Jacob Fatu says WWE is allowing him to express himself freely and has not attempted to alter or dilute his character since he joined the company. Speaking with TV Insider, Fatu pushed back on the notion that WWE changes performers when they sign with the company.
“They are letting me be who I am,” Fatu said. “They ain’t here to change me. I’m going to say it again. They ain’t here to change me. They ain’t doing none of that. They are letting me be me and tapping into what people like about me. Just to let them know anything is possible. It has been going good.”
Fatu also addressed the improvisational aspects of his performance, noting that WWE has been receptive to that side of his work. “The improv, they can hang with that,” Fatu said. “They are still trusting the process.”
The comments address a common concern among wrestling fans when a performer transitions from the independent circuit or another promotion to WWE, with many worried that the company will homogenize a unique act to fit a corporate template. Fatu’s comments suggest that has not been his experience.
Fatu recently revealed that Caesar Sikoa was originally planned as his WWE name before the company ultimately went with his real name. He has been one of the more talked about new additions to WWE’s roster since his debut and has been positioned as a significant part of the SmackDown brand.
This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown is set to feature a match between Fatu and Drew McIntyre. Here is the full card for the show:
- Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend) vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella)
- Kit Wilson calls out Jelly Roll
- Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
- Randy Orton to appear
