Zilla Fatu has arrived in WWE.
Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller wrestled in the main event of tonight’s WWE NXT broadcast, with the winner set to become the number one contender to Tony D’Angelo’s NXT Championship. D’Angelo was at ringside during the match, watching his next challenger take shape. During the match, it was noted on commentary that Waller has never won singles gold in WWE, so it looks like they might be building to that big moment, whenever it happens. Waller, the first-ever Iron Survivor Challenge winner, was chasing a fourth crack at the NXT Championship, while Montana came in billed as a two-time world champion, with commentary pointing to his title history in TNA.
There was no finish, because Zilla Fatu hit the ring and attacked both men. Fatu hit a Samoan Drop on Montana, then ripped off his shirt and hit a running superman punch on Waller. He followed up with a splash off the top rope onto Montana, then hit another splash off the top onto Waller, laying out the main event and sending the crowd to its feet.
Fatu’s debut paid off a teaser from earlier in the night, when GM Robert Stone was shown on the phone with a mystery contact. Commentary connected the dots as Fatu stood tall: Fatu was who Stone had been talking to. Notably, Fatu was identified by name on the broadcast, so it is possible that WWE will let him keep the name he built on the independent scene.
The debut caps a fast-moving few days. Fatu said goodbye to House of Glory this past Friday, August 7, dropping the HOG Crown Jewel Championship to Amazing Red at the High Intensity event in Queens, where the crowd gave him a “Thank you, Zilla” chant on his way out.
Fatu has been one of the most talked-about prospects in wrestling for a while now. He has wrestled for several independent companies since debuting in 2023, holding the HOG Crown Jewel Championship twice along with the 4th Rope Heavyweight Championship, and he has gained a real following on social media along the way. Fans have long talked about him as someone who would eventually make it to WWE.
There is also a full-circle element to tonight. Fatu trained at Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school in Texas, and Booker was on commentary for his debut.
Fatu is the son of the late Umaga, who passed away in 2009, and part of the Anoa’i family that has produced generations of stars, including the current era of the Bloodline in WWE.
As for what comes next, the number one contender picture is now wide open heading toward NXT Heat Wave. It looks like we could be getting a multi-man match soon involving Fatu, Montana and champion Tony D’Angelo, perhaps at the next NXT premium live event, and Waller will surely have something to say about his own claim after tonight’s non-finish. For Fatu fans, the way he was introduced is a good sign that WWE sees him as a future star, because he is immediately being inserted into the NXT title picture rather than being slow-played.
Best of luck to Zilla Fatu as he begins his WWE run.
