WWE Remembers: RIP Eddie Fatu 1973-2009

The world of Sports and Entertainment lost a great performer on December 4th 2009. Some may remember him as Jamal from 3-Minute Warning, but the rest remember his as the "Samoan Bulldozer," Umaga.

Source: Excerpt from Wikipedia

Eki "Eddie" Fatu (March 28, 1973 – December 4, 2009) was a Samoan-American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Umaga. He was best remembered for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a two-time Intercontinental Champion. He was a member of the Anoa'i wrestling family and frequently worked as a part of a tag team – variously named The Island Boyz, the Samoan Gangstas, and 3-Minute Warning – with his cousin Matt Anoa'i. During Fatu's first stint with WWE, he was known as Jamal and Matt was billed as Rosey. In late 2005, Fatu returned to WWE repackaged under the ring name "Umaga", Fatu went undefeated for many months on WWE's RAW brand throughout much of 2006, before suffering his first defeat in January of 2007. Fatu died on December 4, 2009, as a result of a heart attack.

The news struck everyone hard, many of Eddie's former wrestling coworkers tweeted how much they would miss him and to keep the Fatu family in our prayers. Umaga was only 36 years-old when he was discovered on the floor of his room with blood from his nose and mouth. He was taken to the hospital, but, aside from life-support, not much could be done.

Umaga was released from the WWE because he failed the Wellness Policy for a second time, and refused to go to rehab. Fatu died of a heart attack, unlikely that it was from natural causes, especially at 36 years of age.

Umaga's final apperance in the WWE was a Samoan Strap Match, at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, in a losing effort against CM Punk. Let's hope that WWE does not decide to use his death as a means to boost CM Punk's crusade against drug abusers.

Eddie Fatu's final wrestling gig was in Australia as part of Hogan's Hulkamania Tour.

My foundest memory of Umaga was at the Royal Rumble 2007, in a Last Man Standing Match against John Cena for the WWE Championship - also known as Umaga's first loss. Umaga never became the WWE Championship but he was a 2-time Intercontinental champion, beating the likes of Jeff Hardy and Santino Marella. It was the best year for Umaga especially alongside his manager, Armando Alejandro Estrada.

Umaga was an amazing athete and during his final months with the company he had a great match against John Morrison where the audience got up from their seats to applaud both performers.

There will never be anyone like Eddie Fatu, let's see if at least WWE pays him the repect that he deserves with a 10 bell salute to the Samoan Bulldozer

R.I.P. Eddie Fatu
(1973-2009)