Felix Upton on February 20, 2026
Jacob Fatu says his time off WWE television last year wasn’t just about healing — it was about resetting his life.
While speaking to Busted Open Radio on February 20, 2026, Fatu addressed his absence following the brutal October 2025 segment with Drew McIntyre that led to serious dental surgery. After undergoing the procedure and being sidelined for months, Fatu returned on the January 9, 2026 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, costing Cody Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Title in his match against McIntyre. Now, he’s revealing why that break was necessary.
“You know, that time I took off — I really needed to regroup in my personal life, mentally and physically. Let’s keep it real. A guy like me, with seven kids, getting this kind of money — I’m not saying I’m rich, but it’s different. I’m at Waffle House every day like I’m going crazy.”
Fatu explained that the timing of his absence — spanning the holiday season — allowed him to reconnect with his family in a way he hadn’t been able to before. The moment clearly hit him on a deeper level.
“But I believe it was God’s timing. I missed out on a lot of opportunities, but when I came back, I had to double back. When I was off, it was around the holidays — October, November, December, New Year’s. My kids were home, and I was home with them. That was something I had lost touch with. I’m getting goosebumps talking about it. If y’all know me, you know I’ve got kids. And this ain’t a work. I keep saying that because y’all are going to feel it. You’re going to feel Jacob Fatu in full motion.”
Beyond the emotional reset, Fatu detailed the physical toll as well, revealing the extent of his dental surgery. He also recalled advice from his uncle Rikishi about the wrestling business and how quickly things can change when you’re off television.
“It was being home — sitting on the couch. I had 11 teeth pulled out in the back. I was supposed to get 12, but I got 11 pulled. Just being home. I remember my uncle Rikishi saying this — when you’re home and you’ve been out of sight, out of mind, that phone’s going to stop ringing. And that phone stopped ringing.”
Fatu described how stepping away from the constant series of calls and demands allowed him to see things differently.
“It wasn’t anything with my family, but you see it — when you’re up, you get calls. People need this, need that. But sitting there, watching my kids walk by, watching them go to school, then come back home and still see me on the couch — that made me regroup. I had to regroup.”
And now that he’s back, he’s making it clear the version fans are seeing is someone who’s mentally sharper, physically healed, and personally grounded.
Do you think time away like this makes wrestlers stronger when they return, or does momentum matter more in WWE? Let us know what you think.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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