Jacob Fatu has revealed that he thought he was suffering a panic attack during a WWE segment involving Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, admitting he temporarily could not feel his body.
Speaking on What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon, Jacob Fatu discussed adjusting to WWE after spending much of his career on the independent scene. He recalled being overwhelmed by the atmosphere while sharing the spotlight with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
“I felt that with Roman. It’s a whole nother vibe. When I was in that segment with Roman and Seth, I couldn’t even feel my body. I was like, dude, am I having a panic attack? What’s going on? I walked in the back and, you know, a feeling like that. What Roman said, that’s the magic right there. It was a good feeling.”
However, Fatu admitted the experience was also frightening.
“I was also scared of the feeling because I couldn’t feel my body. I was like, man, I don’t want to fall out.”
Before joining WWE, Jacob Fatu had established himself primarily through his work on the independent circuit and MLW, where he held the World Heavyweight Championship for more than two years. Despite that experience, he admitted he was unfamiliar with some of the fundamentals of working WWE television.
“I didn’t know how to work a camera. I didn’t know about the red dot. I didn’t know nothing.”
Jacob Fatu Recalled Triple H’s Reaction To Him Wearing A Ski Mask While Rehearsing For His WWE Debut
Jacob Fatu also recalled an unusual moment during rehearsals for his WWE debut. Michael Hayes had instructed him to wear a ski mask to protect the surprise, but WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque had other ideas.
“Michael Hayes had me in the ski mask during rehearsals, and your husband was like, Jacob, you can take that off. I got the ski mask on. I’m on the top rope. I’m like, sorry, H, Michael Hayes said keep it on.”
According to Fatu, Levesque then overruled Hayes over the headset.
“Michael, why is Jacob wearing the ski mask? Jacob, take the g**damn ski mask off. I took the ski mask off, and I’m still standing on the rope like this. Yes, sir.”
Fatu also revealed the advice Hayes gave him before his debut, reminding him that his accomplishments before arriving in WWE wouldn’t automatically translate to the company’s audience.
“In the words of Michael Hayes, the most famous words ever, which humbled me. Jacob, you need to go out there and wrestle like nobody knows you, because what you did before you got here don’t mean s***. And before you walk out, let me let you know, if you think you’re over, you’re not over.”
Fatu has since embraced advice he heard from The Rock and Steve Austin about succeeding as a wrestling personality.
“I heard Rock and Stone Cold say this. For it to work, you gotta be yourself turned up to the max.”
Jacob Fatu debuted in WWE in May 2024 alongside Solo Sikoa‘s group and has since worked programmes involving Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, LA Knight and Cody Rhodes. He recently competed at SummerSlam night one, teaming with Jey and Jimmy Uso in a loss to Knight, Sikoa and Royce Keys.
