umaga was solidly in control of the match, but lost by disqualification when he disregarded the referees instructions and continued to punch Marella. [cite web| title=Vengeance 2007 Results|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/venge.html#2007|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|accessdate=2007-08-04] In a rematch on July 2, Umaga beat Marella to win the Intercontinental title back. [cite web|title=RAW results - July 2, 2007|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070702.html|publisher= Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-10] Not long after, he seemingly started a face turn, joining forces with John Cena against Carlito and Randy Orton. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070806.html|title=RAW results - August 6, 2007| accessdate=2007-08-14|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070813.html|title=RAW results - August 13, 2007|accessdate=2007-08-14| publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] After defeating both Kennedy and Carlito in a Triple threat match at SummerSlam, [cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/summerslam07.html|title=SummerSlam 2007 results|accessdate=2007-08-29| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Umaga interrupted a "Raw" match between Kennedy and a returning Jeff Hardy, assaulting Hardy and leaving him lying in the ring. [cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070827.html|title=RAW results - August 27, 2007|accessdate=2007-08-29| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] One week later, on the September 3 "Raw", Umaga lost the Intercontinental title to Hardy in a singles match. Later that night, he teamed with Carlito in a handicap match against Triple H, after which Triple H struck him several times with his signature sledgehammer, injuring him. [cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070903.html|title=RAW results - September 3, 2007|accessdate=2007-09-04| publisher=Online World of Wrestling ] He was given a match against Triple H at No Mercy, which was changed to a title match for the WWE Championship during the event when Triple H won the title earlier that night. Fatu was defeated by Triple H in their match. [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/october/2007.htm|title=No Mercy 2007 Results|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=PWWEW.net] At Survivor Series his team of MVP, Mr. Kennedy, Finlay and Big Daddy V lost to Triple H's team. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/matches/43349641/results/|title=Hardy and The Game survive team turmoil|accessdate=2007-11-19|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

On June 23 2008, Umaga was drafted from the "Raw" brand to the "SmackDown!" brand, as a part of the 2008 WWE Draft. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/|title=A Draft Disaster|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|date=2008-06-23|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-06-25] After having a short lived rivalry with Mr. Kennedy, Fatu suffered a torn PCL at a "Smackdown!" live event in Johnson City, TN on August 2 during a match with Jeff Hardy. [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/articles/6971560/umagainjured|accessdate=2008-08-16|date=2008-08-15 |title=Samoan Bulldozer stopped...for now|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Fatu is currently appearing on FCW.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Samoan Spike" (High-speed thumb thrust to the throat)
**"Samoan Splash" (Diving stretch out splash)
**Super Samoan drop - 2002-2003
**Backbreaker rack dropped into a neckbreaker - 2006
**Diving headbutt
**Giant swing, occasionally into an object such as ring steps or a barricade
**Nerve hold
**Reverse STO
**Running jumping headbutt drop to the head of an opponent held in the tree of woe position
**"Samoan Wrecking Ball" [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/matches/4081164111/results/ |title=Results:Santino: A very sore winner |accessdate=2007-08-04 |last=McAvennie |first=Mike |publisher=WWE.com |quote=With the Intercontinental Champion still motionless in the corner, he charged into his prey with a devastating "Samoan Wrecking Ball"] (Running hip attack to the head of an opponent seated and leaning against the bottom turnbuckle)
**Samoan drop, sometimes preceded by a gorilla press
**Savate kick
**Spinning wheel kick
**Swinging side slam
**Turnbuckle powerbomb, usually preceded by an elevated three-quarter double arm choke

*Managers
**Eric Bischoff
**Rico
**Armando Alejandro Estrada
**Shane McMahon
**Vince McMahon

*Entrance theme
**"Three Minutes" by 2 Skinnee J's (as Jamal)
**Virtual Voodoo Part 1 from the Extreme Music Library (as Umaga)

*Nicknames
**During the early days of Fatu's time as Umaga he went by the nicknames "Samoan Wrecking Machine" and "Samoan Smashing Machine", both of which are believed to be parodies of "Samoan Submission Machine"; the nickname of Samoa Joe. He was later given the more consistent nickname of the "Samoan Bulldozer".
**In AJPW, he was known as the "Samoan Typhoon", to go along with tag partner Taiyō Kea's nickname of "Hawaiian Tornado".

Championships and accomplishments

*"'All Japan Pro Wrestling
**AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (1 time)cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/aj-t.html |title=World Tag Team Title (All Japan Pro-Wrestling)|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher=Wrestling-Titles] - with Taiyō Kea
**World's Strongest Tag Team League winner in 2004 - with Taiyō Kea

*Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling | World Entertainment Wrestling
**FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship (1 time)cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/fmw/fmw-wew-hc-t.html |title=WEW Hardcore Tag Team Title|accessdate= 2007-08-04|publisher=Wrestling-Titles
small|name misspelled as "Eddy"] - with Matt Anoa'i

*"'Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
**HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Taiyō Kea

*"'Heartland Wrestling Association
**HWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/oh/hwa/hwa-t.html |title=Heartland Wresting Association Tag Team Title|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher=Wrestling-Titles
small|listed as The Island Boyz] - with Kimo

*"'Memphis Championship Wrestling
**MCW Southern Tag Team Championship (3 times)cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/memphis/mcw/mcw-s-t.html |title=MCW Southern Tag Team Title|accessdate= 2007-08-04|publisher=Wrestling-Titles
small|listed as The Island Boys] - with Kimo

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI ranked him #22 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2007 [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50007.htm
accessdate=2008-07-05|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2007|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]

*"'World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times)cite web|url= http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/ic.html|title=WWF/WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher= Wrestling-Titles ]

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards:*Worst Tag Team (2002) with Matt Anoa'i

Personal life

Articles posted by "Sports Illustrated", the "New York Daily News", and the "Washington Post" during the weekend of August 30 2007, named Fatu as one of a number of superstars to have purchased pharmaceuticals from an online pharmacy, a violation of the WWE "Talent Wellness" program. Fatu specifically was said to have received somatropin — a growth hormone — between July and December 2006, after the "No drugs from online sources" rule was instituted. [cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/08/30/wrestlers/|title=Fourteen wrestlers tied to pipeline|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=2007-08-30|accessdate=2007-08-31] [cite news|first=Paul|last=Farhi| title=Pro Wrestling Suspends 10 Linked to Steroid Ring|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083101961.html|publisher=Washington Post|date=2007-09-01|accessdate=2007-09-02]

On April 25 2008, Fatu's mother Vera died after a seven year battle with cancer. [cite news|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/industrynews/6975114|title=Elevera Anoa'i Fatu passes away|publisher=WrestlingFigs.com via wwe.com|date=2008-04-27|accessdate=2008-04-28]

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/umaga/ Eddie Fatu (Umaga) at WWE.com]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/u/umaga.html Eddie Fatu (Umaga) at Online World of Wrestling]
*imdb name|1242655|Eddie Fatu
*tv.com person|id=457437|name=Eddie Fatu

Persondata
NAME= Fatu, Eddie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH=1973-3-28
PLACE OF BIRTH=Samoa
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=