Exclusive Backlash Interview with WWE Superstar Jacob Fatu | No-Contest Wrestling

0:05 Ladies and gentlemen,

0:06 welcome to another episode of the No Contest Wrestling Podcast.

0:09 I am the heel that you love to hate, OSHA Jackson Jr.

0:12 Hey, aka Petty Guerrero.

0:14 Hey yo, it's me.

0:15 It's me.

0:16 It's the TW that joubleg 2 TJ Jefferson.

0:20 What's up, man?

0:22 TJ.

0:22 Yes, sir.

0:22 You hear that knocking, bro?

0:23 We got somebody at the door.

0:25 We got a special guest.

0:26 We do not want to keep him waiting.

0:28 He is getting prepared for the main event of Backlash against Roman Reigns.

0:33 He is all gas, no breaks.

0:35 Jacob Fox knowing Werewolf is with us on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast.

0:40 Jacob, good to see you, man.

0:42 You too, big bro.

0:43 Thank you, man.

0:43 Thanks all for having me, baby.

0:45 Think we doing good.

0:46 Third episode, tapped in, locked in.

0:48 Yeah, absolutely.

0:49 To have to see you as always.

0:51 But, uh, you know, like I said in your intro,

0:54 we we seeing that that werewolf show his fangs a little bit and, you know,

0:58 going up against the tribal chief.

1:00 What is going through your mind as you prepare for the main event?

1:05 I mean, man, you know, it hasn't been none but preparation.

1:08 I mean, it hasn't been nothing.

1:10 I mean, it ain't just because it's just Roman, but then again,

1:13 it is because it is Roman, one of the greatest of all time.

1:17 I'm I'm not going to sugar coat nothing.

1:19 I'm going to I'm not going to sit here and be, oh, I'm I am dialed in.

1:24 It's just on another note when you're dealing with somebody,

1:27 you know, like this on this type of caliber.

1:29 But then again, it's on another note if you dealing with somebody like me,

1:33 the Simone werewolf, Jacob Fatu.

1:35 So, uh, day by day, time just keeps getting closer and closer.

1:39 It was it feels like yesterday, you know,

1:42 I walked out that Monday after Wrestlemania weekend

1:47 and and and I issued the challenge.

1:48 And now, man, couple more days.

1:51 It's Wednesday.

1:51 What, two, three more days, we're here at Backlash.

1:54 You know, I said this before, it's either going to make me or break me.

1:58 But I definitely ain't going to be the one to get broke down,

2:00 especially at Backlash at this at this type of level and caliber

2:04 right now.

2:05 you know, as as fans, you know,

2:08 we saw you going through your thing with Drew McIntyre.

2:13 Hell of a match at Wrestlemania.

2:15 You know, you did your thing, you handled your business,

2:18 but you know, the the the Drew and Cody situation and, you know,

2:22 you getting in that cage and and kind of having

2:24 to give it to Cody for a little bit.

2:26 Fans might have thought that that would have been the direction

2:28 you were going to after you got done with Drew.

2:31 What went into the decision of, oh, Roman got it.

2:34 I need that, man.

2:37 You know what it is.

2:37 It's uh Okay, let's keep it 100.

2:40 Before I got to WWE, man, brother,

2:43 I'm I'm really uncut from another cloth and I had to do

2:46 what I had to do to take care of me and my family.

2:50 Okay.

2:50 Yeah.

2:50 It took me years years to get here to WW.

2:53 But that's okay.

2:54 I'm here now.

2:55 It ain't how you start.

2:56 It's how you finish.

2:57 So, in my head, it's like, okay, we done seen the Jacob who had love.

3:01 We didn't seen the Thank you, Jacob.

3:03 That's just happy to be here.

3:05 But man, two years passed by and I still feel like I'm just in this bubble, man.

3:12 I had to I had to step up.

3:13 I had to be a man.

3:15 Hey, and if we going to go all the way in, then go all the way in.

3:18 Then why not start?

3:20 Why not start with the cat that's on top?

3:22 Why not start from the from, you know, from the head of the table?

3:25 Why not start from the top?

3:28 Let's keep it 100, man.

3:29 Y'all talk about y'all hear me talk about my family, my wife so much

3:34 to where if if I don't deserve if if anybody deserves it, they deserve it, man.

3:38 Even if I got to go through my own blood and hey, this isn't no a match.

3:43 This isn't no buildup.

3:44 Oh, Jacob versus Roman.

3:46 Okay.

3:46 Yeah.

3:46 Whoever thought this was going to happen, nobody.

3:49 Nobody until I had to make the decision.

3:51 You got my cousin the Usos tapping in, you know, on the side.

3:55 You trying to lace me up.

3:56 Let's keep it 100.

3:58 I've been watching Roman Reigns on PLE's since day one.

4:01 So, I already know what what it comes with, you know?

4:05 But if I really want to if I really want to survive in here,

4:09 man, then man, you got to go straight to the top.

4:12 I'm tired of waiting in line.

4:13 I'm not saying I've been waiting, but yeah,

4:15 my time didn't start till I got here to WWE.

4:18 I understand everything that I've done before WWE does not matter,

4:23 but it matters to me because, man, that's what got me.

4:26 That's that that's the hard times within those past

4:29 12 years before I got here to WWE.

4:32 It's what made me the man today.

4:33 It's what brought me here and it got me standing right here main

4:36 event on Backlash this Saturday against the greatest of all time, Roman Reigns.

4:41 That's what's up, Jacob.

4:42 You know, you're real real open about your past, bro.

4:45 And you you talk about going away at 18.

4:48 you know, I as a fan of yours and as a fan of, you know, the entire family,

4:53 I I just had this question and, you know, hopefully you can explain this to me.

4:57 You don't have to, but when you're 18

4:59 and you're out there putting in work, right?

5:01 Was there ever a part of you

5:04 that saw what the cousins were doing, that knew where you came from?

5:08 Was there ever a part of you that went, "Yo, bro,

5:10 like I should be doing this." or was

5:13 that never even because sometimes you think of wrestlers even

5:16 though you're in the family as like I used

5:17 to think wrestlers weren't real people you know what I

5:19 mean like I see them on TV I didn't think they was real but like you know that's

5:23 your family so when in the midst of you doing

5:26 you know your work and doing the things you did

5:28 did it ever occur to you like man I should

5:31 be maybe I shouldn't be doing this maybe I should

5:34 go over here and try this or was it all

5:36 part of the you know the path you had to take

5:38 no absolutely hey man I absolutely It it it man

5:43 it was I was 18 man you know I went

5:46 to juvenile hall everybody's story different man 18 right there damn

5:51 you know and if anybody know man California ain't no joke

5:54 you know y'all really got to tap in with us

5:56 you know when y'all tap in with us but on another

5:58 note it's it's when I was locked down when I was

6:01 going through my troubles as a youth right man sat down

6:06 on on you know you in that dorm there's only one TV

6:09 I just so happened to be right there My bunk was right there.

6:12 And man, they flipping through the channels.

6:13 Who do we see?

6:15 I see the Usos.

6:16 I see Tamina.

6:18 I see Natalia.

6:21 I see Tyson Kid.

6:23 I see man hairy man on there and they're going against each other, right?

6:26 And I'm just like, oh.

6:28 And mind you, I didn't know my cousins.

6:29 I knew they were wrestling.

6:30 I didn't know they were on Raw.

6:32 This when they Usos very first started, you know,

6:34 they was doing the college gimmick out there with buttons up,

6:36 button-ups and stuff.

6:38 Man, it was I was 18 and I just seen him.

6:40 I was more happy for them when I seen them.

6:42 I didn't make up my mind right then and there.

6:45 But man, you know, time came by.

6:47 I was getting closer to getting out,

6:48 trying to figure out what you what are you going to do?

6:50 You know, my mom and them was asked,

6:51 "What are you going to do?" You know, trying to figure it out.

6:54 You can't keep doing this, man.

6:55 You got all these kids.

6:56 What are you going to do, man?

6:57 Just kind of figured it out.

6:59 And my wife's from LA.

7:01 So, you know, got out Sacramento, man.

7:03 Without a doubt.

7:04 You know, you really love me and my kids, man.

7:06 We going to make a difference.

7:07 And man, moved down to LA.

7:08 Uncle Rkkeshi out of school, man.

7:10 That's where everything took off.

7:12 And uh shout out to Gang Girl and my uncle and my father,

7:15 you know, Tonka Kid saying Fatu who trained me.

7:18 But you know, it was more than that cuz I seen the sacrifices.

7:22 I seen the good, the bad, and the ugly.

7:24 What this business can do.

7:26 So, you know, I every all my family members that were here before me,

7:30 it's a learning experience for me.

7:32 Okay, I know what to do.

7:33 I know what not to do.

7:34 Okay, this work for them.

7:35 This work for them.

7:36 pay your taxes and save your money.

7:38 You know what I mean?

7:39 I mean, so but overall, man, you know, it's I'm glad it happened like this.

7:44 I mean, brother, let's keep it 100.

7:46 I tried to be a rapper, that ain't work.

7:48 I mean, I tried to be on the street.

7:50 I mean, I tried to be a thug, that didn't work.

7:52 It got too real for me.

7:53 I mean, but I found God found my calling.

7:55 I found my calling when I was good at Trust me,

7:58 I didn't think about this at all.

7:59 At all.

8:00 And I have thought about it.

8:01 If Jacob Fatu would have started a little earlier,

8:03 what would I have been, you know?

8:05 But at the end of the day, we're here now.

8:08 And if it's anybody's timing, it's God's timing right now.

8:11 And and Shay, real quick, just the people who watching who don't may

8:14 not understand the whole family dynamic of this.

8:17 Your father's a Tonka kid.

8:18 His brothers are Ma and Rkkeshi.

8:20 But even deeper deeper than that, your grandmother

8:23 is the sister of Sika, Roman's dad.

8:26 So when we talk about bloodline and family,

8:29 we don't mean just like, uh, they're over there.

8:31 No, no, no.

8:32 Brother and sister grew up together.

8:34 Yes.

8:34 grandparents.

8:35 You know, this is real deal.

8:37 This ain't no This ain't no play family.

8:39 This is real family.

8:40 Hey, and you know what I want to say?

8:43 Thank you.

8:44 And we do so many.

8:46 We do so many of these.

8:48 Nobody's ever got it right.

8:49 And we talking about my grandmother.

8:51 So, for you to say that and speak

8:53 on that and know what praises to you for understanding the family.

8:58 Praises to you for really doing and and and you

9:00 already know my relationship, my love with y'all.

9:02 It is off the rip.

9:03 But when it comes to our family, yes,

9:06 please understand what you guys are speaking about and knowing.

9:09 So, thank you for that.

9:10 That means a lot, my man.

9:12 Absolutely, man.

9:13 We, you know, we've always shown nothing but respect.

9:16 Everybody, you know, that that do what y'all do, man.

9:19 Especially y'all.

9:20 Y'all always shown love whenever you come through.

9:24 Um, TJ the Almanac.

9:25 Come on, man.

9:26 You know, you know that's what it better bear rap cuz it's a rap.

9:32 ALL RIGHT.

9:35 YES, SIR.

9:37 Still waiting to see that on a t-shirt.

9:40 Yeah, man.

9:40 I'm still I'm still waiting for them to put from from EBT to WWE on the t-shirt.

9:48 Might just have to handle this stuff ourselves, you know?

9:50 Get it out.

9:51 Just get it out there.

9:52 All right.

9:53 Now, you know, you you you brought back a move that people

9:57 haven't seen in quite a while with that death grip, man.

10:01 you know, what was kind of did it was it

10:05 just a in the- moment thing where when it happened

10:08 or was it something that you've always thought like only you

10:11 know something special need this and who taught it to you?

10:15 Well, man, listen, it's it it it's a sacred move.

10:20 It's a legendary move.

10:21 It's a move to where you cannot change the name.

10:25 I mean, this move Yeah.

10:27 Listen, we're all Polynesian.

10:29 They know about the Simones, the Hawaiians.

10:31 But when it comes to our Tongan brothers, yeah,

10:34 our Tongen Island, you know, it it's different.

10:37 You know, we're talking about a man who is so loving,

10:42 but take him the wrong way.

10:44 The great Haku will put this thing, this tongen death grip on you.

10:48 And in my head, it's like Roman has been through everything.

10:52 Roman has been through everything.

10:54 F5 through 10, man, he's been through it all.

10:57 And we're the same blood.

10:58 We're the same.

10:59 So we're we're I mean what what can I use to take him out?

11:03 It it can't be just the power.

11:05 It can't be just a drop on his head.

11:07 It needs to be something that that that's within the family, you know.

11:11 Something that's within the family that could take all of us out.

11:14 Not just him, not it could take all of us out, you know.

11:18 So you had to do you had to bring something so sacred back.

11:21 I had to.

11:22 And it was the plan.

11:23 It was the plan cuz look how it got look how it has them.

11:27 You I mean look at the end of the day the look on his face.

11:30 Look how it looked every time he's dropping down to his knees.

11:33 Imagine everybody else that the gray haku had put

11:36 this on to where they are no longer here no more.

11:39 You know so at the end of the day it's working.

11:42 At the end of the day it's tapped in.

11:44 And at the end of the day it don't look like Roman can stop it.

11:49 Oh man.

11:49 Nobody can stop it.

11:50 And you know I just just out of respect.

11:52 I knew we had you today.

11:54 This wasn't just like by chance.

11:55 I did this on purpose.

11:56 She got to pee my t-shirt today.

11:58 Everybody else, you know.

12:02 Yeah.

12:01 Me Haku, the father of Taonga, Tomatonga, and Tala Tonga, the great man,

12:08 one of the greatest also tag team with my father as the Islanders.

12:12 So when you guys see us all together,

12:14 this just isn't in them throwing Simone's Tongas together.

12:17 No, there's really history as well with my Tongan brothers.

12:21 You know, as the Islanders, their father,

12:23 my father tag team the Islanders with Bobby the brain heated.

12:26 Then look how time repeats itself.

