Break It Down
By Manny Tsigas
Tribute to Eddie Fatu
In my last column I emphasised how I was half-expecting the Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin tour to be a total letdown. Unfortunately my pessimism wasn’t in vain. I was originally going to turn this latest column into a diatribe about the night’s poor production, the ridiculous amount of botched spots and Hogan’s inability to walk properly let alone wrestle. But all that has now taken a backseat.
As imperfect as that performance at Acer Arena was on that Saturday, Novermber 28 2009, it’s now taken on a whole new meaning. It was the last time one Eddie Fatu (better known as Umaga) would ever set foot in a wrestling ring again.
According to reports Fatu was found unconscious on December 4 by his girlfriend in Houston, Texas. He’d been bleeding from the nose and mouth, and had stopped breathing. Fatu was believed to have suffered a heart attack, and was rushed to hospital where he was admitted into intensive care. The wrestler was later pronounced dead after suffering a second heart attack. He was 36.
It’s not yet clear what caused the attack. It comes almost six months after Fatu was released by World Wrestling Entertainment after failing to comply with the company’s Wellness Policy for the second time. It was here he’d also refused WWE’s request to receive rehabilitation.
So it turns out I unwittingly witnessed Fatu’s final ever match. I’m not sure how to feel. On the one hand I’m honoured knowing I was one of a few thousand people to witness the last time such a fine wrestling personality would ever set foot in the squared circle. But it’s something that I shouldn’t have witnessed. The man wasn’t even 40 yet, and he hadn’t reached his peak as a performer. According to family friend and fellow wrestler Dawn Marie Psaltis, Fatu “had his demons”, which no doubt will become clearer in the lead up to his toxicology results.
Eddie Fatu was a massive specimen but he could move with speed and zest. Despite his massive frame he wasn’t afraid to venture to the top rope either. I remember his time with WWE well. His debut alongside Rosey as 3-Minute-Warning was impressive. These two massive islanders had plenty of speed and agility, but for some reason ended up being underutilized. Then Fatu donned some face-paint and a couple of hundred tattoos to become “the Samoan Bulldozer” Umaga, as introduced by Arrrrrrmandoooooo Alejandrooooooo Esssssstrrrrrrada.
Umaga (or “You-Manga” as William Regal liked to call him) proved he could hang with the best of them, putting on fantastic matches with the likes of Triple H and John Cena. And at Wrestlemania 24 he put on a great contest against Batista, causing sections of the 75,000 strong crowd to cheer for him with chants of “U-U-U-ma-ga”.
His presence on the Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin roster gave the event some much-need clout. In Sydney I watched as he inadvertently knocked the referee down not once, but twice, preventing his opponent Ken Anderson (better known as Mr Kennedy) from winning. Then out of nowhere Fatu hit Anderson with a massive clothesline, followed by the Samoan spike for the win.
He then stood on the apron, took a comically big step over the unconscious referee at the bottom of the ring’s staircase, walked up the ramp and disappeared behind the set’s black curtain, never to be seen by a live audience again.
In an ironic twist, that match took place nearly four years to the day after Ken Anderson wrestled Eddie Guerrero in his final match, before dying under similar circumstances.
We here at WNA are deeply saddened by the loss of such a brilliant in-ring performer, and would like to send our condolences to his family and friends. Just know that despite his untimely death, Eddie Fatu’s devotion to his craft will ensure he’ll live on forever.
R.I.P Edward “Eddie” Fatu.
Manny Tsigas is a journalist for SBS World News Australia, and a lifelong wrestling fan. When he’s not watching, reviewing and obsessing over films, he also enjoys music, writing, anime, videogames, stand up comedy and anything to do with the 1980s. You can email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
