4 Ways WWE Has Ruined Jacob Fatu’s Character

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That said, in this article, we look at four ways WWE has already taken significant steps backward and ruined Jacob’s character.

#4. Jacob Fatu’s Back to Being the Henchman, Similar to His Days Under Solo Sikoa

One of the biggest reasons Jacob Fatu became so popular was that he eventually broke away from the role of being somebody else’s enforcer. During his time under Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, Fatu was often presented as the group’s weapon.

The problem is that recent television has pushed him back into a very similar position. Roman Reigns officially welcomed Fatu into The Bloodline on RAW and immediately used him as the group’s primary force of destruction. During the show, Fatu carried out Roman’s wishes and participated in an attack that reinforced his role as the faction’s muscle.

That presentation seemingly hurts the character since fans have already seen this version of Jacob Fatu. The Samoan Werewolf was at his best when he appeared capable of tearing down the entire Bloodline structure. Hence, putting him back into the role of an enforcer makes him feel less unique and reduces the sense that he is a future franchise player.

#3. Taking Orders From Roman Reigns and Not Making His Own Decisions

Another major issue is that Jacob Fatu no longer feels like an independent force.

Earlier this year, Fatu built momentum by challenging Roman Reigns directly. He wanted the World Heavyweight Championship and wanted to become Tribal Chief. Thus, making it clear that he wasn’t interested in following anyone else’s vision. That ambition helped separate him from the rest of the family.

However, WWE is now portraying Jacob Fatu as someone who follows The OTC’s instructions. Last Friday on SmackDown, Reigns sent Fatu to deliver a message to Solo Sikoa. This week on RAW, The Samoan Werewolf attacked LA Knight.

The problem isn’t that Fatu joined The Bloodline. Perhaps the problem is that he appears to have lost the rebellious edge that made him compelling. Fans gravitated toward Jacob because he looked like a man who answered to nobody. Hence, watching him become another soldier under Roman Reigns makes him feel far less dangerous than he did just a few months ago.

#2. Already Lost Twice to Roman Reigns And Failed to Win the World Title

Momentum is everything in WWE. Hence, the company may have damaged Fatu’s momentum by repeatedly having him fall short against Roman Reigns.

The Samoan Werewolf entered 2026 looking like WWE’s next major breakout star. His feud with Reigns positioned him as a legitimate main-event player and someone capable of eventually taking over The Bloodline. Unfortunately, Triple H never pulled the trigger.

Jacob Fatu first failed to capture the World Heavyweight Championship from Reigns at Backlash. He later challenged Roman again in Tribal Combat at Clash in Italy and came up short once more.

Losing once to Roman isn’t necessarily harmful. Many top stars have lost to the Original Tribal Chief. The issue is that Fatu lost multiple major opportunities and ultimately joined the very man he was trying to overthrow. Instead of looking like Roman’s equal, he now appears like someone who couldn’t beat him and eventually accepted his place beneath him.

For a character who was supposed to represent chaos and rebellion, that’s a difficult image to overcome.

#1. Jey Uso is Being Pushed as The Bloodline’s Second Major Star and Not Jacob Fatu

Perhaps the clearest sign that WWE has cooled off Jacob Fatu is the way Jey Uso continues to be positioned within the storyline.

Jey remains one of WWE’s biggest stars and has consistently been presented as Roman Reigns’ most important ally. Even when tensions emerge within the family, Jey is treated as a central figure whose actions significantly impact the direction of The Bloodline story.

Meanwhile, Fatu often feels like the third wheel. Instead of being showcased as Roman’s eventual successor or biggest internal threat, he is being used as the group’s heavy, while the emotional focus remains on the OTC and The YEET Master.

That dynamic is disappointing because Jacob Fatu arguably had more upside as a future Tribal Chief candidate. His character possessed a level of unpredictability that nobody else in the faction could match. Yet recent bookings suggest WWE sees Jey as the true co-star of The Bloodline saga. Meanwhile, Jacob fills a supporting role.

If that trend continues, fans may look back at 2026 as the year WWE took one of its hottest rising stars and transformed him into just another member of the family.