Matt Hardy believes WWE should resist the temptation to immediately put Zilla Fatu into The Bloodline, arguing that an extended run in NXT will give him the opportunity to establish an identity of his own.
Fatu, the 26-year-old son of the late Umaga, made his NXT debut on Tuesday. He interrupted the number one contender’s match between Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller, attacked both men and delivered Samoan Splashes before warning NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo that there was a new sheriff in town.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy said he was pleased WWE had started Fatu in NXT rather than immediately placing him alongside members of his family on the main roster. “I think right now I’m very happy to see him in NXT. I think he could use a very good run in NXT, really become established on his own as a Zilla Fatu, as an individual character, not just lumped in with all the small ones. Because once you get into the whole Bloodline deal, it’s kind of hard to stand out.”
Hardy believes Fatu should remain there for at least several months. “I think he would be served for having a little bit longer of a run in NXT. I would like to see him be there for a few months and really establish himself. I think he needs to create his own identity. I want people to know who Zilla Fatu is.”
His concern is not with The Bloodline itself, but with how difficult it could be for another member of the Anoa’i family to distinguish himself within a group already containing several established stars. “If you just automatically jump into the Bloodline, it’s really easy to get lost in the shuffle there, just because there’s so many great Samoans. It’s hard to really stand out.”
Hardy believes establishing Fatu independently would actually make him more valuable if WWE eventually does bring him into The Bloodline story. “In NXT, I think he can stand out on his own and really establish his own identity, which will make him even more valuable if he does become part of the whole Bloodline story.”
There is another benefit to keeping Fatu in NXT. Hardy believes it will allow him to learn how WWE television works without immediately facing the pressures associated with the main roster. “He can also learn television very well, learn how to work television very well. That experience of working that WWE product without the full pressure of main roster and big shows on you, I think that would be very beneficial for him.”
Fatu already had several years of experience before signing with WWE. Trained by Booker T at Reality of Wrestling, he became the promotion’s top champion and also worked for promotions including GCW and House of Glory. Hardy nevertheless believes Fatu’s attitude and willingness to work within WWE’s system will be particularly important during the next stage of his development. “A lot of it is going to depend on his attitude, how easy it is to work with him. You have to understand that with WWE, especially when you’re beginning, you go with the flow, and whatever they give you, you make the most of. Just got to keep a good attitude, got to stay positive, got to stay optimistic, and just bust your ass, work as hard as you can.”
Hardy has a personal connection to Fatu that goes back considerably further than their matches on the independent scene. Matt and Jeff Hardy were close with Fatu’s father Umaga, whose real name was Edward “Eki” Fatu. Hardy said Jeff and Umaga were particularly close friends. “Both myself and Jeff were really close with Eki, which is Umaga. We both had lots of love for him. We were all tight. We all ran together. But him and Jeff, they were like best friends.” Hardy even remembers meeting Zilla shortly after his birth. “Obviously it was very sad when we lost him. We’d met Zilla right after he was born.”
Years later, the Hardys eventually shared the ring with Fatu. Matt said one of Zilla’s ambitions on the independent scene had been to team with the brothers because of their relationship with his father. “Just getting to know him and then getting to work with him, and the things he said his dad had said about us, it was his dream to team with us.”
The three eventually teamed at Fourth Rope ahead of WrestleCade, while the Hardys also worked against Fatu for House of Glory. Hardy acknowledged that Fatu has experienced difficulties in his life but spoke warmly about the person he has become. “He’s got a good soul. He’s had some ups and downs in life, but everyone has. He’s a good soul, and I wish all the best for him.”
Umaga died in December 2009 at the age of 36 after a WWE career that included two Intercontinental Championship reigns and a prominent role at WrestleMania 23.
Zilla now enters WWE as another member of a family already heavily represented across the company, with Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu among his cousins.
Hardy believes that connection can eventually become an asset. For now, though, he wants WWE to give Zilla enough time in NXT to ensure fans know who he is before he becomes another member of The Bloodline.