12:28 Look how history repeats itself.

12:30 When I came in and Tamia Tama won the tag belts together,

12:34 I mean this isn't just stuff that's putting together

12:37 when we're talking about bloodline and the whole family.

12:40 Oh brother, we tapped in.

12:41 The Anoway and the Fatus are one family.

12:45 Just like what you said, this isn't, oh, put them together.

12:48 They're over here.

12:48 They're over here.

12:49 No, we we are the greatest family in professional wrestling and I stand on that

12:54 100%.

12:54 And I think that is what that has been such

12:59 a a highlight of this generation of superstars is that you

13:04 know the people who have been you maybe you watch

13:06 wrestling back in the day and you went away from it.

13:10 the people that you remember from back then,

13:12 those faces are still here and they're still giving out stories and it's you're

13:17 not going to get anything as rich as what the Samoan dynasty is putting out.

13:23 And so that's why we see you guys in the forefront

13:26 and and you know we we see you uh

13:30 at at at 41 getting that that US title and what

13:34 that meant to you having your family in the front

13:37 having Haku just jumped the barrier.

13:38 Wasn't nobody going to start that man coming to congratulate you?

13:43 Yeah.

13:43 Hey cuz man when he hopped the gate I was

13:46 looking at the security they was looking like they go.

13:48 They was like we not going to stop him.

13:50 Who going to stop him?

13:51 You know.

13:52 Hey, and then on another note that Wrestlemania 41,

13:56 just to share this Wrestlemania 39, I seen Solo Sako walk out with Roman.

14:02 Yeah,

14:02 man.

14:03 Man, I wouldn't even I'm still on Independence, man.

14:06 It it it it that seeing Solo Squa walk out.

14:10 I know what my brother been through, you know.

14:12 He done been through what he done been through.

14:15 But to see what it is and see him walk out, it motivated me.

14:18 It really did.

14:19 It really put a fire underneath my ass, man.

14:21 And then let me tell you, brother,

14:23 after that Wrestlemania 39 was done in Los Angeles

14:26 when Cody didn't finish his story, I manifested this.

14:29 I went on Twitter and I put W, capital W, and 42.

14:33 42, y'all always see me rock that number because man, 42, you know what I mean?

14:38 It's first off, our dad and them is from San Francisco, from Sunnydale.

14:41 It's 4, it's 42nd and High Street.

14:43 On another note,

14:45 on another note, 42 also mean, you know, it's 52 though, you know,

14:49 like five for for four in our in our in our language and two,

14:53 you know what I mean?

14:53 So, you got right now, right?

14:56 Yeah.

14:56 You mean?

14:56 Yep.

14:56 You mean 42.

14:57 So, it was something special, man.

15:00 So, for me to manifest that and then to walk out and then, man,

15:03 a back to back in Vegas, you know, man, it was something special, man.

15:08 Trust me, I done been through a lot.

15:10 I done been through I mean I only been in WWE for two years.

15:13 I accomplished great things and trust me I am very thankful to the direction you

15:18 know where I where I was headed

15:20 but it's different now facing Roman this Saturday.

15:23 Like I said yeah that's my family.

15:25 Yeah that's my older cousin.

15:26 Yeah I watched PL after man I'm invested and before I was a worker

15:32 brother trust me I was a fan of the bloodline at home going like this.

15:36 You know what I mean?

15:37 But it's different now cuz I'm in here now, you know?

15:40 Yeah, they seen me.

15:42 Yeah, they know Jacob.

15:44 But brother, I'm really fresh off the scale with it.

15:47 I'm really cut with it.

15:49 You know what I mean?

15:50 Like they could get with me, but they can't really get with me.

15:54 You know, Jacob, uh, we we've seen it.

15:57 We've seen Roman go at it with Jimmy.

15:59 We've seen that go at it with Jay.

16:01 and now he's got, you know, the this situation in this big match,

16:04 this championship match coming up against you.

16:08 Speaking of the family, what do the elders in the family have to say about this?

16:12 Have you

16:13 have they reached out?

16:14 Have they cautioned you?

16:15 Have they Are they for this?

16:17 Cuz when the family fights, it's usually not a good thing.

16:20 So, is there some hesitancy?

16:22 Are you getting What are you just getting told from the family?

16:25 I mean, man, it's just when you get goosebumps, man.

16:27 I'm getting goosebumps.

16:28 I mean when you ask that because you

16:31 know this is the side that people don't see.

16:33 Yeah.

16:34 There's friction man.

16:36 It it is and it it from the elders if you know our culture and if you

16:43 know us and I'm not just talking about

16:45 Simoans and Tong I'm talking about our Polynesian people.

16:48 You know how family means so much to us in respect.

16:54 You guys know I mean look at the bloodline.

16:55 Look at all we talk about our children.

16:57 to talk about a lot cuz it's family over everything.

17:01 So yeah, it is different and I brought my voice down

17:04 because it's I know they're going to be watching this, you know.

17:07 So you got to out of Simone culture,

17:09 you got to be respectful on how we play it out.

17:13 But yeah, man, it's it's a little friction here and there,

17:15 especially with the older G's, uh,

17:18 you know, the ones who's actually back at home

17:20 and back in San Francisco next to the cow palace.

17:23 It's a little different, especially having our cousins.

17:26 I mean, there's a lot of us.

17:27 Of course, they don't want to see us go at it.

17:29 Our cousins, they're they're not no fans to where it's different

17:34 when they see us working somebody else compared to us working together.

17:38 I mean, yeah, they seen it with Roman.

17:40 They seen it with Jay.

17:41 That didn't start off good,

17:42 but then once the bloodline start coming, we start to understand.

17:46 You know what I mean?

17:46 But now it's different.

17:48 Come on, man.

17:48 Let's keep it 100.

17:51 WWE never seen no cat like me.

17:53 Let's keep it 100, bro.

17:54 When when was the last time somebody walked in the door like Jacob Fatu?

17:58 All right.

17:58 And I'm saying this with confidence.

18:00 All right.

18:00 I'm not cocky, but I'm definitely[ __] I'm

18:03 definitely confident and I believe in my work.

18:05 All right.

18:06 So when they see me work and they see me wrestle,

18:08 man, this just ain't just getting through.

18:10 No, you going to feel my pain.

18:12 You going to feel my struggle.

18:13 You I mean, every moment I'm moving.

18:15 It ain't just to get a pop or oh, he could do a backflip.

18:19 Nah, it ain't none of that.

18:20 All right?

18:21 Cuz nobody's ever got up after that, man.

18:23 me back flipping brought me all the way here to WWE.

18:26 All right.

18:26 But it wasn't because on how I can do it, on how much I weigh.

18:30 No, man.

18:31 Brother, when I'm moonsawing, that means I'm back flipping over every obstacle.

18:38 I'm back moonsing over everything I done been through,

18:41 everything I strive to get here.

18:43 You know what I mean?

18:44 So to tap in with Roman, it is what it is right now.

18:49 But at the end of the day, man, my family needs to get set up.

18:54 My kids do.

18:55 They need to get set up.

18:56 Then they are gonna get set up after Backlash after this Saturday.

19:00 And while I'm sitting here tapping in talking to y'all,

19:04 the unexpected is going to be unexpected.

19:06 You know what I mean?

19:08 And and you know, usually just as wrestling fans,

19:12 when somebody like a a Roman or or anybody

19:16 that we we kind of see just get a title,

19:20 you kind of have that feeling of that little safety net of just like,

19:23 all right, they might have some time, but

19:25 they just don't feel the same right now.

19:27 Like, you know, and I mean, that's what you want from a big fight.

19:31 But, um, like to to know your story,

19:33 it's hard not to root for somebody like you, man.

19:37 Yeah.

19:38 I mean, let's keep it 100.

19:40 He just won it.

19:42 This is the next PL.

19:43 So, I can understand why people think, "Oh, he's not going to lose.

19:47 It's just a match.

19:47 He's going to fall in line." No, that's ass.

19:49 All right.

19:50 That's ass.

19:51 All right.

19:52 So, y'all over here want to tap in?

19:53 Y'all y What y'all think?

19:54 Y'all know the booking, huh?

19:56 What y'all think?

19:57 Oh, Roman Reigns first title offense against Jacob.

20:01 There's no way Roman's losing it, man.

20:02 That's ass.

20:03 Because check this out.

20:04 Of course, y'all going to be watching.

20:06 Yeah.

20:06 Y'all gonna be tapped in.

20:07 So everybody else complaining online about this and that.

20:10 Hey.

20:10 Hey.

20:11 Hey.

20:12 I bet you will definitely buy that ESP and I bet you going to be

20:17 sitting there watching and enjoying the show

20:20 and not saying a word during the match.

20:22 All right.

20:22 So for everybody tapping in like that, come on, man.

20:25 Come on with it.

20:26 All right.

20:27 Just another bandwagon follower jumping on.

20:30 Okay.

20:31 Because as soon as I do take that title, I don't want to hear no.

20:35 Cuz I'm looking at it right now.

20:36 Hey, trust me, I'm not even sweating it, bro.

20:38 Cuz I kill it with a smile.

20:39 You know what I mean?

20:40 I'm not even sweating this to where,

20:43 you know, people going people going to switch.

20:46 Then when the ball gets in your court, it's a whole another game.

20:50 So yeah, I can understand why people think I'm not going to win.

20:53 First PL, first title event out of Wrestlemania.

20:56 There's no way.

20:58 Hey, well, check this out.

21:00 There was no way Jacob was supposed to be here.

21:02 There was no way Jacob was supposed to have

21:04 be main event PL Roman Reigns right out of WrestleMania.

21:10 But we're here and keep it 100.

21:12 Like I said before, no man, they ain't never ran into nobody like me.

21:16 I said that against Cody.

21:17 They don't make them like me.

21:19 Hell, they ain't never made them like me.

21:23 That's absolutely, man.

21:25 We It's definitely going to be something to watch.

21:28 You you just just when the the beauty about wrestling

21:32 is just when you say out loud there's no way.

21:36 Mhm.

21:36 Oh, I'll show you a way.

21:37 Right.

21:37 If there's a will, there is a way as always.

21:40 It's like Rody Piper said, man, just when you they think they got the answers,

21:44 I go ahead and change the question.

21:46 You got it figured out.

21:47 Yo, you got to figure it out.

21:49 So, I I'm loving this family.

21:51 I'm loving this deep dive talk.

21:52 Let's talk about when y'all were kids, youngsters growing up.

21:55 What was your relationships?

21:56 Did you have relationships?

21:57 cuz I know I come from a big family.

21:59 I got like 28 29 first cousins.

22:02 We're all straight out.

22:03 So there ain't that there ain't no way that like

22:06 you know the the our generation by generation like the older

22:09 generation we hung out and I'm not as tight with the generation

22:13 after just because I was older and out the house.

22:15 What was your relationship as kids growing up?

22:18 You Jimmy J.

22:20 It was always good man and man listen I was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

22:23 I'm from California off the rip.

22:25 But man, pops and was wrestling for WCW.

22:28 We was in ATL, you know what I mean?

22:30 So, College Park, Bubba Sparks, man, on that side.

22:33 I mean, so my first holidays, my first birthdays, man, my first Halloween,

22:39 it was with the Uses, you know, I mean, it was with Uso and them.

22:42 Uh, met Joe I met Roman, man,

22:45 when I got a little bit older, you know what I mean?

22:47 Met Roman got a little bit older, but man, we was always tapped in.

22:51 On another note, when I actually got caught up and you know I

22:54 mean when we were juveniles got caught up out here in uh California,

22:57 you know, they sent us to Florida and and I

23:00 got sent and I was living with Roman Reigns sister,

23:02 you know what I mean?

23:03 So then she brought me in.

23:04 So that's what I'm saying.

23:06 This match is is more than just us being related.

23:09 Like his sister took me in.

23:11 Like I was there when he played Georgia Tech,

23:15 when he beat the number one and number two college football teams,

23:18 when the man Miami and Auburn and they went there and like I was there.

23:22 I was there when he was over there tapping in.

23:25 You know what I mean?

23:26 So, so and it is tough.

23:28 It is rough.

23:30 I'm not going to sit here.

23:31 Yeah, man.

23:32 You think I want to do that, man?

23:34 Y'all know y'all see interviews of me like y'all see

23:36 how loving I am and this and that, but man,

23:38 you y'all really think I want to go?

23:40 Y'all really think I want to do this?

23:41 But man, I love my kids and my family so much.

23:44 Okay, he did it to Jay and him.

23:47 Okay, so I mean what what what am I wrong

23:50 now since I want to Since I want to get right?

23:53 No.

23:53 Am I wrong?

23:54 Because because I need to level and upgrade my household.

23:57 No, no, no.

23:58 We've seen this before.

23:59 Like I said, when history been repeating itself.

24:02 Oh, which is Oh, it's repeating itself.

24:04 But this time, this time it's different now.

24:08 Now,[ __] 2006 now, man.

24:10 He did all that like four years ago.

24:14 Yeah.

24:14 You know, come on, man.

24:16 Now, the very first time we spoke to you, it was after 41.

24:20 You talked about that moment.

24:23 Uh, you also talked about coming down the ramp and, you know,

24:26 he took the mask off a little early just

24:27 so you could get that feeling, get the feeling.

24:30 Now, going into your second Mania, by the way, undefeated at Mania.

24:34 Okay.

24:35 Not bad.

24:35 Not bad.

24:36 undefeated at Mania, but

24:39 I saw there was a clip of you having, you know,

24:42 you you having a moment to yourself after getting that victory.

24:46 Can you let us into what was going through your mind then?

24:49 And

24:50 is that part of what's fueling you to the very next PL?

24:55 Now you going for the world title.

24:58 Let us know about that mindset.

25:00 And damn, what was it when you was walking up the ramp or No, no, no.

25:04 After the match, they showed you you had you

25:06 had an emotional moment after your match at 42.

25:09 So, you hugging Jimmy, I think, in the back.

25:11 Yeah, you had that with Shane Roberts, man.

25:13 Bro.

