Jacob Fatu Recalls Initial Failed WWE Tryout With Eddie Kingston

With his daredevil moves and in-ring intensity, Jacob Fatu nowadays feels like a guy who should be in the main event picture, and was, at Backlash. It’s been a long journey, though, and WWE wasn’t always receptive to what he had to offer. During the buildup to Backlash, Fatu sat down on the Cheap Heat podcast, recalling his initial tryout at age 18.

How his criminal record worked against him:

“I didn’t think I was going to be here, only because I was I had a try out, 2015-16 and I was told, you know, I would never work here because of the mistakes that I made when I was 18…I was 18 for robbery. Fresh 18. I like I literally turned 18. My birthday is in March 7th. Man, I got the case in May. So, for me to double back on there, I didn’t I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I just I knew it was something. I manifested something.

On his perception versus reality:

“Crazy thing. Shayna Baszler was in that try out. Shotzi, my boy Royce Keys. So, you know what I mean? Eddie Kingston, there was a lot of us in that try out. I mean, Scotty Too Holly was there, but uh I remember being told no. And man, I just broke down. I was crying, man. This, I don’t I didn’t have anything else to do. So, check this out. I thought I wasn’t ready. I was actually speaking to [Matt] Bloom about this because, you know, they remember because they were coaching. They was like, ‘Huh, man, you had it in the bag.’ Like, I would have been signed already.”

On avoiding nepotism:

“Mind you, I didn’t go through Usos and Roman. And when I mean I didn’t go through them, it’s only because I didn’t want to. It’s like, no, I got it on my own. Man, these guys are busy. They’re already busy. But did they feel some type of way? Yeah, they called me, bro. ‘Why you didn’t let us know?’ You know what I mean? And this is they’re doing shield and Uso’s face paint. You know what I mean?”

William Regal’s backhanded compliment:

” I did it. Was told no. Norman Smiley, Matt Boon, and William Regal. Shout out to Mr. Regal, man. Uh, I was bawling, man. Left. Right before I was about to hop in the car, the referee come get me. Hey, they want to speak to you. I remember Norman Smiley and William Regal, you know, just stay at it. Keep working. We know it’s okay. This is William Regal: ‘I’m not saying you will ever work for this company…’ And then he goes, ‘My suggestion is just keep staying at it. Just keep going at it.’ I remember Bloom was just, you know, like, damn. You know, cuz he seen it. Scotty Too Hotty was the coach. But man, I stuck.

Remembering his opponent, Eddie Kingston:

“I didn’t even know who Eddie was. You know what I mean? So Eddie’s already been around. Mind you, we all had numbers. He was first. You know what I mean? I was second. And I will never forget we were waiting like I just kept hearing Eddie, Eddie, I’m like, ‘Who’s Eddie?’ I mean, man, bro, I knew who Eddie Kingston was after that match. Definitely after that match. And Eddie was so dope, man. To where he already seen somethin’ in me. Not saying I didn’t believe in myself, but man, Eddie seen some where he literally, ‘Hey, man. Whatever you want to do, I’m here for you.'”

“And man, I know Eddie told me, you’re going to be great one day. I know whatever it is. I know bloodline, but just something about you. And so, uh, shout out to Eddie Kingston, man. You know what I mean? And you know what I’m saying? And bro, for him to do what he’s done way before the try out, but still have that type of respect and type of love. But not not only that, I gravitated towards him cuz as soon as he start talking and I see I was like, okay, bro. Bruh’s laced up. I know he’s the New York version, you know what I mean? I’m the West Coast version. So, it just was forever locked in over there with Eddie.”