Solo Sikoa | |
---|---|
Birth name | Joseph Yokozuna Fatu |
Born | Sacramento, California, U.S. | March 18, 1993
Alma mater | Dickinson State University |
Spouse(s) | Almia Williams (m. 2023) |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | Rikishi (father) |
Family | Anoaʻi |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Sefa Fatu [1] Solo Sikoa |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) [1] |
Billed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) [1] |
Billed from | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Trained by | Rikishi WWE Performance Center [1] |
Debut | April 29, 2018 |
Joseph Yokozuna Fatu [2] (born March 18, 1993) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Solo Sikoa as the leader of The Bloodline.
After Fatu played college football at American River College in Sacramento, he began his professional wrestling career in 2018 under the ring name Sefa Fatu in the independent circuit. He then signed with the WWE in 2021 and was assigned to the NXT brand under the name Solo Sikoa before being called up to the main roster a year later, debuting at Clash at the Castle, joining The Bloodline stable. In the WWE, he held the NXT North American Championship once.
As the son of Rikishi and brothers of Jonathan and Joshua, Fatu is a member of the Anoaʻi family of Samoan wrestlers.
Fatu was born into the Anoaʻi family of Samoan wrestlers, which includes his father Rikishi, his older brothers Jonathan and Joshua. [2] He is named after his uncle's in-ring name, Yokozuna. [3] He played American football at American River College in Sacramento and Dickinson State University in Dickinson, North Dakota. [4] [5]
On April 29, 2018, Fatu made his in-ring debut under the ring name Sefa Fatu, and regularly teamed up with his cousins Jacob Fatu and Journey Fatu. [6] On January 25, 2019, Fatu would win the FSW Nevada State Championship, holding the belt for 149 days until losing to Hammerstone in June. [7] In August 2019, Fatu defeated Watson to win the Arizona Wrestling Federation (AWF) heavyweight title, which he held for 418 days until losing it in January 2021. [8]
On August 30, 2021, it was announced that Fatu signed a contract with WWE. [9] He was assigned to their development brand NXT, making his debut on October 26 at Halloween Havoc as Solo Sikoa, where he interrupted a segment between the co-hosts Grayson Waller and L.A. Knight before attacking Waller. [10] Sikoa made his in-ring debut on the November 2 episode of NXT by defeating Jeet Rama in the latter's last match. [11] On the December 28 episode of NXT, Sikoa entered into a feud with Boa after his alter-ego attacked and choked him backstage. [12] On the January 11, 2022 episode of NXT, Boa and Sikoa fought to a double countout. [13] This led to a No Disqualification Falls Count Anywhere match on the January 25 episode of NXT, [14] which Sikoa won. [15]
Sikoa defeated Roderick Strong on the March 22 episode of NXT to qualify for a five-way ladder match for the NXT North American Championship at the Stand & Deliver pay-per-view on April 2, which was won by Cameron Grimes. [16] [17] On the April 12 episode of NXT, Sikoa failed to win the title from Grimes, as well as in a triple threat match involving Carmelo Hayes at Spring Breakin' on May 3. [18] [19] After weeks of brawling between Sikoa and Von Wagner, they faced off in a falls count anywhere match on the August 2 episode of NXT, which Sikoa won, [20] [21] though he suffered a knee injury in the process. [22]
At Clash at the Castle on September 3, 2022, Sikoa returned from injury and interfered in the main event match between his cousin Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre, helping Reigns retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and aligning himself with The Bloodline, turning heel in the process. [23] He made his main roster in-ring debut against McIntyre on the September 9 episode of SmackDown , losing by disqualification after Karrion Kross attacked McIntyre. [24] On the September 13 episode of NXT 2.0, Sikoa made a surprise appearance and defeated Carmelo Hayes to win the NXT North American Championship. [25] He retained the title three nights later at SmackDown against Madcap Moss, [26] but was forced to vacate the title on the September 20 episode of NXT. [27] At Survivor Series: WarGames on November 26, Sikoa and The Bloodline defeated The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch), McIntyre and Kevin Owens in a WarGames match. [28] Sikoa suffered his first pinfall loss on the main roster against Cody Rhodes the March 27, 2023 episode of Raw . [29] In the main event of WrestleMania 39 on April 2, Sikoa assisted Reigns to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rhodes. [30] On May 6 at Backlash, Sikoa and The Usos defeated Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle in a six-man tag team match. [31]
At Night of Champions on May 27, Sikoa and Reigns unsuccessfully challenged Owens and Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. During the match, The Usos interfered and accidentally attacked Sikoa while aiming for Zayn, causing Jimmy Uso to attack Reigns and The Usos walking away from The Bloodline. [32] On the June 2 episode of SmackDown, during Reigns' 1,000 days as Universal Champion celebration, Sikoa turned on Jimmy and excommunicated him from The Bloodline on Reigns' order for his brother's actions. [33] On the June 16 episode of SmackDown, Sikoa's other brother, Jey, turned on Reigns and Sikoa to side with Jimmy. [34] At Money in the Bank on July 1, Reigns and Sikoa lost to The Usos in a "Bloodline Civil War" tag team match after Jey pinned Reigns. [35] During the summer, the Bloodline would enter a feud with a returning John Cena and LA Knight, where at Fastlane on October 7, Sikoa and Jimmy (who had rejoined the stable) lost to them in a tag team match. [36] On the October 20 episode of SmackDown, Cena teased retirement before calling out anyone to face him, leading to Sikoa coming out and brawling with Cena and setting up a match between the two at Crown Jewel. [37] At the event on November 4, Sikoa defeated Cena after nine Samoan Spikes. [38]
At WrestleMania XL Night 2, Sikoa attempted to assist Reigns against Rhodes again, only to be thwarted by a returning John Cena, who delivered an AA to Sikoa through the announce table.
During the following months in the absence of Roman Reigns, Sikoa was appointed as the de facto leader of The Bloodline, exiled Jimmy Uso, and recruited Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa (formerly Camacho) and Jacob Fatu as the new members of the stable. [39] [40] [41] At Backlash, Sikoa teamed up with Tama Tonga to defeat Randy Orton and Kevin Owens with the help of the returning Tonga Loa. In the following weeks, Sikoa kicked out Paul Heyman from the stable and replaced Reigns as the leader and as Tribal Chief. [42] [43] After beginning a feud with Cody Rhodes at Clash at the Castle: Scotland, Sikoa along with Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu defeated Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank in a Six-man tag team match with Sikoa pinning Rhodes. [44] On the July 12th, 2024 episode of SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa set up a match for SummerSlam. At the event on August 3, Sikoa failed to win the title from Rhodes in a Bloodline Rules match after interference from the returning Roman Reigns. [45]
Fatu is married and has two children with his wife Almia Williams. [46] Fatu is the 7th child of 9, with 7 brothers and 1 sister. [47]
Year | Title | Ref. |
---|---|---|
2023 | WWE 2K23 | [48] |
2024 | WWE 2K24 | [49] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Destroyer | Taz |
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