25:14 Yeah, it was different, man.

25:17 It just hit me.

25:18 Everything hit me right when I walked.

25:21 I don't know what it was.

25:22 I seen I seen H in the back.

25:25 I seen everybody in the back, you know.

25:27 had a good uh had a good moment with Hunter and you know

25:31 I mean just walking cuz if y'all know backstage bro our locker room hella

25:35 far from gorilla bro you I mean like I was actually I was actually

25:38 Bruce Pritchard even got hot I mean he didn't get hot but you mean

25:42 I had to return his go-kart I took his go-kart I was mobbing around

25:45 like more Charlotte mean but I took his go-kart but uh anyways it was

25:50 a far walk so I didn't take the go-kart this year I mean out

25:54 of respect for OG kept his go-kart there his go-kart but after H after

25:58 Gorilla Man I took a walk and it was about a it's a little

26:02 far walk and I mean after all that just getting out the ring

26:06 still breathing still just sweating but it's feeling good man but just taking

26:11 that walk I you know I was just by myself and I was just like

26:14 locked in but I thought about everything you know man there's one thing

26:19 about me bro I think about where I came from every day there's not

26:22 a day that goes by trust me I think about it this morning I

26:26 think about where I came from every day what it could have been every day.

26:30 And I think that's what it it motivates me and it keeps me,

26:33 you know, not saying I want to forget about those days.

26:35 No, because I just remember what I don't want to go

26:38 and I would never go back to that, especially being here.

26:41 Would never go back to that.

26:42 But man, it was I thought about everything.

26:44 I tapped in with everything.

26:46 And then when I sat down,

26:48 I'm just like before the interview even cut, I'm looking at the cameras.

26:52 I'm looking at the people in suits.

26:54 I'm looking at Sam and I'm looking at my gear and I'm just like, damn.

26:58 Like,[ __] dude.

27:00 Like, you know, like, bro, we really here.

27:02 So, it was And now, not only that, it was special.

27:05 My wife's never my wife's been with me forever, man.

27:07 I've been with her for for for a long time, brother.

27:10 I mean, if anybody deserves sniff something,

27:11 it's that woman that deserves something.

27:13 So, she was actually there for the very first time at a WWE event.

27:17 And it couldn't have been no better at Wrestlemania 42 that I manif.

27:21 So you I mean I think that's what it was too cuz I

27:24 seen her in the crowd and you know[ __] Well no I'm sorry.

27:26 She was all the way in the box you mean?

27:28 But I knew where they were at.

27:29 So it was good.

27:30 It's it's different man.

27:32 You know it really is cuz especially when you got kids.

27:35 I'm not saying if you don't have kids oh you don't know.

27:38 No.

27:39 Everybody's life is different.

27:40 That's fine.

27:40 But you know having having eight other people no man.

27:45 I mean, like what Roman said, like, you know, we're all different,

27:47 but and we are responsible for a lot of people.

27:50 You know, I'm responsible for 10 of 12

27:53 of my people that just my intermediate kids and I mean,

27:56 just I'm responsible to make sure they're good.

27:58 Roman is responsible for our whole family.

28:01 And you know, I want to go touch bases on these promos.

28:04 These ain't no promos, bro.

28:06 Like, people are writing for us, you know,

28:08 and I wouldn't even say promos cuz it's

28:11 not like this is real stuff, real feeling.

28:14 and everything Roman is saying.

28:16 I know I'm going with him at Backlash,

28:18 but just to tap in like it it is it is it is true

28:22 to that to where he is he is have to worry about 170 of us.

28:26 You know what I mean?

28:27 He was the one to wedge the Yeah.

28:29 And we all came through, you know.

28:30 I mean, so there's no there's no lie.

28:33 There is truth to everything that we are saying, you know?

28:36 And I wasn't playing, you know?

28:38 I'mma milk every dollar and every cent just

28:41 like how this company did our family for decades.

28:44 You know what I mean?

28:45 So yeah, we really locked in and tapped in around here, right?

28:49 And that's that is

28:52 why anytime the any member of the family is going against another member,

28:57 it is always box office.

29:00 It is always something special because it may be personal,

29:03 but it's only personal cuz we family.

29:06 There's no hate behind it.

29:07 It's just business.

29:08 Yeah.

29:08 It's just what I got to do.

29:09 You know, I got to do it.

29:10 So, like, you know, even what what I'm keeping an eye

29:15 on is while you got Roman in front of you,

29:18 you know, you know, that's the core, man.

29:20 He you know, he he he didn't really have

29:24 too too many kind words for Roman or you, you know, on Smackdown.

29:29 So, you know, we keeping an eye on that.

29:31 But it is Jimmy and Jay as well.

29:33 Yeah.

29:33 like, you know, it's just things to watch besides the one onone and uh you know,

29:38 is that on your mind or you just got to stay focused on the prize?

29:42 Well, no.

29:42 Yeah, absolutely.

29:44 I mean, it's different now when we all

29:46 show up at different times compared to riding together, you know?

29:50 It's different.

29:51 It's different now.

29:52 Now we're all not at the same hotel.

29:54 We're not even flying out the same plane.

29:56 Like, so yeah.

29:58 I mean, come on, man.

30:00 I mean, yeah.

30:01 I feel I feel weird, but at the end of the day, I mean,

30:05 I It ain't like I It ain't like I haven't been through this before,

30:09 but Oh, trust me, bro.

30:10 Yeah, I could slap you and hug you right after that.

30:12 Tell you I mean like it is different,

30:16 you know, and and and that's the thing about it.

30:19 But man, when it's go time and we understand

30:23 the purpose and the direction of what I want.

30:27 No, no, no.

30:28 I'll take this back.

30:28 what I need, man, brother.

30:32 I mean, it's cookies from here.

30:33 You know what I mean?

30:33 It's all gonna be Gucci and Gabbana.

30:35 You know what I mean?

30:36 Like, it's a whole another vibe in a whole another direction.

30:40 I mean, man, people are feeling it now.

30:42 Then they better feel it because man, if you ain't feeling this then,

30:45 man, you you I mean, then then you ain't rolling.

30:48 You ain't rolling right with us.

30:50 You know, going back talking, you talking about growing up in Atlanta,

30:54 you know, it just came to my attention that, you know, Ted Turner out there.

30:58 Yeah, I was only here for a couple years though.

31:00 I was in and out.

31:01 Yeah.

31:01 After that, maybe right back to Cali.

31:03 Right back to Cali.

31:04 You know, Ted Turner passed away today.

31:06 I was like three when we left Atlanta.

31:08 You know what I mean?

31:09 Okay.

31:09 So, you don't really have three.

31:11 Yeah.

31:11 I was I was just born out there.

31:13 Ted Turner passed away today.

31:14 Of course.

31:15 You know, when you think WCW, you think him.

31:19 What are some of you I guess the the boiling down question I have is this.

31:23 I was went to watch Michael the other day and I was like, "Wow, man.

31:26 actually was able to live in the world that Michael Jackson lived in.

31:29 And I'm thinking like, what other people can I think of that like I

31:33 can say I was alive during their during their time?

31:37 And one of the names popped into my head was Andre the Giant.

31:40 Did Did you ever I know your your pops I think tagged with them,

31:44 had some interactions with Andre.

31:45 Did you ever have any memories of meeting Andre

31:47 back in the day when you was a kid, man?

31:50 Hell no, man.

31:53 Hell no.

31:55 No, I mean, man, that would have been dope.

31:58 I mean, I mean, I mean, come on, man.

31:59 It would have been cool just to meet a lot of them.

32:01 I mean, man, bro, especially the icon like that.

32:04 I mean, come on.

32:06 I do remember my dad saying something about Andre, like, you know,

32:09 he loved to play cards and you know, uh, man, he he he was a big cat.

32:14 Uh, they said he was really he had a good relationship with Roman's father,

32:20 um, Sika and my uncle.

32:22 So there is some cool pictures though that my grandmother

32:25 and my uncle Rkkeshi have of Andre and them like backstage.

32:28 So that was pretty cool man.

32:30 But never really tapped in with him.

32:32 Of course Andre tag team champions with Haku back back in the day you know.

32:37 And Kamal Heyamari.

32:41 Imagine.

32:40 Hey man I think I picked both of those.

32:43 Yeah.

32:43 That was your that was part of your five.

32:46 Yeah.

32:46 See we gota talk bro.

32:48 This five got to be top three ever on the show.

32:53 Yeah,

32:52 especially when I got Harley Race on there, bro.

32:57 Andre, Andre, Haku, you, Umanga, and Harley Race.

33:01 Yeah, that ain't fair.

33:02 Come on, dog.

33:03 I ain't going.

33:03 I probably I ain't going to lie,

33:04 probably would have took me out and added Brock in there, though.

33:11 Listen, man.

33:11 we uh you know we we are major fans of you

33:14 and just you you always you said that you always remember

33:18 the things that you've been through and I you know people

33:21 there's some people that believe in the mindset of never looking back

33:26 but you got to know where you came from to know how far you done came you know

33:30 so it is it is truly a joy to watch you be successful man

33:37 like it is just because everyone feels how

33:40 genuine you are and how real uh you are.

33:43 So to your every bit of your accomplishments,

33:46 I know that smile behind there is real.

33:48 You probably got to wait till you get in the back.

33:49 I know you got to be mean, but like you know, it's real.

33:53 And I just want to let you know you are appreciated, man.

33:55 No doubt.

33:56 But show Hey, big bro.

33:57 I I just want to show y'all something, too, just to show y'all like,

34:01 you know, like I really do appreciate the little things, bro.

34:04 Bro, I mean, I got my face on a truck, dude.

34:07 I don't know if y'all can see it.

34:08 I don't know if I can see it.

34:09 Yeah.

34:12 A glimpse of it.

34:13 Yeah.

34:13 Yeah.

34:15 I mean, come on, bro.

34:16 Listen, a lot of people might just look at Nah, bro.

34:20 Like, trust me, that's a big accomplishment.

34:22 I mean, these are things that I grew up seeing faces on trucks.

34:25 So, it could be something small, but man, brother believe, bro,

34:28 when I did see that truck, bro, I took a selfie right in front of that thing.

34:31 You know what I mean?

34:32 Yeah.

34:32 Wait, what that feel like?

34:33 You get to you get to the the spot that day, you got your bag,

34:36 I'm sure you're walking, and you turn to your left and you see it,

34:40 man.

34:40 And and and you know the cool thing like uh

34:43 so that was the that was one of the first ones,

34:45 but me on that same one is me solo and uh Tomatonga and Tongaloa.

34:51 So man, it was it was just a good moment, man.

34:54 You know, especially for all of us to be tapped in on there.

34:57 I mean, these are the stuff that I don't take for granted.

35:00 You know what I mean?

35:00 I mean, man, even when I'm just just moving and grooving,

35:04 just man, I just hear Fatu like Fatu is our real name.

35:08 So, I mean, the for the for the for the WWE

35:12 world and universe and which is I'm so thankful for, man.

35:16 It started in San Antonio, Texas in WWE.

35:18 They was already, y' baby, on the independence.

35:22 You know what I mean?

35:24 But to be in WWE when it started

35:26 in um San Antonio at Saturday Night Main against Braun,

35:30 man, bro, it just is I'm just very thankful, bro.

35:33 I mean, it it makes my father happy.

35:36 It makes our people happy, you know,

35:38 to hear the world chant that name and uh you know, to bring our name,

35:41 but it was already known, but you know,

35:43 now I'm legally able to use it, you know, in WWE.

35:46 Didn't change my name cuz man, I was supposed to be Caesar Saka.

35:49 You know what I mean?

35:50 I was about to be I'm about to be like Caesar from Planet of X like I

35:55 mean I mean so but man overall yeah you know what I mean like like Cesar like

36:01 so that was the name that was the name that you

36:02 agreed they agreed on for you and then what happened

36:05 so so I it was just a name it got brought up you know uh

36:10 whatever they had you know whatever they did and you know we at the end

36:13 of the day we made it happen and Jacob F too baby I mean I'll

36:16 never forget what what Triple A said

36:18 that you mean like you heard your music Yeah.

36:21 No, I'm sir.

36:21 I hear my music.

36:22 I don't even know what my name is.

36:24 Your name's Jacob F too.

36:26 I was like, "Okay, for sure." You know, man, it uh it was different.

36:30 It was real different.

36:31 You know, uh Hunter had a couple songs.

36:34 He The song I walked out to was two different songs.

36:37 You know what I mean?

36:37 So, I took the beginning and I put it on the track that I got now.

36:42 You know what I mean?

36:43 If I could switch it.

36:44 They switched it then.

36:46 Shout out to the Uso if you watching this who did the original version.

36:49 But, sorry, bro.

36:49 I had to take you off, bro, and put my own 52,

36:52 yada what I mean, up on there, man.

36:53 I mean, so that's how together, man.

36:56 But overall, man, I'm very thankful.

36:58 Trust me, it's so emotional, but I'm so ready and locked in.

37:03 You know, you might tear come down when I'm up in there with Roman, you mean?

37:07 I mean, I did have war games with my brothers and my family.

37:10 Locked in.

37:11 Main Event PL War Games.

37:13 I mean, man, we opened up the show.

37:15 Crown Jewel, the the a six-man tag,

37:17 three on three, Romanus against me, Thomas, and Solo.

37:20 I mean, man, come on, man.

37:22 So, yeah, it's nothing new.

37:24 But it's on a whole another level now.

37:26 Especially, man, if you're tapping in with somebody

37:28 like Roman Reigns, man, come on, man.

37:31 Come on, dog.

37:32 Now, I gotta ask you

37:34 for real, and I need to know the real how you felt about this.

37:39 Yeah.

37:39 Take me to that first time because, you know,

37:42 you've been doing the, you know, all gas, no breaks with it.

37:45 You know, you've been doing that for a minute,

37:48 but talk about the first time you kind of heard the crowd do it with you.

37:52 What was that electricity feeling like, man, when you heard the WWE crowd

37:57 hitting some stuff in the Bay?

38:00 Hey, hey, hey.

