Jacob Fatu: “Timing is everything and right now the timing for MLW is great”
Not only is MLW back and better than ever, but Jacob Fatu is also leading the charge for the promotion as its world heavyweight champion.
Fatu has the longest title reign in the history of the title at over two years, having won it all the way back in July 2019. The pandemic prevented him from defending it for most of 2020, but since the relaunch of MLW earlier this year, he’s been taking on all comers to his championship and has beaten every single one of them.
He looks to add MLW National Openweight champion Alexander Hammerstone to that list this Thursday on MLW Fightland, airing at 10 p.m. eastern time on Vice TV immediately following Dark Side of the Ring. It’s been touted as one of the biggest bouts in the history of the company and it is sure to deliver given the immense amount of talent between the two of them.
Ahead of Fightland, Fatu took the time to chat with Daily DDT about his upcoming title defense being his most important to date, MLW’s growth since 2019, the success of The Bloodline in WWE, and more.
Jacob Fatu dishes on Alexander Hammerstone and the evolution of MLW
From Tom Lawlor to Matt Cross to Brian Pillman Jr., Fatu has fought the best of the best while MLW World Heavyweight champion, but none of those competitors compare to Alexander Hammerstone, the current reigning MLW National Openweight champ.
Hammerstone has been an MLW staple for several years but has never before been the world champ. He’s been patiently biding his time and working his way through the MLW ranks in order to earn this opportunity.
At MLW Fightland this Thursday, Fatu and Alexander are eager to steal the show and prove to the whole world what they’re capable of.
“This is ain’t no promo or anything. This is the shoot,” Fatu said. “We’ve been through a lot. I’ve been through a lot in these past couple of years. Hammerstone’s been through a lot, but just to see where our journeys started to where it’s about to be [at Fightland], it means a lot for me and him. Not saying this is the payoff, but this is one of the biggest nights of my career and I can honestly say that.”
Fatu recognizes that Hammerstone is deserving of this main event match as well. He saw Hammerstone come up in wrestling on the west coast as well and knows he’s been grinding for this moment, every bit as much as he has.
For all the fresh faces on top in MLW at the moment, there were a ton of notable names that paved the way for them. The rich history of the company isn’t lost on Fatu and he wants to make all of those illustrious legends proud by continuing to pave the way for the future.
Being a part of MLW’s success at a time where the promotion just inked a deal with Vice TV and started touring again means everything to him. He feels that MLW has all the momentum at the moment and that their time is now.
“We had legends on here: Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Low-Ki,” Fatu said. “Before there was us right now, there were legends that opened up the door for us young cats to come in and put our foot down… This is great, man. I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it. This means a lot, but it’s also good to see where MLW started. It’s a fun time in life, but there’s been a lot of hard work over the years. Timing is everything and right now, the timing for MLW is [expletive] great.”
Jacob Fatu discusses his historic title reign and Samoan representation in wrestling right now
Now is as good of a time as any to be a world champion in any of the major promotions. Roman Reigns, Kenny Omega, and even NXT UK’s WALTER (before losing, of course) have had lengthy reigns on top in recent years and Fatu deserves to be a part of that conversation as well.
He’s reigned supreme over MLW for over two years and has had some stellar matches in that time as well. To him, however, it doesn’t feel like a two-year-long run because of the pandemic shutting down MLW for a time, so in his head, it’s slightly shorter.
“That pandemic thing… In my head, I always have to take off 365 days because we never came back that year,” he said. “But since I’ve been defending it and since I’ve been there, I’m happy to be a part of that conversation. Most cats might not even think I shouldn’t be a part of that conversation, but for right now, it’s been some tough cats that I’ve defended the belt against.”
He specifically mentioned “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and LA Park as tough, high-profile opponents he’s defended the title against. It’s going to be even more meaningful to be putting the gold up for grabs at the famed 2300 Arena in Philadelphia for Fightland.
“This damn match is really going to solidify us,” Fatu said. “I really don’t care about people saying, ‘Oh, MLW is this type of promotion.’ All I know is we show up, we do our job, we execute, and we walk out the same way we walked in.”
Fatu and Reigns have simultaneously reigned as the world champs of their respective promotions for well over a year. The Usos are also the current SmackDown Tag Team champions as part of The Bloodline with Reigns.
Additionally, The Usos’ brother Joseph “Sefa” Fatu just recently signed a developmental deal with WWE. Seeing such success for Samoan wrestlers right now in the business brings The Samoan Werewolf great pride and he’s happy to be a part of it.
“I’m proud. I keep this thing so 100 because people really got to know that I’m really proud for anybody,” Fatu said. “If you’re doing your thing, if you see somebody doing good and you’re proud, you tell that person… Treat people well because you really don’t know where they’re going to end up at and Sefa is one of the stories. Look where little bro is at. He’s winning. He’s supposed to be there. He’s supposed to be doing anything he wants to do.
“I’m happy for my brother,” he continued. “I was just with Jey two weeks. It’s good to see Jimmy back. When they came back and won the belts, I’m happy. I’m happy to be a part of the family and hold gold with them too on the other side of the table. When it comes down to it, October 7th, it’s the same way we walked in, we’re going to walk out. That’s The Bloodline, brother. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Tune into MLW Fightland this Thursday, October 7 at 10 p.m. ET on Vice.