Matt Hardy wants Zilla Fatu kept in NXT for months rather than fast-tracked into the Bloodline, because he thinks getting absorbed into that group is the quickest way for a young wrestler to disappear.
Fatu, the son of the late Umaga, signed with WWE after several years building a reputation on the independent circuit, and debuted on NXT on Tuesday night. He interrupted the main event, a number one contender’s match between Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller, attacked both men for the disqualification, hit each of them with a Samoan Splash, and told NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo there was a new sheriff in town. Commentator Vic Joseph introduced him by name, which suggests WWE intends to keep him as Zilla Fatu rather than rename him.
He is 26, comes from Houston, and was trained by Booker T at Reality of Wrestling, where he later held the promotion’s top title. He also worked GCW and House of Glory on the independent scene. Booker T was on commentary for the debut.
Hardy, who has worked with him more than once, gave his view on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy.
“I think right now I’m very happy to see him in NXT. I think he could use a very good run in NXT, really become established on his own as a Zilla Fatu, as an individual character, not just lumped in with all the small ones. Because once you get into the whole Bloodline deal, it’s kind of hard to stand out.”
He put a timeframe on it.
“I think he would be served for having a little bit longer of a run in NXT. I would like to see him be there for a few months and really establish himself. I think he needs to create his own identity. I want people to know who Zilla Fatu is.”
His reasoning is that the group is crowded with talent rather than that it is a bad destination.
“If you just automatically jump into the Bloodline, it’s really easy to get lost in the shuffle there, just because there’s so many great Samoans. It’s hard to really stand out. In NXT, I think he can stand out on his own and really establish his own identity, which will make him even more valuable if he does become part of the whole Bloodline story.”
He also thinks NXT is the right place to learn the parts of the job that do not exist on the independent scene.
“He can also learn television very well, learn how to work television very well. That experience of working that WWE product without the full pressure of main roster and big shows on you, I think that would be very beneficial for him.”
Asked what will decide how it goes, Hardy’s answer was not about ability.
“A lot of it is going to depend on his attitude, how easy it is to work with him. You have to understand that with WWE, especially when you’re beginning, you go with the flow, and whatever they give you, you make the most of. Just got to keep a good attitude, got to stay positive, got to stay optimistic, and just bust your ass, work as hard as you can.”
Hardy’s interest is personal. He and his brother Jeff were close friends with Fatu’s father, who wrestled as Umaga and as Jamal, and who died in December 2009.
“Both myself and Jeff were really close with Eki, which is Umaga. We both had lots of love for him. We were all tight. We all ran together. But him and Jeff, they were like best friends. He would literally come here and stay at Jeff’s for a week if he was off. They would hang out and do things.”
“Obviously it was very sad when we lost him. We’d met Zilla right after he was born.”
The two eventually worked together on the independents, which Hardy says was something Fatu had wanted for a long time.
“Just getting to know him and then getting to work with him, and the things he said his dad had said about us, it was his dream to team with us. While he was on the indies, we got to do a six-man tag with him at Fourth Rope the night before WrestleCade, which was great. And we also got to work against him at House of Glory.”
He was open about Fatu having had a difficult path.
“He’s got a good soul. He’s had some ups and downs in life, but everyone has. He’s a good soul, and I wish all the best for him.”
Umaga held the Intercontinental Championship twice and headlined WrestleMania 23 in the Battle of the Billionaires. He was 36 when he died. Zilla Fatu is a cousin of Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Jacob Fatu.