38:01 So, man, they came with it.

38:03 I will never forget it was after JC Matteo,

38:06 you know what I mean, tapped in after he debuted.

38:08 We was in Lexington, Lexington, Kentucky, bro.

38:11 Out of everywhere.

38:12 I'm like, damn.

38:14 But man, bro, when I came with it and I was all gas and they came,

38:19 you know, mostly everybody says all gas, no brakes, and they stopped.

38:23 But man, they came on with the whole all gas, no breaks with it.

38:28 Yada.

38:28 I mean, but I mind you, when I came back, I haven't really been saying it.

38:32 I've been saying it, but in that Monday after Wrestlemania,

38:38 Mike never said it like that.

38:40 I didn't plan on saying it.

38:41 It wasn't in no script because when it comes to us, there is no script.

38:45 All right?

38:46 I want everybody to understand this.

38:48 If you think you know,

38:50 and I don't care if you've been in the business and and you work for WWE,

38:53 you ain't over here no more.

38:54 You I mean, like the writers or or producers or whoever,

38:58 like, bro, there's no script.

39:01 This just comes live and direct with it.

39:03 You know what I mean?

39:04 So when I just did did when I did say that all gas no breaks with it.

39:08 You know what I mean?

39:09 Two roaming into the Usos.

39:11 Oh brother man when when they came with it.

39:14 Okay.

39:14 Yeah.

39:15 Oh they with it.

39:15 You know what I mean?

39:18 It's another feeling.

39:19 It is.

39:20 And um I'm just glad I got to really explain

39:23 the all gas no breaks to them throughout these couple weeks,

39:26 you know, because now it's a whole another meaning,

39:29 you know, and I'm glad people actually understand what it is.

39:32 But not only that, man, it feels good.

39:34 My people back at home, Northern California, you I mean,

39:37 they they feel good when they hear that.

39:38 You know what I mean?

39:39 They like, "Damn, bro, you done took it." But listen,

39:41 once again, this goes back to not being a character.

39:44 This goes back to just me being me.

39:47 Jacob being there's no other way.

39:49 This is what I'm saying.

39:50 It's not scripted.

39:51 There's no There's no other way how to I don't know

39:54 how to do be anything or do anything besides be myself.

39:57 So, yeah.

39:58 When you guys see me out moving and grooving off top,

40:01 I'mma show love and respect.

40:02 That's how it is.

40:03 But man, brother, when it's go time and then we in that ring

40:05 and them lights come on and then that switch comes on.

40:07 Oh, it's You can't tell me nothing.

40:10 You can't tell me nothing.

40:11 All of a sudden, nobody nobody gave a damn about me on the independence.

40:15 Nobody cared about me then.

40:16 You know what I mean?

40:17 Nobody was giving me the luxury then.

40:19 Oh, Jacob, Jacob.

40:20 But now I come here,

40:21 I start tearing it up and I start getting in where I fit in.

40:25 Huh?

40:25 Now, now, now everything.

40:26 And this is on another note.

40:28 Why?

40:28 I feel some type of way sometime.

40:29 Okay.

40:30 Where were you?

40:31 Where were y'all?

40:31 Where were you at?

40:32 Okay.

40:33 Since I don't want to tap in with y'all, now I'm acting different.

40:35 No.

40:36 Where was everybody else for that 12 years when I was struggling with my kids?

40:39 Huh?

40:40 Did nobody else care besides my wife's family and my parents?

40:43 Did not nobody care about Jacob Fatu?

40:46 Man, this is why it's different at Backlash.

40:48 And I'm sorry, man, for getting hot, but man,

40:50 me sitting here just thinking about it, talking about it now.

40:53 Oh, man.

40:54 Come on, bro.

40:56 That's why the pain, the tears,

40:58 the everything with Roman, it it's it's different, man.

41:04 And I know I keep saying that, man.

41:05 But man, y'all got to really tap

41:07 in and understand the direction from where I'm going.

41:10 I'm not speaking to y'all to users.

41:12 You mean I'm I need the viewers to know and to understand this.

41:17 Like, this isn't put on a pair of tights, go out there, have a good match.

41:22 No, bro.

41:23 We really make a living out of this.

41:26 We We are learned and taught on how to respect the ring,

41:30 how to how to how to respect the ring, how to respect people backstage.

41:34 You know what I mean?

41:35 These new cats coming up, they don't get it.

41:38 They don't understand what it is.

41:40 They think being on the phone and posting the good stuff, posting a good life.

41:44 Okay, I want to see somebody post the bad things happening.

41:48 All right, cuz when everybody get their food stamps,

41:50 everybody posting a good old plate.

41:52 Huh?

41:53 How about how about how about having nothing and just posting a plate?

41:57 You know what I mean?

41:59 Come on, man.

42:00 Like, what are we doing?

42:01 Let's not You don't got to fake it till you make it.

42:03 But damn, bro.

42:04 Be real with yourself.

42:05 And this is what I feel like this is what got me over here.

42:07 Me having a good heart.

42:09 But me understanding where my position is.

42:12 Okay, I've been playing my role and playing

42:14 my position and staying in my own lane.

42:16 Rest in peace to Nipy Hustle.

42:17 I remember he said that, man.

42:18 Stay in your own lane because there's no traffic in your lane.

42:21 You mean tapping in, but now I just feel like mate and I know and it's not Phil.

42:28 I'm sorry.

42:28 Let me take that back.

42:29 I know I know it's time for me to jump out this lane and jump in another one.

42:35 Yeah.

42:34 And that's why you can't write for that.

42:37 N I could.

42:38 And no, you know, no disrespect, but I seen the writer's room.

42:42 I'm not writing for that.

42:43 Not that.

42:44 So it's it's just that realness that people just connect

42:49 so much to you with and people will see through the BS is

42:53 I mean we we are we are wrestling fans.

42:55 If anybody see a lot of BS, it's us.

42:57 So when we see the real, it's right there.

43:00 But I'm also a brother that comes from a big family

43:02 who did grew up with, you know, didn't have a lot.

43:04 So I also understand

43:07 what he's what he's saying on a different level than just the wrestling

43:11 part of this, you And you know,

43:12 you brought up the people who feel like I want to get his opinion

43:16 on uh a little idea me and you talked about um you know,

43:21 you brought up the people who feel like they know so much about the business.

43:24 You know, the people online that got this, that, and the third to say.

43:28 I said every PL, they should set up a ring

43:32 on the outside of the arena and let people run the ropes.

43:36 Let them ropes burn up on you a couple of times and kind

43:39 of see how something as simple as that could cut you up the whole day.

43:43 Take a bump.

43:44 Yeah, take a bump.

43:45 One.

43:46 Let me Oh, no.

43:48 Hey, set up a ring.

43:49 Have them come in the ring.

43:51 All right.

43:51 They don't even deserve to take a bump.

43:53 Just see if they could take a punch to the face from us.

43:56 Yeah, that's it.

43:58 Yeah.

43:58 Just see if we could just punch you in your face and see how that feels.

44:01 All right.

44:03 They don't deserve to they don't even deserve to step in the ring.

44:06 All right.

44:07 These cats don't deserve to be nowhere in the ring.

44:10 None of these cats.

44:11 You know what I mean?

44:12 Yeah.

44:12 I remember he told us a month and a half.

44:16 Yeah.

44:16 Hey.

44:17 Hey, you could take this.

44:19 You all right.

44:19 All right.

44:20 Hey.

44:21 All right.

44:22 I got a black eye.

44:23 Hey, I done been punched.

44:25 I done been beat up.

44:26 I done been jumped.

44:27 I never been knocked out, though.

44:29 All right.

44:30 I never been knocked out.

44:31 But yeah.

44:31 Hey, it's what come with it.

44:33 But I ain't going to sit here and complain.

44:34 Nah.

44:35 Hey, I'm glad I had a black eye.

44:37 I'm glad I got punched.

44:38 I'm glad I got beat up.

44:39 All right.

44:39 It made me for who I am today.

44:41 But no, I didn't go online like the rest of these cats put in their feelings.

44:45 Hey man, if I want to give some advice to anybody, stay off of the internet.

44:49 It's fake.

44:50 All right, man.

44:51 Kill kill everything with a smile, man.

44:53 And just do the right thing when nobody's looking.

44:55 Trust me, man.

44:56 If you just keep your mouth shut and keep grinding, keep grump, keep going.

44:59 And this is somebody who's already here who

45:02 who I read bad comments about me every day.

45:04 All right, brother.

45:05 Don't let it get in your head because bro, my check still clears every week.

45:10 All right.

45:10 All right, brother.

45:11 We ain't tripping no more.

45:15 Thanks for the support.

45:16 That's what's up.

45:17 Yeah.

45:17 You know, I I was going to bring this up later, Jacob,

45:19 but because you just said it now, maybe jump into this question.

45:21 You do the right thing when no one's watching.

45:23 There's a video, I think, of like last year, maybe two years ago.

45:27 I grew up Lex Luger was my guy.

45:29 I People say whatever they want to now.

45:32 I never seen nobody built like Lex Luger.

45:34 I'd never seen nobody look like him.

45:35 I'm from there Penn State.

45:36 I knew he played football there.

45:38 So I I thought Pence I thought Lex Luger was like,

45:41 you know, and then he had his accident where now he's in a wheelchair.

45:44 And

45:44 there was a video of you just took it upon yourself.

45:47 He was struggling.

45:48 He you took his wheelchair, you folded it,

45:50 you helped stick it in his in in his car, and then you

45:54 and I guess you guys hadn't even talked cuz you were just like,

45:56 "Hey, I'm one of the fat twos." Of course, I I was walking,

46:03 man.

46:03 It was It's just how we are.

46:04 I mean, man, bro, it's just how my uncle, my parents, and them raised us.

46:09 It's how they raised us, dude.

46:10 That wasn't And you know, my boy, he was I didn't want him to do a vlog,

46:14 but he uh you know, shout out Stone P.

46:17 He was just walking.

46:18 I was on Independence and you I mean he just thought it would be cool just

46:21 to and I was like all right and you know I'm sitting there talking I see

46:25 a wheelchair and I see I'm listen I'm a wrestling fan at the end of the day

46:30 so dude how can you not help Lex Luger you know what I mean right like

46:34 I'm like oh man that's Lex hey OG man here I'mma put your will he

46:39 didn't even know who I was until he started looking at me and then I just

46:41 had to tell him you know hey I'm Fatu's nephew cuz that's how they knew Michael

46:45 Rkkeshi back in the day cuz they was

46:46 there as the head shrinkers with Uncle Zuna.

46:48 So, but man, bro, and and once again, if y'all know me,

46:53 I don't post stuff good stuff that I do.

46:56 People just will catch it,

46:58 you know.

46:58 That's just me being me, bro.

47:00 Because at the end of the day, I got seven kids.

47:03 They better know.

47:04 They better know how to treat people, you know, and my kids understand that.

47:08 My kids understand what we have now because what we went through.

47:11 And so, you know, my kids understand how to say yes, sir.

47:14 No, ma'am.

47:15 You know, they know how to walk in front of people and say,

47:17 "Excuse me." You know, they know when not to speak.

47:20 They know when I mean, but it's because it's because, man, we raised them right.

47:25 You know, I mean, we got to keep God first.

47:27 Got to raise them right.

47:28 Because nowadays, and we're not going to get into it, but it's a lot.

47:31 It's too much going on.

47:33 Nowadays, bro, you got to tap in with your kids.

47:35 I'll tell you one thing.

47:36 I'll tell you one thing.

47:37 My kids don't have this.

47:38 They only got I tell you one thing.

47:41 My kids only take this to school.

47:43 They come back.

47:43 Like, what?

47:44 think they don't got social media, none of that.

47:46 Cuz none of that means nothing.

47:48 You know, I made it here not off of so I told

47:50 my kids and they know daddy didn't make it here because of social media.

47:53 They don't like me because of know what I know.

47:56 They understand what we've been through, you know,

47:58 and this is the only and I feel like this is why people gravitate towards me.

48:01 I'm not going to sit here and and and I'm not

48:04 gonna sit here and and act like I had a great life,

48:06 act like I had a horrible life.

48:07 No, I made just wrong decisions.

48:09 I come from a great family.

48:11 My parents are great.

48:12 They're still married.

48:12 They're still together and I love my people, you know.

48:14 I mean, but it ain't how you start, it's how you finish.

48:17 You know what I mean?

48:18 Trust me, I I Bro, those days I wanted to quit.

48:21 I just talked about this on another podcast.

48:23 I had a WWE try out.

48:25 It didn't go the way I wanted it to because

48:27 my background they they just they said I would never work here.

48:31 William Wgle, Matt Bloom, Norman Smiley, I they they pulled me back.

48:37 I'll never forget William Regal.

48:39 I'm not saying you will ever work here, but just keep going.

48:43 You know what I mean?

48:45 And because it broke my heart, bro.

48:47 WWE maybe I wasn't ready.

48:48 I don't you know what I mean?

48:49 But I know for sure was my background.

48:51 So what did I want to do?

48:52 Me not knowing I never had a chance.

48:54 Damn.

48:54 Now I never man.

48:56 Shout out to William Regal, Matt Bloom, Norman Smiley, man.

48:59 They just told, "Hey man,

49:00 keep pushing." We're not saying you will ever have a job here,

49:03 but just keep going.

49:05 And then Regal will email me and like tap in with me like throughout the day,

49:09 like throughout the years.

49:10 So, you know, obviously there was something there.

49:12 But yeah, man.

49:14 Man, that's that's just them trying to see how much he wanted it.

49:17 Man, you stayed all you stayed on the path for this long and didn't go back.

49:21 That's all they needed to see.

49:22 Also, keeping it real with him, too.

49:24 Like, like right now, this is probably not going to work, but you keep grinding.

49:28 Yeah.

49:28 Well, you you Sorry, it was not to cut you off.

49:30 You know what it was, too?

49:31 had a try out and then they said, "Hey,

49:34 at the third day, if you got a felony, you will never work.

49:37 You You will not work here.

