Zilla Fatu has heard the “nepo baby” jokes, and now he’s answering them directly. During WWE NXT on August 25, 2026, WWE aired a video package in which Fatu defended the work he put in to reach NXT and promised to become more famous for his first name than his family name.
Fatu started by declaring that he had gone from WWE’s top free agent to an NXT Championship contender. He then pointed to the chain he wears in honor of his late father, Umaga, and admitted that carrying the Fatu name comes with both advantages and pressure.
“Looks like Heatwave got a whole lot hotter. Zilla Fatu went from being the number one free agent to being the number one contender for the NXT Championship. Now everybody has eyes on me, and that’s exactly how I like it.”
“You see this chain? My dad, Umaga. I wear this on my neck, and I carry his legacy with me every day. You see, my last name is a blessing, and it’s a burden. But when it’s all said and done, you guys are going to remember my first more than my last.”
Fatu then addressed the labels Grayson Waller has thrown at him, including the “Nympho Baby” joke that came from Fatu accidentally using the phrase instead of “nepo baby.” Fatu insisted that his family connections don’t erase the work he did to reach WWE.
“I’m not just another nepo baby, nympho baby, Bloodline baby—whatever you want to call it. I’m a grown-ass man who paid his own way to get here. And yeah, I get excited when I talk, but I get even more excited when it’s time to throw down.”
Fatu also admitted that drama and controversy have followed him everywhere, but he sees that as part of the complete package. He acknowledged that receiving an NXT Championship opportunity after his first match could raise questions, then pointed to the massive online response to his debut as proof that he made an immediate impact.
“I ain’t going to lie. Everywhere I go, drama here, drama there, controversy here, controversy there, because it’s part of the Zilla. Fatu getting here was half the battle, but the chance of me becoming NXT Champion after my first match? Hell, all of you may think I got this title shot for a lot of reasons. To be honest, the answer is simple: I came in and I made a legendary splash. Over 25 million—25 million views on social media—and that was just my debut.”
Fatu finished by warning Tony D’Angelo, Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller that none of them will be safe during the Fatal Four-Way NXT Championship match at Heatwave. He promised that all three men would learn why he calls himself “The Main One.”
“Now imagine what I do this Sunday at Heatwave. Fatal Four-Way—Tony, Montana, Grayson Waller—it doesn’t matter to me. They all can get it. And after Sunday, when I’m done with them, they’re going to know why they call me The Main One.”
The message came after Waller mocked Fatu at the NXT merchandise truck by wearing a “Nympho Baby” hoodie. Waller has repeatedly targeted Fatu since Zilla interfered in his August 11 number-one contender’s match against Cruz Montana, but Fatu is now making it clear that his family name isn’t the only reason he belongs in the NXT Championship match.
Do you think Zilla Fatu proved that he is more than another Bloodline family member, and could he capture the NXT Championship at Heatwave? Leave your feedback in the comments below.
