WrestleMania enthusiasts of the Ruthless Aggression Era will never forget Robert Faatiu Fatu’s alter ego, Umaga: the menacing Samoan Bulldozer with a profound WWE legacy in spite of his short life in the wrestling universe. Also known as Eddie Fatu in real life, Umaga crashed the Raw scene with his incredible string of wins and subsequent feuds with superstars such as John Cena, Triple H, and Jeff Hardy before his untimely death in 2009 from a double heart attack.
However, more than a decade on, the legacy lives on through his son, Zilla Fatu. Currently forging a reputation as a prospect on the indie scene, Zilla comes from the legendary Anoa’i family, one of the greatest bloodlines in the history of the world of wrestling. Amongst the greatest names in this family would be the likes of current WWE superstar Roman Reigns, as well as brothers Solo Sikoa and The Usos, known as ‘The Bloodline’ on WWE TV.
A heartfelt holiday tribute
During the holidays this year, Zilla posted a personal message about his father on the social networking platform X (ex-Twitter).
“I just really, really, really WISH my dad was here….”
I just really really really WISH my dad was here … 😓😤
— ZILLA FATU (@Zillafatu) December 23, 2025
The simple yet poignant post resonated with fans. Many responded to it with messages of encouragement, as they shared their stories with the wrestler. This is a reminder that despite what appears to be a tough exterior when it comes to the world of professional wrestling, emotions and real-life human experience are always a part of it.
WWE future potential
Zilla Fatu is one of the individuals who has been quietly building buzz in the world of WWE, with rumblings of a future signing increasing day by day. Due to his family connections alone, he could easily have a role woven into The Bloodline story, adding an element of reality to one of the greatest WWE storylines of all time.
For now, Zilla is still grinding on the indie scene, with the burden and honor of his father’s legacy on his shoulders. Episodes like these, however, prove that the impact of Umaga has not worn off, but is only being passed on.