49:39 If we like you, we hire you,

49:40 we find out you have a felony." You know what I mean?

49:43 So, I already knew.

49:45 I'm not I wasn't going to fake the[ __] Yeah.

49:46 Did I think about lying?

49:47 Hell yeah, I thought about lying.

49:50 Yeah.

49:50 But come on, bro.

49:51 Look at me, bro.

49:51 You like, "Nah, he been through something." You know what I mean?

49:54 You know what I mean?

49:54 I mean, we I'm not saying they was looking

49:56 at me like that, but I Come on, brother.

49:59 You know what I mean?

49:59 Y'all know what I mean.

50:01 I mean,

50:01 hey, hey, bro.

50:02 So, you I mean, uh, so I stuck with it.

50:05 I I told the truth and once again,

50:06 this goes back to my kids and me being a father.

50:09 I can't teach my kids one thing and I'm doing another, you know, I mean,

50:12 so I had to tell the truth, you know, I mean,

50:14 and I spoke about it and I'm glad I did.

50:16 Not only that, they was going to find out one way or another,

50:18 you know, I mean, it's baby, you mean?

50:20 So, better find out through you.

50:23 Yeah.

50:23 Yeah.

50:23 You know what I mean?

50:24 And and and I'm glad it worked like that.

50:25 I'm glad I told them the truth cuz

50:27 I couldn't even imagine me getting hired then.

50:31 fired 3 weeks later.

50:32 Yeah.

50:32 Oh, bro.

50:33 Oh, it would have been Yeah, it would have been bad.

50:35 Jacob, can you come in the office?

50:37 Yeah.

50:37 Or or or no, how about this?

50:39 Or how about this?

50:40 Jacob, just stay home.

50:43 Yeah.

50:43 Or Jacob, don't even come in today.

50:44 You know what I mean?

50:46 But but what I'm trying But man, and you know what?

50:49 Uh I I didn't realize it until you just said that.

50:52 Damn, bro.

50:52 Yeah, I did stay on the grind that long.

50:54 Damn.

50:55 Damn, bro.

50:56 You just really opened my eyes, bro.

50:57 Yeah.

50:58 Thank you for that.

50:59 homie conversation.

51:00 That's what it's supposed to do.

51:02 We don't like to call these interviews, man.

51:03 We just chopping it up with people.

51:04 We like But Jacob, you you spoke about, you know, stay home for the day.

51:10 And that brings me to the family, right?

51:11 You got seven kids, your wife Elizabeth.

51:15 Real quick though, the ages of your kids, what do they range from?

51:18 Like, oh man, man.

51:19 P.

51:20 Hold on.

51:20 How d man?

51:22 My oldest just uh man, he just uh left for the military last week.

51:29 So, he's doing good.

51:31 He's 20, pops 20, 17, 16, 14, 13, 9, and uh for four, baby.

51:38 I got a whole team.

51:40 Yeah, bro.

51:40 And a bench.

51:41 And a bench.

51:42 So, so let me ask you this, right?

51:44 Like, you got a day nothing on the WWE.

51:48 One of the rare days that WWE doesn't have anything for you.

51:52 You know, your oldest son,

51:53 let's just say your oldest son before he would have left home.

51:55 You have all seven of of your seed just sitting at the crib, right?

51:59 What would be a perfect day for Jacob F2?

52:02 You don't have to worry about work.

52:04 You just get to dust the dawn.

52:06 You get to do whatever you want with the family.

52:09 I mean, man, if they know I'm tapped in with my kids, bro.

52:12 I mean, I'm if if I catch late flights leaving every Thursday,

52:17 sometimes I I don't like connecting flights, but you know,

52:20 to get time with my kids now cuz the schedule we're on, I mean,

52:23 WWE schedule was way different than what it was, you know.

52:26 So, I'm actually very happy to be home a lot actually now than than what it was.

52:32 But a perfect day, bro.

52:34 I mean, we got to go.

52:35 So, we So, you mean we in the south now, man?

52:37 I mean, so, bro, we got to go Waffle House.

52:38 I mean, y we don't want to steal someone else's question,

52:42 even though I feel like our questions got

52:44 even though he be Yeah.

52:44 But we ain't going to steal nobody's wavvel out.

52:46 But Yeah.

52:47 So, go ahead.

52:49 Hey, hey, for sure.

52:50 But, you know what I mean?

52:51 It's I try to take my kids.

52:52 I mean, I remember I was being a little bougie, too.

52:54 When I first got the job, I wanted to take them like,

52:57 you know, go eat some steak or spaghetti.

52:59 You mean try to do something, man?

53:00 They just want a Waffle House.

53:02 You mean?

53:02 So, I'll take him to Waffle House, man.

53:04 I definitely take him to the movies.

53:06 My four-year-old, bro, he just he he manny, bro.

53:08 You I mean, he running every way.

53:10 Everywhere.

53:11 So, it's really everything for the kids, man.

53:13 My kids don't want that much, bro.

53:15 They don't even really care about Nike, Jordans.

53:18 You know what I mean?

53:18 Bro, I still take them to I still take them like to Walmart or or JD.

53:23 I mean, my kids don't really trip over anything.

53:25 They don't trip over phones.

53:26 They don't trip over clothes cuz my kids understand, you know,

53:29 I mean, man, we came from that turning them lights on, bro.

53:32 Them roaches in the kitchen.

53:33 You know what I mean?

53:34 And and I could speak about that cuz my kids understand that, you know?

53:37 So, I'm very grateful for my kids not even wanting a lot, you know.

53:40 I mean, like, trust me, bro, when we first moved out over here,

53:45 it was hard for us to sleep in the room, my kids and everything.

53:48 We slept in the living room for one month together, you know what I mean?

53:51 Cuz that's just how we've been living our whole lives.

53:53 And, you know, I mean, in one room and one mattress,

53:55 you I mean, with our, you know, my sister-in-law.

53:57 So,

53:58 right now the the a perfect day.

54:00 Oh, bro.

54:02 Especially with a little bit of GA, bro.

54:03 Oh, it's definitely a good day.

54:05 You know what I mean?

54:05 Yes, sir.

54:07 So, man, bro, uh uh but it's really cooking.

54:09 I'll probably come back home and just cook, man.

54:11 The kids love My kids love watching movies, you know.

54:14 I mean, I show them old school movies, you mean?

54:16 Adam Sandler, they really hooked on Adam Sandler.

54:18 Just showing them life with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence,

54:21 you know, I mean, they over there tripping on a mean.

54:27 So, man, it's just uh I enjoy just showing

54:30 them old school movies cuz I'm a movie guy.

54:32 You know what I mean?

54:32 My kids love movies.

54:33 Uh, I was lacing them up, showing them Blockbuster, you know what I mean?

54:36 I was showing them, hey, man, before Netflix,

54:38 we had to go to Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, you know what I mean?

54:41 So,

54:41 Right.

54:42 Right.

54:42 Just showing them that, man.

54:43 Uh, just showing them a lot of old school stuff, you know,

54:46 cuz they think all this stuff that we have is is new.

54:50 Like even with the AI, like I had to break it down, explain that to them.

54:53 So, you know, just told them, man, man, you guys are very blessed.

54:56 All right.

54:56 You guys are very they're in a good position right now.

54:59 But I understand it wouldn't be well I wouldn't

55:01 be here if it weren't for God Jesus Christ man.

55:03 So just thank you though.

55:04 Thank thank you to the man above.

55:06 That's good.

55:07 It's good.

55:08 Now you know being a second generation man myself.

55:12 TJ, I got to ask is there any uh you know any of your

55:16 your younglings that look into wrestling a little bit or like

55:20 you catch them watching a little bit more than the other ones?

55:24 My girls.

55:24 Uh my girl Well, no.

55:27 Well, one of my sons, he's really into it, man.

55:29 He a football player, but bro,

55:30 he he really tapped in, you know, I mean, John, right?

55:34 He he my 13y old, my 14y old, he like it,

55:38 but man, he like like Paul Heymon, like Nick all this, you mean?

55:43 Yeah.

55:43 You know what I mean?

55:44 So, but my girls definitely I even my kids don't watch it around me.

55:48 Uh I didn't even really think my kids

55:51 used to watch me until I actually got here.

55:52 You know what I mean?

55:53 I think they start watching me cuz you know they see their uncles on TV

55:56 and you know I'm dad and uncle when it comes to them you know

56:00 so uh my girls definitely my um my 15 and my nineyear-old

56:04 you I mean so I'mma have them for the first time

56:07 with me at Backlash I mean and this how special this moment

56:10 is like for us and our families like we're all going

56:12 to have our families there I mean and it's overall it's just

56:16 going to be a beautiful moment uh for for me my wife

56:19 and my kids and you know just for our whole bloodline who's

56:22 uh going be there this Saturday tapping in at Tampa at Backlash.

56:26 Yeah, man.

56:26 I uh my my my girl cuz I got a 8-year-old

56:30 and uh yeah, I had to catch her watching wrestling like she

56:33 ain't want to like like you see me watching it every week.

56:36 You don't want to just like sit with me.

56:39 One day we and him were on the phone together, right?

56:41 And then he goes, "Hold up." And he gets quiet.

56:44 He goes, "Yo, let me let me call you back real quick." I'm like,

56:46 "What's going on?" And then you tell them what you

56:49 I cuz I cuz we was watching wrestling but I kept hearing like

56:52 I know I'm hearing another match somewhere, you know?

56:55 I'm like I know I'm hearing something that's not

56:57 the TV and I'm talking to TJ and I look and she on her iPad watching CM Punk

57:03 versus Drew McIntyre Hell in the Cell on her own.

57:06 On her own.

57:08 Yeah.

57:08 So I had to record her and I had to send it to TJ and I

57:11 told my sister she was like yeah that's

57:13 probably like her four fifth time watching that match.

57:15 She said she she said she called me and be like,

57:18 "Auntie, what's the match with the blood?"

57:21 Yeah.

57:22 Hey, man.

57:23 Man, that that it's so cool though cuz that's

57:27 how my wife told me the girls were watching it.

57:29 She was like, I think the girls are keep watching wrestling.

57:31 So, you know, man, my wife don't play.

57:32 She tapped and they don't have their own sign in.

57:35 They all signed in under one email so she can see everything.

57:37 You know what I mean?

57:38 So, she go and she like, "Bro,

57:40 they're uh they're watching it." But um I think it's

57:43 cool now because it actually brought me and my girls,

57:46 you know, I'm already close to my kids,

57:48 but now now I'm showing them old school stuff.

57:50 Bro, I just showed him I just showed them

57:52 May Young getting power bombed through a table from uh

57:59 what did they think of that?

58:01 Hey, I was like y'all going to be doing stuff like this.

58:06 On another note, I want to throw this out there.

58:09 Rest in peace to my uncle Umaga.

58:11 But when he and Rest in peace to my uncle Roman Reigns brother,

58:14 Uncle Matt an Rosie.

58:16 Yes, sir.

58:18 And uh Jamal Umaga aka Jamal.

58:23 Yep.

58:23 So three minute warning and we're talking about people taking some good stuff.

58:28 Lillian Garcia took up She took the best popup Simon.

58:35 Y'all remember that?

58:36 Oh, it was like Yeah.

58:39 Hey, she did it with one step.

58:41 Rosie threw her and it's funny.

58:43 I was such a fan when she came back and I met her.

58:46 I mean, hey, I is it okay if I get a picture?

58:51 I mean, cuz bro, and I told her she took the best popup some more, man.

58:54 And it it was pretty cool.

58:55 I just wanted to throw that out there.

58:56 So, shout out to taking a picture.

58:59 When I was a kid, that was the one move all them pillows got right,

59:05 bro.

59:05 Three minute warning was giving it to everyone.

59:08 Men, women, it didn't matter.

59:10 They was getting messed up.

59:11 Yeah, bro.

59:12 That bro that[ __] off there.

59:14 Evil man.

59:15 Evil man.

59:15 That[ __] off, man.

59:17 Three minutes.

59:18 You couldn't even say it around him.

59:19 He start tripping out.

59:21 Oh, that's funny.

59:22 Hey, you know there's one thing, you know, before we run out of time.

59:25 I think we got a little bit of time left for you.

59:26 This is just personal for me, right?

59:28 I'm I guess I'm going use this I guess stroke my own ego.

59:31 When we saw you in Stanford for the WWA 2K26,

59:36 it was right after our John Cena interview came out.

59:39 And when you came into the room,

59:41 you were so hyped about how good you thought the interview was.

59:44 And we were, you know,

59:46 that we were getting this this reaction there in Stanford, which was dope.

59:50 We was bent dogs.

59:51 And then you and then and then you brought up how dope

59:54 you thought it was that me and Cena wrapped this theme song together.

59:58 And so I was at that moment I was reading some comments on social which I

1:00:01 shouldn't that were oh pretty much positive

1:00:05 but there were a great deal of people who

1:00:07 were kind of clowning me mad at me because why we would have rather him did

1:00:12 it on his own like why'd you have to ruin it and I'm like you don't understand.

1:00:16 I asked the man like I asked him before

1:00:19 the interview started right and he goes well let me see.

1:00:22 I guess he wanted to see how the interview goes.

1:00:25 Yeah.

1:00:25 When we got to the end of the interview, I p I brought it up again and he goes,

1:00:28 "Well, normally I would say no to this, but there's three of us.

1:00:32 Let's do it." So, we did it and you came in and you hyped me up about doing it.

1:00:36 And I was like, you you thought it was all right.

1:00:38 And you were like, "Yo, that was dope." And I can't tell you,

1:00:41 man, how you and Paul Heymon back to back telling me that

1:00:45 it washed away, you know,

1:00:47 couple hundred tweets and told me I was an a-hole or like I ruined it for him.

1:00:52 So, I want to just say thank you for that, man.

1:00:54 Yeah, man.

1:00:55 You read a hundred of those?

1:00:58 He can't help it, man.

1:01:00 Yeah, I get yelled at all the time for it.

1:01:02 But yeah, so when you when you said it, that made me feel like, all right, bet.

