The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Daniel Cormier Show - Jacob Fatu on CRAZY WIN vs. Drew McIntyre at WRESTLEMANIA 42, becoming WWE STAR

Episode Date: April 21, 2026

Daniel Cormier is joined by WWE SUPERSTAR Jacob Fatu ahead of his WrestleMania match with Drew McIntyre where he talks about WrestleMania 42 ahead of his match with Drew McIntyre. Fatu talks about the struggle of going through the independent ranks before being signed to the WWE, and how he gets emotional from just thinking about his journey. Fatu talks about how wrestling has changed his life, as well as talks about still feeling star struck when meeting WWE legends like Roman Reigns. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. W.W.E. World. Please welcome to the stage. UFC double champ, Daniel D.C. Cormier. What's up?

What's up? What's up, guys? What's up, guys? Guys, every year, WrestleMania is one of the best weekends of my life. I get to come out here and share this with you guys and talk shop a little bit. Yesterday was a great night. Tonight we have possibly an even better night.

But last night when I was watching, they had some good matches. But the one that I like because you guys know I enjoy a fight, I love watching Jacob Fartu take on Drew. McIntyre. I'm losing my mind right now. I got punched the head for a living. But watching those guys go at it, it's tremendous. guys, I was able to meet with Jacob last year at WrestleMania.

We sat in the back and talked. And these experiences for me have been so amazing. The access that I've been given by the WWE to get and meet these athletes, talk to them, spend time with them, unbelievable. And I got to talk to Jacob. You see, I got a shirt now. I'm a fan. I wear people's gear.

So I got to sit with Fattu for a while. Last night he had a tremendous fight. and he got it done. So guys help me welcome in, Jacob Fartu, come and sit here on the Daniel Corbye show. Man, boy, you are the man. Thank you for sitting down with me. You know, we're going to get into a little bit of last night, obviously.

But I think what's more important, Jake, is last year, when you and I were sitting down at the back, deep in the balls of the building, and we were just kind of sat in Nate and talked a little bit. You talked to me about your story and everything else, and growing up in the Bay Area, when you start to find this level of success like you found now,

and you think back to, right, we were talking, you said, man, I'll watch you fight all those times. And now, you know, you and I are sitting together where you're at the top of the game, yourself, like, what do you think about in those moments? When you think back to those hard times, right, that we spoke about last year. Well, you know what?

First is first, and I want to just say, thank you, D.C. for even just having me here, man, with a legend like yourself, big, bro. You know what I mean? But with the hard times, the journey to get here, the thing is, I appreciate those hard times. I needed, Jacob Fatu needed these hard times. Everybody got a different life, everybody's story. Everybody got a different story.

You know, you see people post on Instagram, social media about all the good times, right? But, you know, you all got to be thankful for the struggle and the bad times that we all went through. because, man, if it wasn't for those times, those times made me learn. Those bad times helped me grow as a person. If y'all know me, I got seven kids and I love my family and they're everything to me. You know what I mean?

So on another note, doing those, okay, okay, y'allot I mean for my kids then. Yadr what I mean? But just to answer your question, D.C., I'm very grateful for those times, Those hard times help me grow as a man, grow as a father, grow as a person, and just mature myself. And, you know, it feels good because they said, Jacob, you should have been here in the WWE. No, no, no.

Honestly, I feel like if I would have came to WWE, I probably would have been let go already. And that's just me being honest with myself. So I'm glad it took Jacob Fahtu 12 years. I'm glad I had to go through all those hard times because look at it now. I'm in WWE and I'm on gas. No bucks with it. Sorry, man. I get emotional, man.

I get very happy because, honestly, when they're talking about living your dream, man, I'm doing it right now. And for real, I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you guys out here. That was the message that you shared with me last year, right? We were able to go through some of the personal struggles, the professional struggles, especially when you are born into a family like yours where it's kind of on you from the very beginning to ultimately get here, right, to ultimately get here.

And then last year, I remember your first WrestleMania, you were all fired up about it, you became a champion, but this year it was even bigger, right? Because you've accomplished so many great things in the WW at this point. How has that journey been? And how have you been able to not only live your dream, but also live it the right way?

Because a lot of times you can get swept up in it. It's happened to me. When I was fighting, right? Being a fighter was a great thing. When I became a champion, life got fast for me. And I feel myself I'm a grounded person. How are you been able to deal with the life now that you've achieved everything that you wanted? Man, you know what it is.

You know, man, let's keep it 100. Just like you said, you know, sometimes, you know, our head get a little, you know, it get a little too big. but to ground myself and to humble me, you know, it's my wife. You know what I mean? She's always tapped in with me, you know what I mean? Right on. Because I know I was hard to deal with, all right?

