WWE Accused of Purposefully Not Acknowledging Umaga’s Death

Zilla Fatu is carving his own path in pro wrestling, but he hasn’t forgotten the silence that surrounded his father’s death.

During a conversation with Maven, the son of WWE legend Umaga shared how deeply it stung that WWE never publicly addressed his father’s passing—and why he’s come to peace with it.

After Zilla watched and reacted to his father’s final match on the Hulkamania tour in 2009. As emotions ran high, the host brought up a painful truth. “The WWE never acknowledged your father’s passing. What are your thoughts on that?, ” Maven asked. Zilla didn’t flinch. Instead, he answered with honesty and maturity, speaking for himself and perhaps for fans who have long wondered the same.

“I think, um… you know, in their minds maybe it was because of the reasoning of him passing away. You know, maybe they didn’t want to, you know, shed the light on that. But, you know, I don’t know. But I just wish he was acknowledged. But it’s okay, ’cause he’s getting acknowledged through my work.”

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That quiet moment landed with real weight. While WWE has honored many of its fallen stars with tribute videos and ten-bell salutes, Umaga never received that kind of farewell—even though his in-ring work and connection with fans made him one of the most feared and respected big men of his era.

Zilla, though, made it clear that he’s keeping his father’s legacy alive on his own terms. He added earlier in the interview that wrestling has brought him closer to the man he barely got to know:

“He didn’t die. He lives to me.”

Zilla Fatu’s journey is still just beginning, but he’s walking it with his father’s spirit beside him—and every bump in the ring is part of the tribute.

Zilla said what many fans have been thinking for years. Even if WWE never gives Umaga the tribute he deserves, his son’s mission is clear: carry the legacy forward and make sure the name lives on.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.