1:01:07 No, love.

1:01:08 Love who's Oh, hey.

1:01:09 Hey, man.

1:01:10 So, I just told you, man.

1:01:11 Everybody's doing this now.

1:01:13 All right.

1:01:15 Good point.

1:01:16 Hey.

1:01:16 Hey.

1:01:17 No.

1:01:17 Hey.

1:01:17 Who's No.

1:01:18 It was genuine, man.

1:01:19 Trust me.

1:01:20 It was like because nobody who's done that before.

1:01:23 I mean, you he said it he said he usually says no to it and you did it.

1:01:27 Come on, bro.

1:01:27 It's never going to happen again.

1:01:28 You know what I mean?

1:01:30 Yeah.

1:01:30 One of his guys that helped set it up for us,

1:01:32 he he came in, he congratulated us on the interview,

1:01:35 said how much John loved it.

1:01:36 He showed us a text, you know, whatever they need.

1:01:38 And he turns to me and he goes, I can't believe you got him rap.

1:01:42 I'm like, what do you mean?

1:01:43 He goes, "Do you understand every podcast

1:01:45 he goes on from Charlemagne, if it's hip-hop,

1:01:48 anywhere they know any that has to do with music,

1:01:52 they all ask him to rap and he always says no." He goes,

1:01:55 "I can't believe you got him to do that." And I was like, "Well,

1:01:59 I never met TJ before." That was, you know, you know what I mean?

1:02:03 Hey, man.

1:02:04 I mean, you know what's popping, man.

1:02:06 You did it though, big bro.

1:02:08 You did it, man.

1:02:08 And then look, that's cool.

1:02:10 Heymon said something, too.

1:02:11 I didn't know that.

1:02:12 Yeah.

1:02:12 back to back.

1:02:13 So, I felt real good about that.

1:02:14 Yeah, man.

1:02:14 But if you didn't take that moment,

1:02:16 that's like Jordan shooting some shots and he pass

1:02:18 you the ball and you just pass it back.

1:02:21 No, you go.

1:02:24 Yeah.

1:02:24 So, I should put the ball in the rack now.

1:02:25 We're done.

1:02:26 Mike's done.

1:02:27 Get a shot up right there, dude.

1:02:30 That's all you got to do.

1:02:32 Yeah.

1:02:32 So, that that I appreciate that, dog.

1:02:34 That meant a lot to me.

1:02:35 Yeah, man.

1:02:36 Hey, how you feeling?

1:02:37 You got something?

1:02:38 Well, you know, we already we already hit him with the bar fight question,

1:02:41 but I I do I don't know if we asked you this before.

1:02:44 No, not the Delorean.

1:02:45 I don't think Okay, so Jacob, too, I think it goes without saying,

1:02:48 brother, that you are family of no contest, right?

1:02:51 Especially when we cut this out.

1:02:53 You know, we're ESPN CW is like what we like to call

1:02:56 ourselves being the only uh wrestling podcast on Shout out to Mickey Mouse.

1:03:00 Yes, sir.

1:03:01 ESPN CW.

1:03:03 So, you know, when you come into LA,

1:03:04 you know, you already got a crib to stay in.

1:03:06 I I tell you where the the spare key is.

1:03:08 Let yourself in.

1:03:09 Go to the kitchen.

1:03:10 Put your feet on the couch.

1:03:12 Whatever.

1:03:12 But in the garage, right, we we got a little something that we have in a retarp.

1:03:16 And that's a Delorean machine, you know, from Back to the Future.

1:03:19 So, I'm going to let you We're going to give you

1:03:20 the keys to that, but you got to do something for us, right?

1:03:23 You got to go back in time, Jacob Fatu,

1:03:26 and you got to pick five wrestlers from any era that you

1:03:30 would want to have a Wrestlemania dream match with, a main event.

1:03:35 Who are you going to take that Delorean and either go to them, scoop them up,

1:03:38 bring them back, or go to their time and have that main event with?

1:03:44 But oh man, Dad,

1:03:47 I know one I know one of them right now probably be Braun Breaker.

1:03:52 Okay.

1:03:52 Yeah, because there was that moment hinting at that.

1:03:55 There was that moment.

1:03:56 Yeah.

1:03:57 Yeah.

1:03:57 Know I know one of them probably be Bra.

1:03:59 I know Braun for sure.

1:04:00 Um I don't know what it is about him, man.

1:04:02 Uh, we don't really talk that much.

1:04:05 He be back, but you know what I mean?

1:04:07 I'll be seeing it and you know, I'mma keep it 100.

1:04:09 Yeah.

1:04:10 Sometimes, you know, I mean,

1:04:12 I know, bro.

1:04:13 I know, bro.

1:04:13 Beast and you know, got me feeling some type of way, too.

1:04:16 Hold on.

1:04:17 You know what I mean?

1:04:17 So, so yeah, definitely Brian and not only

1:04:20 that with his that with his father and his uncle,

1:04:23 you know, they were really good and really close.

1:04:25 A great bloodline right there.

1:04:27 Yes, bro.

1:04:28 And you mean so shout out to them.

1:04:30 I really respect his father a lot every time when I see him,

1:04:33 you know what I mean?

1:04:33 So, it's always cool to see him and his uncle as well, you know what I mean?

1:04:37 So, definitely Breaker, man.

1:04:41 I ain't going to lie, bro.

1:04:42 I'll be playing him a lot in the in the two game game.

1:04:44 Macho Man Savage, you know what I mean?

1:04:48 I play him a lot.

1:04:50 Yeah, I play him a lot over there.

1:04:52 Uh, definitely Jeff Hardy.

1:04:53 He's one of my favorites.

1:04:55 You know, Jacob, not to interrupt you,

1:04:56 one time somebody asked me about you when you first got to the main roster,

1:05:00 and I said, "Imagine this.

1:05:02 Imagine if Uma and Jeff Hardy had a baby.

1:05:07 That could be Jacob Fatu." Am I off on that?

1:05:12 That's scary.

1:05:14 Well, yeah.

1:05:14 I'd rather take that than uh I'd rather take that than May Young, dude.

1:05:22 No, but hey, hold Don't get it twisted now.

1:05:24 Miss Matt Young was beautiful and she was going hard and crazy.

1:05:29 Said she was the toughest woman.

1:05:32 Absolutely, man.

1:05:33 And uh you mean but anyway, shout out to Miss Man Young, man.

1:05:36 Rest in peace, man.

1:05:37 Braun Macho Man, Jeff Hardy.

1:05:40 Yeah, Jeff Hardy.

1:05:41 And and you name one of them and it's I don't know how it would have came out,

1:05:44 but definitely my unclea, man.

1:05:47 Definitely him.

1:05:48 I would have did something with him.

1:05:49 But hold on, man.

1:05:50 Maybe hold on.

1:05:51 Let me let me name people outside my family.

1:05:54 Okay, so Jeff Hardy, you know what I mean?

1:05:55 Who else we got?

1:05:57 Macho.

1:05:58 Is it Bra?

1:06:00 Jeff Hardy.

1:06:02 Um, man, what was OG's name?

1:06:03 Oh my god.

1:06:04 I just Mr.

1:06:05 Perfect.

1:06:07 Yeah, I would have tapped in with Perfect.

1:06:09 And then, uh, man, I don't know.

1:06:11 I always felt like what would me and Brock Lesnar had look like,

1:06:15 you know what I mean?

1:06:16 So,

1:06:17 yeah, man.

1:06:17 That's probably definitely them.

1:06:18 I mean that's not that I wanted to pick people that was that wasn't my family.

1:06:22 I mean so yeah definitely those five though I don't know.

1:06:26 Yeah definitely Breaker Mr.

1:06:28 Perfect you mean?

1:06:30 Jeff Hardy

1:06:34 Macho Macho Man and then who else did I say Rock mean?

1:06:38 Yeah.

1:06:38 So that's them bro.

1:06:39 That's the right there.

1:06:41 And that's just me just thinking off the head though.

1:06:43 I mean no really that's[ __] though for real because I love Mr.

1:06:46 Perfect bro.

1:06:46 Mr.

1:06:46 Perfect had dope matches with my cousin Lance

1:06:49 on a while he's father the great Samu and Mr.

1:06:51 Perfect.

1:06:52 Got a great match from Uncle Rkeshi.

1:06:53 When he came back, they did a match at Sunday

1:06:55 Night Heat and uh I just always enjoyed his work, dude.

1:06:58 Can I can I share a Samu story with you real quick?

1:07:01 Oh yeah.

1:07:02 I'm from Altuna, Pennsylvania.

1:07:04 We had matches at the Jaffa mosque.

1:07:05 I'm in I don't know, I want to say seventh, maybe eighth grade.

1:07:09 I'm sitting in the stands sitting next to a woman.

1:07:12 It turned out to be either his wife or his girlfriend at the time.

1:07:15 So I'm trying to like act like I know what I'm talking about,

1:07:18 but without marking out too much.

1:07:20 So, I'm asking her little questions throughout

1:07:22 the matches and then she says to me,

1:07:24 "Well, would you want to come meet him afterwards?

1:07:27 I'm seventh, eighth grade.

1:07:28 I'm in Altuna.

1:07:29 I don't like these people aren't real to me." Remember,

1:07:32 right?

1:07:32 It's a dream.

1:07:33 Yeah.

1:07:33 And so, I the last time I was at home this past summer,

1:07:37 I took a driveby and I took a picture of the exact spot.

1:07:40 I believe it was a white minivan and he

1:07:42 sat there with the side doors open and he let

1:07:44 me sit in there with him and he talked

1:07:46 to me for like 15 20 minutes after the matches.

1:07:49 And I went to school and I wrote because I was on the school paper.

1:07:52 I was a journalism major and I wrote a story

1:07:54 about that night which I have no idea where that is.

1:07:57 But so Samu always has a place for me because he took

1:08:01 time to take this goofy little kid who was marking out about

1:08:05 wrestling outside of the Jaffa and Altuna and just sit me down

1:08:08 and like answer whatever remedial seventh grade questions I would have man.

1:08:13 So like I never got to see him again to this day

1:08:16 but every time I see him I think about that.

1:08:18 So there's always some love and respect for Samu from from me for sure.

1:08:24 Yeah.

1:08:23 No, bro.

1:08:23 Man, man, right on, man.

1:08:25 That that means a lot for me and and especially I know how my uncle is, man.

1:08:29 My uncle always been nothing but loving and and and uh man,

1:08:33 if anybody's underwriting, if anybody was pretty good,

1:08:36 man, it was my uncle Sam, man.

1:08:38 Samu was man, brother.

1:08:40 Instead of saying like, you know, hey, watch this, watch this, you know,

1:08:44 he used to pick people up, give him that spin super kick.

1:08:47 He won't even tell him.

1:08:48 He'll just tell them.

1:08:48 He'll He'll just tell them pick their head up and be like,

1:08:51 "Forgive me." And then turn around AND BAM.

1:08:55 You know what I mean?

1:08:56 Yeah, man.

1:08:57 He said Yeah.

1:08:59 My my my uncle Sam told me the story.

1:09:01 He said, "Yeah, one day I seen Buddy Rogers was like laying down or Terry Gorge,

1:09:05 somebody was like sleeping at the airport and he he

1:09:08 had a lighter and he lit his pants on fire." That's not a joke.

1:09:12 Yeah.

1:09:13 No.

1:09:13 No.

1:09:13 No.

1:09:14 Yeah.

1:09:14 The crazy thing like these guys back then like I was like

1:09:17 oh man like you do like bro we fighting like for real

1:09:21 right like bro what's the punch line this is

1:09:25 assault say you know what it's cool to for you

1:09:29 to even speak about that and thank you for sharing

1:09:32 that because you mean there's no other platform you

1:09:34 I mean you could have said it on anything

1:09:36 else better than this platform so man now he he

1:09:40 doesn't know but he'll definitely see it now so

1:09:42 thank you bro I know it make him feel good

1:09:43 I appreciate Man, and it's funny when you were naming your dream opponents,

1:09:47 I I always like to throw an extra name out and you said the name.

1:09:51 My extra name was going to be Terry Bam Bam Gordy.

1:09:54 So, it was just wild when you just now said Terry Gordy.

1:09:57 Yeah, he was Terry Gordy was a beast back in his day before,

1:10:00 you know, he uh ran into some troubles.

1:10:02 But yeah.

1:10:03 No, no, bro.

1:10:04 Hey, man, it's just dope, man.

1:10:06 Uh I really enjoy like the way how

1:10:08 the old school wrestlers look too back in the day.

1:10:10 I mean like like was nobody here all muscles and

1:10:14 body guys you know like

1:10:15 but they were[ __] they were banging it out.

1:10:18 Yeah.

1:10:18 Yeah.

1:10:18 Yeah.

1:10:19 For sure man.

1:10:20 From you know from your start at 18 going through out the indies to now.

1:10:27 You know you talked about that TV that you watched.

1:10:31 I I'm sure when you had your injury dying to get back here.

1:10:35 Can you take us a little bit before I let you go?

1:10:38 What was going through your mind during your time off?

1:10:41 You know, that time where you were recovering, man, I I you know what?

1:10:45 Um I ain't going to sugarcoat anything.

1:10:48 Uh I had to slow down.

1:10:50 I'm I'm just I'm glad they caught it.

1:10:53 Uh you know, shout out to my wife for actually having me.

1:10:57 I I needed to go get it looked at.

1:10:58 You know, it would have affected my heart.

1:11:00 It would have affected my brain.

1:11:01 You know, I never got no teeth pulled out.

1:11:03 So that's why it was it it was major.

1:11:06 That's why we did.

1:11:08 I feel like I missed out on opportunities, but at the end of the day,

1:11:11 it doesn't matter because my health is everything.

1:11:13 You I mean, like I can't take care

1:11:15 of my family if I'm being stubborn about this.

1:11:17 So, if anybody's watching this, man, just make sure y'all go take care of that.

1:11:21 Check it out.

1:11:22 I didn't know.

1:11:23 I was green.