I know I wasn't an easy person to deal with. And if anybody had to deal with me, I mean, it was my wife, man. But my kids and my family, and not only that big bro, I think about this. And, you know, I'm not a shame. I got to think about the days I was crying, praying, and just, you know, because I had a tryout for W. early. You know, I didn't get, I wasn't able to get hired, you know, due to my mistakes, my background when I was 18. And so, you know, that came back and that bit me in my butt,

but I wasn't sure where I was going to go. But I'm happy, I'm just happy it happened, man, but to stay grounded, I remember those struggles, those hard times, man. And if I got to give it up to anybody who deserves this life, it's not me. It's my wife. It's my wife. and my children that deserve every second of this. So yeah, because look, I mean, one thing I love about professional wrestling, I mean, look at this whole room. I mean, let's keep it sold 100 right now. There's different cultures. There's different backgrounds.

We all don't know each other, right? But we're all, you look at there's kids, there's families here, and this is why we're all here because of the love of professional wrestling. And we are all here, and it's not even just me, even though I'm. I'm wrestling. Trust me, you guys have a huge part to do with everything that we got going on. That's why I just wanted to say thank you. I really meant that. Thank you to all y'all. You know, I believe that, I believe that obviously these fans are tremendous and fans in all sport, they're tremendous because they are the lifeline and the blood of everything that everybody does.

But I always think to myself about that walk to an octagon, right? when you hit that curtain, the energy that you get from these people is like something you'll never feel in your life. I tell people there is not a kiss from a girl that will ever be better. There's nothing you could ever do that will replace that feeling. The chills, the spine. How did you feel last night walking in front of 50,000 when that energy hits you? It literally is like they strap a rocket ship to your back. Like what did you feel like last night hitting the Legion Stadium?

So I don't know if I mentioned this. I've been in WWE for two years. Man, yesterday was really emotional for me, man. I saw it. It was really emotional. Why that emotion? Bro, you're going to make me cry. I can say, y'all ready to that then, baby.

No, but yesterday it was emotional. It didn't hit me until I actually was getting ready too much. walk out. I'm so nervous. I've seen a couple of cats on the way. I've seen my big U-S. I've seen the tribal tree Roman Range yesterday right before I walked out and, you know, he still calls me Jake, Jakester, Jakey, I mean? So he had to, you know, hey man, calm down. Enjoy the moment, you know, something that my wife always tells me, but Roman was like, just take it all in. And before I went out, man, being ready, having my gear on and locked in, man, just thinking about all the tough times, all the struggle, all the everything to bring me to this moment right here. I mean, come on, man.

I'm very blessed to be in WWE for two years and be two and O at WrestleMania right out the gate. That's crazy. It's crazy. But it was a good feeling. Uh, very nervous yesterday. Out of all the days, it had to be yesterday. And you know what? I'm not going to sit here and sugarcoat anything.

I do want to give a shout out because I feel like he brought the dog out of me no matter what it was. You know, Drew McIntyre ain't no regular guy. No, he's a beast, you know? So it might sound weird, but shout out to Drew, though, for bringing the dog out of me yesterday, man. I was talking to him once. I was talking to him once, and before the interview started, I was like, yo, you're dark. Drew McIntyre's not a normal dude, man. No, he's not.

I mean, man, we got to think about what he's been doing. I feel like this would have never happened. It would have never had got to where it went if it wasn't for Drew McIntyre. You know, I mean, man, that's the first time I ever got beat up with a cell phone yesterday. Yeah. I was like, who the hell gave him? He had his cell phone on him the whole time? Like, what the hell you get the phone from?

Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it.

And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. You know, you know, one of the things that made me like you and like my kids, like my son likes you, you like to get physical, right? And it was something that popped off the page right away. Like when developing the style, when did you know that you wanted your style to be more of a physical style when you're inside the ring like that? Man, man. Hey, somebody said War Beast. So War Beast is on my independent days. And shout out Joseph Samuel and you know what to speak about it. That's crazy you say that because that's actually where my style kind of came from.

His name. Well, besides my family, obviously, me, the Uso's and Solo. We all do the great Umagas, you know, the move and the court. We all do the same moves. But I knew I wanted to be different. I'm a fan, a huge fan of High Flyers, Ray Mysterio, and none other than Jeff Hardy himself. How you get your big?

