Booker T Says Zilla Fatu Will Take The World By Storm, Recalls Friendship With Umaga

Booker T is close with the Fatu family, and he says that Zilla Fatu is going to make a big splash when he finds himself on a major stage. Zilla, the son of Umaga, has been working under Booker T since the start of his in-ring career. Fatu has been open about his wish to join WWE down the line and even had an interaction with Ricky Saints in December at an ROW show.

Booker spoke with MuscleMan Malcom for a new interview, and during the conversation he was asked about his friendship with the Anoa’i family. He talked about Umaga and training Zilla as well as The Usos. You can see the highlights below:

On His Friendship With Umaga:

“Yeah, God bless his soul, man. Umaga was such a good dude, such a free-spirited dude. You know, we were really friends, man. I don’t know why he treated me the way he did. But he was such a good dude. And you know, he had a WWE contract and he would still show up at my shows unannounced. And he’d have his boots and he wanted to work on the show. I’m like, ‘Bro, you can’t do that, you’re going to get in trouble!’ But he was like, ‘Man, I don’t care if I get in [trouble], I’m working tonight.’ He would go out there and beat up somebody, and it was such an amazing thing. We were we were really tight.”

“Rikishi as well. Rikishi sent me his boys, Jimmy and Jay. And he trusted me with Jimmy and Jay to actually teach them the right way. And then when it was time for those kids to fly, to let them fly, too… So no, I have a great connection with the family.”

On Working With Zilla Fatu:

“Right now I’m working with even the next generation of the Fatus. Zilla is going to be the next one to make his his big debut on the scene, and really just shake up the whole world. He’s going to take the world by storm when the people finally get a chance to see Zilla in raw form.”

On Fatu’s Interaction With Ricky Saints In ROW:

“I tell you what, it was a great rub though, Ricky Saints with
Zilla Fatu. Um the the the fans were chanting [for] Zilla Fatu at NXT in the NXT arena. And I was like, ‘Wow.’ I’m sitting there, you know, and people are like, ‘Zilla, Zilla!’ I’m like, ‘You gotta be kidding me.’ This is a kid who’s not even there, who hasn’t sniffed that that that stage yet. But the fans are so wanting it. And I can’t wait for Zilla Fatu. Because I’m going to tell you, he’s put in so much work. He’s putting in so much work over these last couple of years.

“And one thing about Zilla, he’s he’s been willing to gain the trust. And not just thinking that, that’s something that’s supposed to be given to him. That’s something that I’m proud of of from him more than anything, him being willing to put in the work and knowing that he’s not going to be able to rest on the laurels of his name, or his daddy or anything like that. It’s got to be all on him. And so, get ready man. Get ready for the monster. It’s going to be an awesome ride.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit MuscleMan Malcom with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.