1:11:24 I didn't know about none of this.

1:11:25 I mean, but when they looked at it, yeah, it was bad.

1:11:27 I got 11 or 12.

1:11:29 I got 11 teeth pulled out.

1:11:31 I mean, they're all act Yeah.

1:11:33 This is my real teeth right here.

1:11:35 I you I mean so we I got all my[ __]

1:11:37 in the back but it was all through the back.

1:11:39 I mean it was offering me what what smoking being younger

1:11:43 smoking new report all stuff when I never took care of it

1:11:48 and it and it opened up my mind like bro

1:11:50 now now now I'm starting to think about my health

1:11:53 now I'm starting to think about okay I'm young now

1:11:56 I do this now but if I don't take care

1:11:58 of this and really tap in with my side with my health

1:12:01 side then my kids will lose you know they're going

1:12:04 to lose me and so it really opened up my eyes

1:12:07 on that on how to healthwise taking care of my body, doing this, doing that.

1:12:11 Okay, just taking it easy cuz you know I'm not young no more so

1:12:15 it is different you know you I mean um this why I give uh respect

1:12:19 to Randy to AJ to Cody I mean these are cats you I mean

1:12:23 that haven't lost a step and brother they still look great you know what I mean

1:12:28 so taking stuff learning from them is a very big a very very big

1:12:33 uh thing so that process of being home after the teeth got pulled out

1:12:39 it was different bro looking at my kids here with my kids all day

1:12:42 and I got to really spend time with them and tap in with them,

1:12:47 you know, because I was on on the move.

1:12:49 But, uh, it it was some days it did get hard, you know,

1:12:53 like and I meant hard as in like I didn't want to just be home, but I need home.

1:12:59 And it was like, why try to hurry up and come back and rush back?

1:13:05 No.

1:13:05 When you come back, enjoy this time off,

1:13:08 but also get your mind right because when you come back, oh man, it's go time.

1:13:14 It ain't going to be another time like this.

1:13:16 You're not going to have You're not going

1:13:18 to be able to afford four months off next time.

1:13:21 What?

1:13:22 No, I barely get a week off.

1:13:24 But it's okay, man.

1:13:25 It's okay.

1:13:25 It's work.

1:13:26 This is what we've been wanting.

1:13:28 Okay.

1:13:28 This is what we've been praying for.

1:13:29 this is what this is what I need to be busy to be gone to to be away is is

1:13:35 a good thing you know so it was a little

1:13:39 different and then yeah it was different watching war games

1:13:43 man it was I felt because I was supposed to be in war games you know

1:13:48 yeah I was supposed to be in there and then I think about it

1:13:51 damn what if I would have had a moment with Brock in there you

1:13:53 I mean what if I would have had a moment you know what I

1:13:55 mean and I think about it but at the end of the day I'm not

1:13:58 going to dwell on it and I me now I got to make sure

1:14:01 that I execute now you know and when I did come back it did

1:14:05 feel like something that's why when I spoke earlier I wasn't saying all gas

1:14:08 no breaks I was trying to stay away from all that because it was different

1:14:11 and keep it 100 I kind of already knew what I wanted when I did come

1:14:16 back came back in January I kind of knew we was headed

1:14:20 this way a little bit I didn't know when I didn't know where

1:14:24 or what time but I knew rather punk one Roman one or whoever.

1:14:30 I knew it was time for a change.

1:14:33 That title's on Raw.

1:14:36 Yeah.

1:14:35 I've been on Smackdown two years.

1:14:37 I had to try to figure something.

1:14:38 Not saying I'm on Raw now.

1:14:40 No, I'm still I'm still I'm doing both.

1:14:42 It is what it is.

1:14:43 I'm not complaining.

1:14:44 I'm not No, like what I said before,

1:14:47 we love this beautiful this, you know, this great life that we live.

1:14:50 I mean, I'm not living like the tribal chief, but brother,

1:14:52 I'm living a whole lot better than I was

1:14:54 doing when I was staying up in those public houses.

1:14:56 I tell you that.

1:14:58 But it it it slowed me down.

1:15:01 It made me regroup.

1:15:03 And man, it just it got me back better on my health.

1:15:07 Brought me way closer to my kids.

1:15:09 And but um man, when it was time to run, bro, it was time to run.

1:15:13 So from being out in October to coming back in January.

1:15:18 Yeah.

1:15:18 Now look, now look, you know what I mean?

1:15:21 Absolutely.

1:15:22 I think we're going in a big thing.

1:15:23 But to tell you the truth, I needed that.

1:15:25 I didn't even know I needed that break until

1:15:27 I actually sat my ass down and I needed it.

1:15:30 So, you know, my wife said things happen

1:15:33 for a reason and I that happened for a reason.

1:15:37 Saturday, man.

1:15:38 The mindset that you had in the beginning got

1:15:41 you out of your situation all the way to WWE.

1:15:44 You with this new mindset, now that you in it,

1:15:48 we can't see how far that this thing takes you, man.

1:15:50 You've always got support from us.

1:15:53 know this Saturday is the first step in in many for Jacob Fatu.

1:15:57 We will be watching, brother.

1:15:59 Thank you for for being here, man.

1:16:00 And Jacob, yes, sir.

1:16:03 Before you go, I'm just I got to know, man, on on Saturday

1:16:07 for this World Heavyweight Championship, are you willing to do anything it takes

1:16:12 to become the new champion?

1:16:14 Man, I'm bringing my wife and my kids not to see me wrestle Uncle Roman,

1:16:24 not to see their dad wrestle a PL.

1:16:31 My kids and my wife are going to be there cuz they're going

1:16:35 to understand the beginning of a new life and everything that comes with it.

1:16:42 So, yeah.

1:16:45 And I I am willing to do everything that I am.

1:16:48 Backlash.

1:16:49 It's a whole another move.

1:16:52 Yeah, it's a whole another move.

1:16:53 Backlash.

1:16:56 There you have it.

1:16:57 Jacob, too.

1:16:58 Yes, sir.

1:16:59 Thank you for your time, brother.

1:17:01 Love.

1:17:02 Tap in.

1:17:05 YO, COME ON, TJ.

1:17:06 THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

1:17:07 COME ON, TJ.

1:17:09 THAT BOY JACOB FU IS NOT GETTING THIS NOWHERE ELSE.

1:17:12 COME ON NOW.

1:17:12 OH, he made me he made us feel good with some of the questions we were asking.

1:17:16 Oh, that was good.

1:17:17 You know, cuz we not only not only can we sell it,

1:17:21 you know, but we get a little personal.

1:17:23 Don't throw you some alley oops, you know, little softball tosses.

1:17:27 Get that out of there.

1:17:28 We make sure we treat our guests nice know what we do.

1:17:31 We run the gambit of emotions.

1:17:33 How you going to make a tough man little little te you know right here with it?

1:17:39 He right here with it.

1:17:40 I remember seeing Jacob.

1:17:41 I think he was the MLW champion.

1:17:43 As you know, we've gone MLW champion for over something like 800

1:17:49 days or something when I first really got to know who he was.

1:17:52 And I remember when he came to WWE, I was telling people,

1:17:55 you ain't ready for what this brother can do.

1:17:57 And yeah, man, he's showing improving each and every week.

1:18:00 And look, I didn't want to I didn't want to bring it up,

1:18:02 you know, during, you know,

1:18:04 I just felt like it was a little a little out of place,

1:18:07 but I know everybody's talking about Oba in Roman.

1:18:11 Yeah.

1:18:11 Oba and Jacob.

1:18:13 I don't think there's an arena safe.

1:18:16 No.

1:18:17 Like, are you kidding me?

1:18:18 I can't wait for that.

1:18:19 That is like, you know, if you know Jacob,

1:18:23 he got this thing, you know, Godzilla verse King Kong.

1:18:26 Will he both?

1:18:27 I don't know, man.

1:18:29 Cuz I've seen Oba beat his chest a few times.

1:18:32 And my goodness.

1:18:33 Either way, man, that dude when you know the his story,

1:18:39 when you know what he been through, when you just just take the time,

1:18:42 if you can, take the time to look it up because

1:18:44 the man could have a he could have a 30 for30.

1:18:47 Also, man, I'm I'm glad we we were able to ask him those questions about like,

1:18:51 you know, him putting in his work as a kid because ultimately

1:18:56 that path kind of got him to where he is today.

1:18:59 his unfortunate path, but

1:19:01 you know, he seems to turned it around and and and that someone's

1:19:04 going to look at that and hopefully that'll change someone else's life.

1:19:07 Yeah.

1:19:07 Cuz how many stories do we have of people not turning it around?

1:19:10 Oh, so many.

1:19:11 You know, they like they it's always the trope

1:19:14 of like when people are released that, you know,

1:19:18 you we'll see you when you come back.

1:19:20 You know, that type situation.

1:19:21 But it's a lot like with my kid,

1:19:23 with my daughter, I always tell people everything I do,

1:19:26 I do for her and everything I don't do, I don't do for her, you know?

1:19:31 And it it's just so refreshing and it's so

1:19:34 good to have a story of somebody recognizing their blessings,

1:19:39 recognizing the people that depend on them, and then like change it up.

1:19:43 Yeah.

1:19:44 And Yeah.

1:19:44 Like I said, man, it's it's hard not to root for that guy.

1:19:48 And it's amazing when people can bet on themselves.

1:19:55 Mhm.

1:19:54 Which brings me to my next point.

1:19:58 Okay.

1:19:57 Because people who I I feel like had

1:20:00 the the idea of betting on themselves personified was uh

1:20:08 I know where you're going with this.

1:20:09 The new day.

1:20:12 Yes.

1:20:11 You know, the new day.

1:20:12 Uh, I believe it was July 24th, 2014, if my my research serves me well,

1:20:22 where we saw Xavier Woods go in the ring with Kofi and Big E

1:20:27 after they finished their match and he kind of had a call to arms moment,

1:20:33 which led to the creation of one of the greatest tag teams WWE has ever seen.

1:20:42 I know for certain it is the greatest black tag team.

1:20:46 So it it it it holds a a certain special place in my heart.

1:20:51 And you know Xavier Woods bet on himself.

1:21:00 Yes.

1:20:58 With Kofi with Big E.

1:21:00 So much so that in a conversation he had with Vince McMahon he bet his career.

1:21:08 He said, "If this doesn't work,

1:21:11 give me four weeks with a microphone and I can get

1:21:14 this crowd to boo Kofi and we become the New Day.

1:21:18 And if it doesn't work, there are plenty of call-ups that deserve my spot."

1:21:23 I never heard that story.

1:21:24 Yep.

1:21:24 Bet on himself.

1:21:26 And these guys became one of the beacons

1:21:31 of joy in this company that we love of WWE.

1:21:36 And remember, they started off as heels though.

1:21:38 Yeah, exactly.

1:21:39 They started off that way and they didn't they didn't think uh you know,

1:21:43 people wanted to boo Kofi and and Xavier made it work and you know,

1:21:47 we know where they went on with the multiple

1:21:49 tag team title runs and and Kofi getting you know,

1:21:54 Kofi Mania and winning the title and Big E winning the big boy as well,

1:21:59 being on that short list of black superstars to win the WWE title.

1:22:04 And Xavier Woods when they brought back King of the Ring,

1:22:08 that first King of the Ring was Xavier Woods.

1:22:11 That was something he said he always loved and he Yeah.

1:22:13 He brought it back.

1:22:16 Yeah.

1:22:15 Success.

1:22:16 And you know, a lot of people want to talk about

1:22:18 Xavier Woods and and not going on a single title run.

1:22:22 His title was the New Day.

1:22:26 Yeah.

1:22:26 that when when we when Big E had that accident,

1:22:32 a lot of people thought that that was kind of the beginning

1:22:34 of the end and they still found a way to, you know,

1:22:38 it was a little bit more of a sympathetic

1:22:40 situation because we we we all were waiting for E to come back until we got

1:22:45 the news that it's probably never going to happen.

1:22:49 And I can't help as a fan to just like, you know,

1:22:53 like I know what we spoke to Xavier Woods ourselves and he said,

1:22:58 you know, even though we were faces,

1:23:00 knew they were kind of bullies, you know, they made fun of people.

1:23:04 They like they they they poked fun at you, made you look ridiculous.

1:23:09 And so when they went on the heel run,

1:23:10 you thought like, all right, you know, they started off as heels.

1:23:13 Maybe this would be a nice little refreshing thing for them.

1:23:16 where they kind of had the wrestling world in their hand

1:23:19 when they had that 10y year anniversary and you know they kind

1:23:23 of trashed Big E and I can't help but acknowledge that it

1:23:28 went nowhere and I don't know the inner workings of it.

1:23:36 I don't know who's the finger that you know that gets the finger to point at.

1:23:41 But I know it is one of the most unfortunate things that I've heard in a long

1:23:46 time that they are gone from the company without

1:23:50 even being able to say goodbye except through Twitter.

1:23:53 I feel like I'm I'm repeating myself from the our truth situation.

1:23:56 You would think whoever's back there would learn from that.

1:24:01 And what reports are being out there is

1:24:05 that it's from asking them to reconstruct their contract.

1:24:10 And at the end of the day, this is a business.

1:24:14 But I mean, like, in something that's predetermined,

1:24:16 it's kind of hard when you tell me that I'm not doing

1:24:19 this, that, and the third when you're supposed to write the map for me.

1:24:23 And so it it it it's just something that I I

1:24:26 want to bring attention to because of what they mean to people,

1:24:33 what they mean to me personally.

1:24:36 And it it just didn't feel right going

1:24:39 on without saying a word about the New Day.

1:24:42 The New Day that needs to be respected and treated as the legends,

1:24:46 the walking legends in WWE that they are.

1:24:49 And it is it is troubling to think that even they are safe.

1:24:57 And it makes me worry.

1:24:59 I'm I I can't lie to you.

1:25:01 It makes me worry as a fan.

1:25:04 You know, we hear we hear that WWE is the hottest it's ever been,

1:25:10 but like, you know, are you so hot

1:25:13 that we're starting to burn down the foundation?