Hey, hey. how you're a big ass be jumping through the air like that man big brunt i don't even be knowing hey all i know is when it's time to do the moonstop right before right when i go to the corner and i touch the ropes i say please don't fall please don't fall i said this is the last move jacob just please don't fall dude i remember one time you hit like three back to back i was like this dude it's crazy yeah and i wasn't even supposed to do that i had no knee pads on i had no knee pads on I was just feeling it. I think this one I did it on L.A. night.

Yep, yep. Man, on that third one, got him on his whole face. You know what I mean? And then next week, I won the belt from them. You know, right here in Las Vegas, baby. You know, it's, it's, I love that, man. I love that style. And I love how you said, you know, your family,

you guys do a lot of the same moves. But you somehow have made it, like, distinct to yourself. Like, you change it just enough, right? How do you guys continue? to evolve that style that we've been seeing for so long, but it's still relevant today, but not only is it relevant, it's even more popular and it's even better today than it was when all the greats from your family did it before.

Man, you know what it is. So it's to try to stay relevant. I know when it came to me, mind you, solo, the Uso's and Roman Raines was already here. You know, I was the last cousin that had to come here, you know? Yeah. But it was like I knew, I knew because I wasn't on the major platform, for him yet, I knew Jacob Fatu had to be different.

I knew I had to separate myself. And when I mean separate myself, I didn't want to just be, oh, he's just a cousin. No. That damn it. You talk about Jacob Fatu. Oh, bro, y'all going to remember something, you know? So, so with me tapping in with that style. And shout out to rest in peace, to my uncle Eddie Fatu, Umaga Fatu, man.

He, he's the one that created the pop-up Samoa. No, everybody was doing regular Samoan. So for him to innovate it, pop them up, catch it, I mean, and we still do we same each other's moves. I mean, we still do our family's moves, but we do it different. I mean, we all got our own little flavor, our own little style. But I think my style is a little bit better, though. But I say that respectfully, though. Yeah.

I say that respectfully. I mean, man, my family has been nothing, nothing but great, you know. So professional wrestling really saved my family's life and saved our lives. And we're here right now. And God damn it, does it feel good? There's something to stand in across the octagon from a certain person. I remember fighting Anderson Silva. And I didn't really care about much because when you get in the octagon,

my only thought was to try to kill the person, right? And I remember I was going to fight John Jones. And then two days he pulled out. So two days later, I was fighting Anderson Silva. And it was the only time in my whole career where I looked across and I said, God dang, that's Anderson Silver. Because that was the first human being I've ever watched fight live. When you stare across the ring from one of your cousins, like, how do you keep it together?

Because for me, it would bring an emotion about me and you're an emotional guy yourself. How do you keep it together knowing that, man, this is some shit we dreamed about since we were children? Man, crown jewel, me solo, Tamatonga, and Tonga Loa. Yeah. Versus the Uso's and the tribal chief Roman reigns. How do you keep that together, though? Like in that moment, how you don't get locked in like, fuck? You know what?

I didn't. We actually came outside, and then when we were outside the ring and, you know, I was looking at my older cousins in the ring and I'm looking on the side and I got my brothers. and I start crying a little bit, you know, because it was like, damn, dude, man, we're really here. And then speaking to Roman, you know, before we went out, it's just like, hey, man, calm down. Because, you know, once again, Jacobs backstage all really doing this, you know.

So, you know, once again, they had a, hey, man, it's like when we were little, all right? Just, but it's a good feeling. And you know what? When I got here, see, the thing is, I have family here. So I'm very blessed to have them lace me up here. Other people, when they come to the work and stuff, they don't have that type of knowledge, you know,

that I'm very blessed to have. Not saying Roman and the Uso's don't talk to nobody back there. No, those are vets. They help everybody out. But, man, it's a special moment. It really is. And at the end of the day, even though I'm about to wrestle against Roman, I'm still like, damn, dude, that's Roman Rains right there.

I'm like, Roman, you mind if I get a pitcher next, you know? So shout out to Roman Rains, right? You know what's always cool about him? It's like never says that. Yeah, what's up, Roman? He's like, Joe. Yeah. Always.

Like, he's always, like, he's always introduced himself to me as that. He always responds as himself, right? That's what makes him probably special. I've never heard him introduce himself as Roman. No, he's never done that. The first time I met him, he said, my name is Joe. And I was like, that's pretty cool, right? Yeah.

And honestly, my son didn't get to go to the first WrestleMania. and all the boys, they sent videos to him back in San Jose because he was, yeah, he didn't get to come. So that meant something to me. And it's, you know, honestly, man, when you live a life that we live, and there's access to everything, man, little things matter.

And when people do stuff like that for me, that's what matters the most, right? It's not about the money and the fame and all that shit. It's about when you do stuff for the people that we love. And, you know, to do that for, for my son at the time. Oh, for sure. It meant a lot.

