Jim Ross hoped letting Umaga go would be a wake-up call to the Samoan legend.
As the head of talent relations, Jim Ross had the unenviable position of telling Umaga (Eddie Fatu) he was being let go in 2003. At the time, he wrestled as Jamal in Eric Bischoff’s Three-Minute Warning, and had great success alongside the former WCW boss.
However, he was released from the WWE in June 2003. It was reportedly due to his involvement in a bar fight, although he would be re-signed to the company three years later as the famous “Umaga” character.
Jim Ross spoke about having to fire Umaga on his Grilling JR podcast. He revealed that he told him that he had to make a change, and that moment should be his wake-up call. He gave him hope about a return to the WWE in the future, which is exactly what happened.
“We knew he was going to be great, but you still can’t make exceptions for somebody that you perceive to be out of control and dangerous, especially someone that big and that strong. So, you know, we had to… and he understood that. He knew he messed up, and he took the bat out of her hands. What were we going to do? That’s kind of what that was, Connie. I think that he knew he messed up. Sometimes, it’s time to pay the piper, and that’s the only recourse we had.”
Jim Ross Told Umaga He Could Be The Biggest Samoan Star
Jim Ross gave Umaga hope about a potential WWE return, and had big things planned for him.
He revealed that he told Umaga he needed to make some changes. If he did, he could become a big star in the WWE (which he did later on become).
“It was just that we have to make a change. Unfortunately, it’s going to cost you your job. Now, you’re going to get plenty of offers to work, and I’m certainly not going to infer that we don’t want you to come back. But you’ve got to see change. You’ve got to get under control. This is not Outlaw territory; this is not a bunch of indie dates. This is the real deal here, its the big time.”
“So, it’s going to be the guy you see in the mirror. If you make some changes, get your life under control, and take care of your family— which the people really have always had that mantra: family, family, family. It’s really pleasant, quite frankly. So, you know, I give him hope.
“I gave him hope that he could be a big star here, ‘you might be the biggest star in the entire Samoan family because you got skills that nobody has.’ Of course, The Rock came along and took that spot, but we had a good conversation.”
Umaga had a second run in WWE that lasted until 2009. This run ended due to a violation of the WWE Wellness Policy. This was only Fatu’s second Wellness Policy failure, but his refusal to enter rehabilitation led to his termination.