1:25:17 It's just something to think about.

1:25:19 You know, I don't know who's in charge of what or what goes into, you know,

1:25:23 the the suits decisions, but I mean, like,

1:25:28 that's a key piece that is now missing.

1:25:30 fans are.

1:25:33 I don't whether you you judge it based off merch or or reaction,

1:25:38 it doesn't help that you give them you give a bunch

1:25:41 of superstars a bunch of music that sounds the same.

1:25:44 By the way, never could get around to that new

1:25:47 day song and I just feel like they deserve more.

1:25:51 And word in the IWC now, people always say, "Oh, such and such fumbled.

1:25:56 They fumbled.

1:25:57 They fumbled." We failed the New Day and it sucks.

1:26:02 And the beauty of wrestling is this could all be a work.

1:26:06 I don't know, man.

1:26:08 I just know as a fan, it does not feel good to have to read a tweet that one

1:26:15 of the greatest factions of all time is now just completely gone.

1:26:21 A should have you should have been there moment.

1:26:25 Now, when you look at obviously Kofi and Big E,

1:26:29 they're on that short list of black superstars that have won the Big Boy.

1:26:33 You think about the pioneer that Xavier Woods is

1:26:36 and teaching superstars that you can bet on yourself.

1:26:40 You can not just wait for things to be handed to you,

1:26:43 the script to be handed to you.

1:26:45 You can write your own path as long

1:26:47 as somebody listens and and gives you that opportunity.

1:26:50 But even if you're not in ring, you can do something like Up Down,

1:26:55 which pretty sure to date is still the fastest

1:26:59 growing celebrity video game channel of all time.

1:27:03 They got to get his book a world record record for it in 2018.

1:27:08 They He showed a a change in the game,

1:27:14 bringing money in from a a way that's not just uh in the square circle.

1:27:21 I just feel like those dudes deserved to ride off

1:27:26 into the sunset and in front of all of us.

1:27:28 And now I don't know what's going to happen.

1:27:31 Wherever you guys are, we will support you.

1:27:34 But I just wanted to take time to give you guys your flowers

1:27:38 and to speak on behalf of fans and say that man, we love you guys.

1:27:42 We appreciate you and best of luck on your future endeavors.

1:27:46 We will be there.

1:27:48 New Day rocks.

1:27:51 Yeah.

1:27:51 You know, I I was in the building.

1:27:52 It was SummerSlam 2015 at the Barlay Center in Brooklyn.

1:27:57 It was a fatal four-way for the for the World Tag Team Championships.

1:28:00 And at that point, the new day was still heels,

1:28:03 but in the weeks leading up to that, you'd started hearing a pop.

1:28:08 People were starting to get behind them a little bit.

1:28:10 And I remember got it.

1:28:12 the New Day sucks chance at that show at SummerSlam changed to New Day Rocks

1:28:19 and they became the tag team champions and then they went on from there, right?

1:28:23 But it was like, you know,

1:28:24 remember they were in a choir when that those opening kind of

1:28:28 promos, you know, and you were like,

1:28:29 "What is this?" They're in dress clothes and that wasn't

1:28:32 going to work and it and it didn't work, but they were able to flip it.

1:28:36 And that's the hardest thing to do.

1:28:37 I've said this to you before.

1:28:38 The hardest thing to do for a wrestler for me is if I initially don't like you,

1:28:43 the chances of you flipping it to make me like you are very small.

1:28:47 You got to do something.

1:28:48 They did that with everybody.

1:28:50 And and they made the New Day what they were.

1:28:52 They made them household names.

1:28:53 And just think like you spoke of Xavier Woods.

1:28:56 The man got a trombone over.

1:28:59 Come on.

1:28:59 Think about Francesca.

1:29:00 Rest in peace.

1:29:02 Had a trombone and the trombone was over.

1:29:05 people chanted for Francesca and then everything they did

1:29:08 from the just the the bootyos to the colorful outfits to all

1:29:13 the anime and comic stuff that I never got that you

1:29:16 once we started doing this you would start to like

1:29:19 crossover ends of other video games you you

1:29:22 would explain to me what this stuff was so what they did was unprecedented

1:29:28 what they did was amazing Kofi Mania I said

1:29:30 this on last time we were on ESPN was one

1:29:32 of the greatest Wrestlemania moments of all time seeing Big

1:29:35 E win was one of the greatest moments of all time.

1:29:38 But I also I listened to the fans, right?

1:29:41 And once this happened, everyone on the internet was so mad, right?

1:29:45 But my my question to the internet fans is this.

1:29:49 When they were trying to turn Hill,

1:29:50 when they were trying to do something different,

1:29:52 did you really do your best to get behind them?

1:29:55 Because you said it went nowhere.

1:29:57 Why' it go nowhere?

1:29:57 Because the f the fans could say, "Well,

1:29:59 we didn't want them." Well, that's not the point.

1:30:01 If you see these are your favorites and you see them trying something new,

1:30:05 it's up to us to get behind it

1:30:07 because what happens is they win a championship at Wrestlemania to no pop.

1:30:12 We were there.

1:30:14 Yeah.

1:30:13 And it's just like if now you're angry because they're gone,

1:30:18 but where were you when they needed us the most?

1:30:21 When he was gone and Woods and Kofi were trying something new,

1:30:24 man, you should have still been behind these New Day guys.

1:30:27 Even if you didn't particularly love the direction,

1:30:31 you you've seen what they did.

1:30:33 So, you knew that they could probably make

1:30:35 lemonade out of these lemons that they were given,

1:30:37 but fans didn't get behind it.

1:30:39 And now everyone is mad.

1:30:41 Now everyone's in an uproar.

1:30:43 You know, people will sit and complain about the company, right?

1:30:46 But then when someone leaves, it's just like,

1:30:48 oh, I can't believe they're leaving.

1:30:50 Well, you wanted them to to not be there apparently, right?

1:30:53 I mean I I mean and and there's a and there's also

1:30:55 a layer to that where there might be a section of fans

1:30:59 that are thinking like well I mean it's just a pay cut you

1:31:03 know like they could have still been here but they chose to leave

1:31:07 which is true they I mean I've been given 10 plus years

1:31:13 more like yeah so like they have been given they've given the company

1:31:19 their time from family yeah their bodies all these things,

1:31:25 you know, the stuff outside of WWE that they brought in.

1:31:31 Maybe there's a world where they feel that they I mean,

1:31:36 I know personally as a fan, I feel like they were untouchable.

1:31:42 Yeah.

1:31:41 They You don't They're legends.

1:31:43 They're legends.

1:31:44 They There are They are walking history monuments.

1:31:47 We're already robbed of Big E.

1:31:51 Yeah.

1:31:50 His career.

1:31:50 Now we're robbed of of Kofi and Woods in the night.

1:31:54 Like and what is that?

1:31:55 And look at the position that puts your Booker in.

1:32:00 Yeah.

1:31:59 You know, like these there's we're seeing so many releases

1:32:03 of people who are actually in the middle of stories.

1:32:06 Kofi working with Javon.

1:32:08 That could have been.

1:32:09 We were dying to see that.

1:32:11 And with TZ coming back,

1:32:12 remember we at one point it was like I wanted a triple threat.

1:32:15 We just had Woods on at the 2K thing.

1:32:18 He's coming back from injury.

1:32:20 Yeah, you know, like there were there were paths showed

1:32:24 and still and just ripped apart because of what?

1:32:27 Because of what?

1:32:28 There I get as a business you are in in debt

1:32:33 and you're you're trying to make your buck back.

1:32:35 I get it.

1:32:36 I get it.

1:32:37 But I swear all I hear, you know,

1:32:39 whenever you start a business, you going to lose money first five years.

1:32:42 What you been here three, four?

1:32:44 Come on, man.

1:32:45 Don't touch New Day.

1:32:46 That's just one of those fine chinas you got to let let breathe.

1:32:49 Especially as someone who How many New

1:32:52 Day t-shirts did you see throughout the years?

1:32:55 How many boxes of boot?

1:32:56 There was a picture of Princess Leia herself,

1:33:01 Carrie Fischer, and in her house she had a box Yeah.

1:33:05 of bootyos.

1:33:06 Come on, dog.

1:33:07 Like, bro, you they're bringing in collabs with Warner Brothers,

1:33:11 with Teen Titans Go.

1:33:12 They're bringing in collabs with Xbox uh uh with Gears of War.

1:33:16 They're bringing they're bringing in uh uh new business.

1:33:21 Those guys kind of seem like uh there are they

1:33:24 are a walking phenomenon that that aren't supposed to be there.

1:33:29 They all were going and and they were misdirected and they

1:33:34 found each other and made it work and they bet on themselves.

1:33:37 So I as a fan cannot feel any type of way

1:33:41 where they are given a crossroad again and bet on themselves again.

1:33:45 It sucks.

1:33:46 It's not It's never goodbye.

1:33:50 Not not in wrestling.

1:33:51 It's just never goodbye.

1:33:53 But this is troubling because not only is like the New Day gone,

1:34:00 but now as a fan, I don't need to know how y'all do business.

1:34:04 Now I know that y'all are terrible negotiators.

1:34:07 And like, what does that say to superstars who are watching,

1:34:10 who are thinking about coming here?

1:34:12 Like, what does that say?

1:34:14 Sometimes you don't want to know how the sausage is made.

1:34:16 Yeah.

1:34:16 And it's a it's a you it's a very slippery slope

1:34:20 and you and on those slippery slopes a snowball can grow.

1:34:24 So it's just it's troubling.

1:34:26 But as our you know as we do have

1:34:28 this platform and we've spoken up about releases a lot,

1:34:32 things that hurt and you know the John Cena,

1:34:35 we didn't just let him go off into the dust.

1:34:37 We had something to say.

1:34:39 We got microphones in front of us because we always got something to say.

1:34:43 And so we wanted to make sure we shout out the new name.

1:34:47 Yeah, for sure.

1:34:48 Y'all were I'll never forget that Royal Rumble.

1:34:50 They told us we had five minutes.

1:34:52 They gave us 25.

1:34:53 They gave us damn near 30, right?

1:34:55 They just they didn't want to.

1:34:56 Yeah.

1:34:57 Good news, man.

1:34:58 And also, but if you want to put a a a bright side look to it, right?

1:35:05 There's I'm sure they're going to continue.

1:35:07 So, they're going to go out there.

1:35:08 please go on tour and they're going to make their money and they're going to

1:35:12 go wrestle in front of crowds who may not have gotten to see them in the past.

1:35:17 There's a lot of dream tag team matchups out there in this wrestling

1:35:21 world that we haven't had or that we haven't had in a while.

1:35:25 And without naming names, I'm sure anyone that knows knows what

1:35:29 I'm talking about and who I'm talking about.

1:35:31 So look, man, from I guess the depths

1:35:35 of despair when things look the most bleak,

1:35:37 you got to put like the positive shine on it.

1:35:40 And the positive shine is the new wave,

1:35:43 maybe, you know, the, you know, whatever.

1:35:47 We're going to get to hopefully see some

1:35:49 matchups that we wouldn't have otherwise got to see.

1:35:52 And you got to look at that as a positive.

1:35:54 I those two men are going to be all right.

1:35:57 But I respect the hell out of Kofi Kingston.

1:36:00 I respect the hell out of Xavier Woods.

1:36:02 I respect the hell out of Big E.

1:36:04 And uh wherever you guys go, I know you got two fans here.

1:36:08 And and I'll tell you what John Voit once told me.

1:36:10 This is a long story.

1:36:11 You don't even know this.

1:36:12 The great actor John Voit.

1:36:13 I was out of a job once and he happened to call uh

1:36:16 my friend and I'm talking to him and he said, "You know what?

1:36:18 You're going to be all right." And he explained to me the reasons why I would.

1:36:22 And I'll just say that to them.

1:36:23 The new day, y'all are going to be all right.

1:36:26 It'll be interesting to see Big E at the pre-show for Backlash.

1:36:30 in the post show.

1:36:31 We'll be seeing that.

1:36:32 But we just wanted to let me get that wide.

1:36:34 Let me get that wide.

1:36:35 Shout out the new day from No Contest Wrestling Podcast.

1:36:41 TJ, tell these people where to find us.

1:36:43 Well, if you want to listen, you want to watch.

1:36:46 Very simple.

1:36:47 All you got to do if you go on social media,

1:36:49 you can find us at there's no contest on Twitter.

1:36:52 On Instagram, we're at NoContest Wrestling Podcast.

1:36:55 On Tik Tok, we're NoContest Wrestling Pod.

1:36:58 And if you just want to listen for your eargate,

1:37:00 man, we're everywhere that you get your podcast from.

1:37:03 ESPN, Amazon, Apple, Spotify, wherever you listen to podcasts, you'll find us.

1:37:10 And if you want to watch us, cuz why wouldn't you?

1:37:11 Cuz I got this uh maroon plum suit on today.

1:37:15 You go to the Rich Eisen Show YouTube page or just type in No Contest Wrestling.

1:37:21 You'll be able to see every episode from one to this one,

1:37:24 which I believe is 84, 83 or 84.

1:37:27 I'm not sure.

1:37:28 Double check.

1:37:29 I think it's 84.

1:37:30 But yeah, you can see all of it.

1:37:31 Everything that we've done right there on the YouTube page.

1:37:34 On behalf of myself and my tag team partner,

1:37:38 make sure y'all have a good day, but not too good.

1:37:41 Who the hell you think you are and tell your mama we said happy Mother's Day.

1:37:45 That's right.

1:37:46 By the way, call if you can.

1:37:47 If you have the ability, make sure you call the woman,

1:37:51 send her flowers, send her a plant, talk to her for an hour.

1:37:54 Let her know you love her, man.

1:37:55 Because there ain't nothing like moms.

1:37:56 We're two mama's boys right here.

1:37:58 So I know what we're talking about.

1:37:59 I'm going call mine right now.

1:38:01 And as always, bye, Miss Parker.

1:38:06 You know why my hair?

1:38:07 Mom, what you doing?