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Breaking News: Eddie “Umaga” Fatu Passes Away at the Age of 36

After a heart-wrenching day for the family, as well as the fans, of Eddie “Umaga” Fatu, it has been confirmed that the former WWE Superstar has passed away at the age of 36 in his hospital bed in Houston, TX.

Edward Fatu was born on March 28, 1973 in Samoa. Eddie was a proud Samoan wrestler who was related to some of the greatest Samoan wrestlers of all time as a part of the famed Anoa’oi family. Eddie’s mother, Vera, was the sister of the Hall of Fame team of Afa & Sika; The Wild Samoans. Eddie’s two brothers are Sam “Tamu” Fatu and Solofa “Rikishi” Fatu, Jr. Eddie was also a cousin of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Eddie also had relation to Rodney “Yokozuna” Anoa’i and Matt “Rosey” Anoa’i, among others.

After training in the Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center, Eddie would hone his wrestling craft throughout various independent companies before making his debut on WWE television in 2002 as Jamal in the tag team, 3 Minute Warning, with his cousin, Rosey (Matt Anoa’i). Eddie’s first WWE stint would conclude in 2003 after allegedly getting involved in a bar fight.

After his WWE release, Eddie briefly joined TNA under the ring name Ekmo before leaving the company the same year in order to compete in Japan.

After wrestling for All Japan Pro Wrestling and briefly competing in Hawaii Championship Wrestling, Eddie would be re-signed to a WWE contract in December of 2005 and was expected to return to television the same way he left it, as one-half of 3 Minute Warning. However, Matt “Rosey” Anoa’i” was released from his contract before that could happen.

Eddie debuted under his new gimmick, Umaga, on the April 3, 2006 edition of RAW by attacking Ric Flair. The Umaga character was accompanied by Armando Alejandro Estrada. Umaga would remain undefeated in the WWE until January 7, 2007 at the New Year’s Revolution pay-per-view where he was defeated by WWE Champion John Cena.

At WrestleMania 23 that same year, Umaga would be the “representative” of Mr. McMahon in a losing effort to Bobby Lashley, who represented Donald Trump.

Shortly after WrestleMania, Eddie would earn his first championship in the WWE when he defeated Jeff Hardy for the Intercontinental Championship. He would lose the championship in controversial fashion to Santino Marella later in the year before winning the title a second time on July 2, 2007.

Eddie would drop the title to Jeff Hardy on September 3, 2007 after Eddie was named in a steroid scandal that resulted in the suspension of ten WWE Superstars. Eddie would return after his 30-day suspension from the company.

In June of 2008, Umaga was drafted to SmackDown in the WWE Draft and entered a brief feud with Mr. Kennedy before Eddie suffered a torn PCL on August 2.

Eddie would return to the WWE on January 30, 2009 and would resume his feud with Triple H before entering a feud with CM Punk that led to a Samoan Strap Match at Extreme Rules, which would be the last match Eddie would have in the WWE.

After violating the WWE Wellness Policy for a second time and refusing to attend a drug rehabilitation facility, Eddie was released from his WWE contract on June 11, 2009.

Eddie would ultimately join Hulk Hogan on his tour of Australia; a tour that Eddie returned from on December 2 (Wednesday).

On December 3 (Thursday) at Eddie’s home in Spring, TX, Eddie’s wife found him with blood coming out of his nose and mouth just a few hours after Eddie fell asleep watching television. Eddie was rushed to a local hospital in Houston, TX and it was determined Eddie had suffered a heart attack as a result of abusing prescription drugs.

Eddie was placed in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and remained there for most of December 4 (Friday). In the late afternoon on Friday, it was decided that Eddie’s life support would be unplugged and, after suffering a second heart attack, Eddie passed away and was declared deceased at 6PM EST. Eddie was 36 years old.

Read the Wrestling 101 Obituary for Eddie ‘Umaga’ Fatu here.