Well, folks, hold onto your wrestling belts because WWE just pulled a fast one on us! In a twist worthy of a Shakespearean drama, WWE’s latest Bloodline inductee, Jacob Fatu, nearly entered the ring with a brand-new moniker. Picture this: Caesar Sikoa! Yes, the man who’d be king (of the ring) almost took on a name fit for a Roman Emperor before smacking down Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes on June 21’s “WWE SmackDown.”
But the wrestling gods had other plans. It turns out, WWE’s creative minds decided to keep things au naturel, allowing Fatu to rumble under his real name, a name he’s proudly body-slammed under since 2012. The powers that be not only secured the rights to “Jacob Fatu,” but they also made sure to trademark his fearsome alias, “The Samoan Werewolf.” Because, let’s face it, nothing says “I’m here to chew bubblegum and kick butt” like a werewolf reference.
In a tale as old as time (or at least since Vince McMahon’s reign), WWE used to give their talent brand-spanking-new names, presumably to own everything from their headlocks to their hashtags. But now, under the enlightened rule of Triple H and TKO, there’s a fresh breeze blowing through WWE’s naming policies. It’s like spring cleaning, but with more body oil and fewer scented candles.
Just ask Jade Cargill, Ethan Page, and Shawn Spears. They’ve strutted into WWE, keeping their well-known names from their AEW days. Spears, in particular, flipped the script on his former WWE identity, Tye Dillinger, proving you can come home again, and sometimes you get to keep your favorite wrestling nameplate.
According to wrestling sage Dave Meltzer, the current regime is a bit more lenient with the nomenclature, letting seasoned stars keep their names while reserving the right to christen the newbies. So, while Caesar Sikoa might not be ruling the ring today, don’t be surprised if that name pops up in the future, perhaps gracing another brave soul destined for WWE glory.