The Samoan Werewolf’s breakout momentum halted by an off-screen setback
Summary
– Jacob Fatu was written off WWE SmackDown following a legitimate injury
– He was found attacked backstage before his scheduled match with Drew McIntyre
– Cody Rhodes replaced him in the #1 Contender’s match for the Undisputed Championship
WWE made an unexpected creative pivot on SmackDown this week after Jacob Fatu was pulled from action due to a real-life injury. The October 17 show from the SAP Center in San Jose opened with General Manager Nick Aldis announcing that Drew McIntyre would face Jacob Fatu in a #1 Contender’s match for Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship.
Cody later appeared to address his Crown Jewel loss and to hype the high-stakes main event featuring Fatu, drawing big cheers from Fatu’s hometown crowd. Backstage, the two shared a brief segment, with Fatu promising to “ghost ride the whip” after beating McIntyre. Rhodes smirked and replied, “I hope you’re right.”
But when it came time for the main event, Fatu never made it to the ring. Cameras instead cut to a chaotic scene backstage showing the Samoan Werewolf trapped beneath fallen production equipment, bleeding from his mouth as WWE officials rushed to help. The show quickly went to commercial, effectively writing him out of the night’s storyline.
Reports later confirmed that Fatu suffered a non-wrestling-related injury and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the year. WWE’s on-screen angle served as a creative way to explain his sudden absence while preserving his strong image.
Cody Rhodes was inserted into the main event in Fatu’s place, continuing the show’s narrative while fans expressed disappointment that Fatu’s rising momentum was abruptly halted.