For sure, because, man, see, this is the thing about me. I know we get caught up at airports and fans and all that. Hey, that's cool. I'm okay with that. But, you know, just, I'm working, though, too. But when I'm moving, like,

it happened this morning. I got off the elevator. This was last minute. I got off the elevator. I was happy to come over here. And I've got seven kids. So when I see kids coming up, Jacob, you know, I got to tell them all the kids.

It's okay. Y'all could get a picture. The adult. I'm sorry I'm moving the group. I made time for the kids today. That's why I was a little late because I have my seven kids and I wish, and I know if my kids was a fan of somebody and they was to see that person,

hopefully they will stop, show my kids love. I don't care if it's just an autograph, a picture or whatever, but I will definitely stop for the kids because those are the memories that I had when I was being a professional, young kid, professional wrestling, was being a young kid. You know what I mean? So shout out.

to all the young kids over here, may tapping in with all gas, no breaks with it. Y'all don't like? You know, it's crazy, too, because now there's access to you. Before, man, I remember writing letters. There was no way ever to get to any of our idols. And now you've made yourself available

to kids today to take a piece of that, and you don't understand how important it is to those kids. To have that interaction and to make that positive interaction. Before I let you go, I have to talk to you about tonight. Right? Some big matches tonight. Yeah. How do you see things going?

Like, what's your, what's the match that you're most excited about outside of the main event? Because that's easy, right? Oh, I want to watch the main event. I mean, everybody wants to watch the main event. Talk to me about the match that you're most excited about watching tonight. Really, it's the whole card. But there's like two matches. Well, no, maybe three, because I like Jade and Ria.

I like Jada Ria's match. They're going to beat each other up. Yeah, I like Jade and Ria. The latter match. Yeah, definitely, definitely the latter match because Rousse of, me and Roussef trained together. And then Pena Ciro Miro, y'all right mean. That's the homie right there,

and we were on the independents together. And then me, I get along with all the luchadors, man, me and my Mexican brothers is like this, you know what I mean? So I'm locked in with them. You're an ex-lucador. Oh, yeah. Or they could just call.

Or they could just call me Uso Lucha. You know what I mean? Uso Lucha, man. But then on another note, besides the latter match, man, I'm really ready to see the beast and miss the Ova. Yeah, I get missed that one. Yeah, that's my dog, dog. But.

Yeah, I like that one. Yeah, but definitely that. And, you know, to go back, since they're opening up the show, man, to go back with yesterday being the emotional, man, too. Like, come on, man. First hour ESPN. On ESPN.

That's crazy for me. Isn't it always crazy to think like I'm on ESPN? Like I was telling somebody the other day, we went on ESPN and I was like, man, I work for the worldwide leader. And then we went on Paramount and CBS. I was like, you know, when I grew up, they had four channels free and that's what I got. One of them was CBS. And now working here, that is crazy shit to me. Like, I'm like, how does that happen?

Like, how do I go? and I imagine that's what life feels like for you right now and that's like this gratitude man man so last night like when I told you I had my in and out burger I didn't go out I went right to my room big chilling it was so cool I was talking to my kids and next to you know I pop up on ESPN because I did an interview and I was just it would just

man just yesterday the whole ride and believe me when they called me and they told me do you mind coming and speaking I said hell yeah I want to be here and I'm real happy I came, and I'm real happy that y'all got to see this other side of me. Yeah, I mean? Because I know y'all used to just me being like this all the time, all right? But, you know, I do smile a little bit.

I do shake hands and say what's happening, all right? I am a family man and a husband at the end of the day. All right, but overall, man, man, I'm just real happy to be here. I'm very blessed, and, man, I couldn't have had it no other way, big dog. You are the absolute best, man. I appreciate you so much, Jacob. Guys, WrestleMania Night 2 is going to be

absolutely insane. This guy put on a great show last night, so did all the other performance from the WWE. I cannot wait to be out there with you guys because I'm going to act just like you, if not worse. I'm going to be kicking back my beers.

I'm going to be hanging out. Look, I got to work tomorrow. I'm here filming the ultimate fighter. I got to work tomorrow. They're going to smell some alcohol on me because I'm going to enjoy my WrestleMania. They are not ruining this. Yeah.

Hey, y'all did I mean to that one? You know, no. Give it up for Jacob Fai, too, and thank you guys for stopping by. Appreciate it. Yeah. Hey, I want to say thank y'all because my Ressor Media 42 is on gas. No brace winning.

Yon don't know I mean for! Come on, baby. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what?

We created our own podcast called. Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.