Penta vs. Jacob Fatu: Which WWE Star Has the Higher Ceiling?
WWE's acquisition of several notable names from free agency over the last year has only added to the incredible depth on the Raw, SmackDown and NXT rosters.
Penta and Jacob Fatu lead that list of newcomers with the most potential.
Fatu previously dominated MLW and the rest of the independent scene before finally joining WWE in early 2024. He cemented his status as a star on the rise with his unforgettable arrival on SmackDown that summer and has been instrumental to the continued success of the Bloodline saga.
It wasn't until the turn of the year that Penta put pen to paper with WWE following a successful stint in All Elite Wrestling. In the month that he's been on the main roster, he's been portrayed as a top talent and one to watch on Monday nights.
Both men had strong showings in the men's Royal Rumble match on Feb. 1 and even faced off at one point during the star-studded bout, leaving fans to wonder who has the higher ceiling of the two.
Their respective runs so far have been impressive, but one will inevitably go down as a bigger star than the other.
Fatu's Mic Skills Are Superior
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It was difficult for fans to get a gauge of what Fatu was capable of on the mic in the first few months of his main roster. He was primarily utilized as a silent assassin for The Bloodline, with his most memorable line being “I love you, Solo.”
Only those who were familiar with his work pre-WWE knew exactly what he brought to the table whenever he had the chance to cut a promo and speak from the heart.
Thankfully, WWE has afforded the 32-year-old that opportunity in the last month with Solo Sikoa losing his title of “Tribal Chief” and Fatu stepping up in his absence.
That isn't to say Penta's promos are weak by any means, though.
In the immediate aftermath of his debut win over Chad Gable on the Jan. 13 edition of Raw, the former Lucha Underground stalwart delivered a passionate promo to the San Jose crowd that served as the perfect introduction for him.
His English has improved from where it was years ago, and in the right settings such as vignettes and pre-taped promos, he comes across exceptionally well, to the point where an eventual mouthpiece may not even be necessary.
In a straight-up war of words, Fatu would reign supreme, especially if his latest few exchanges on SmackDown with Damian Priest and Cody Rhodes have been any indication.
Penta Is a Proven Merch Mover
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From a pure marketing standpoint, Penta has the distinct edge over Fatu and a majority of the current roster.
WWE has sold a slew of shirts for Fatu over the last year and the Samoan Werewolf designs for most of them stand out, but Penta's awesome appearance is almost impossible to compete with.
Without even being familiar with who the luchador is or where he wrestled previously, any WWE fan will instantly take notice of him for his unique look alone.
Penta, 40, has been able to maintain his appearance across every company he's competed for throughout the last decade. WWE's presentation of him has also been top-notch and caused his stock to skyrocket out of the gate.
Although it essentially ruined the surprise, WWE was wise to release his merchandise online the morning of his unannounced Raw debut. Per PWInsider, the company was said to be thrilled with the early numbers he brought in, with Penta also confirming to Chris Van Vliet that he's sold a vast number of masks within the month.
Anything relating to merch and money are the metrics WWE typically pays attention to more than any other, making Penta a very valuable, profitable and marketable asset if it can keep him a hot commodity.
Equal In-Ring Ability and Aura
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Fatu and Penta share more similarities than they do differences, most notably their in-ring abilities and immense levels of charisma (or “aura” as some fans would classify it as).
The Samoan Werewolf simply had a larger-than-life presence about him from the moment he debuted on SmackDown last June. Solo Sikoa's new Bloodline with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa had potential, but Fatu was the missing ingredient that gave them the credibility they needed.
Even now that he's distanced himself from most of The Bloodline, Fatu still has that special vibe that he backs up every time he steps inside the squared circle. And the same can be said for Penta.
As noted, Penta's presentation in WWE has been tremendous, but his thrilling matches have made him an attraction just as much as his entrance and aura have. He's been ripping it up with elite talent worldwide for years and his run on Raw has been no exception.
If anything, WWE has only enhanced what was already there with the two of them, so they're evenly matched in both areas.
How They've Been Booked So Far
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It's evident WWE has big plans in store for both Fatu and Penta based on their booking up to this point, specifically the former.
Fatu was immediately thrust into the top angle in the company upon his arrival and has remained a focal point of SmackDown ever since. His rivalry with Roman Reigns is apparently over for now, but he continues to target top talent such as Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Jey Uso and Braun Strowman.
At the rate he's ascending the ranks, Fatu could be wearing world title gold within a year.
Penta hasn't been pushed as a main event player in the same way just yet but has been a consistent staple in Raw's midcard scene.
His wins over Chad Gable, Pete Dunne and Ludwig Kaiser could be enough to earn him an opportunity to challenge for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 41, a title he could win from Bron Breakker.
Penta as undisputed WWE or world heavyweight champion may not be completely out of the question as it's clear the company is confident he'll be a draw going forward, but Fatu will get to that level a lot quicker where he won't feel out of place in the slightest.
Final Assessment
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WWE was incredibly lucky to land both Fatu and Penta when it did as both men will be major difference-makers for the company for years to come.
WWE has recognized their value and have featured them accordingly. They'll ultimately benefit from being on separate shows so they can dominate their respective ranks and not have to share the spotlight or battle for a belt—at least not yet.
Overall, Fatu's ceiling in WWE should be considered higher than Penta's, if only slightly. The promotion has demonstrated it intends to continue pushing him at a main event level, whereas Penta could only ever amount to upper-midcard.
Of course, Penta is still fairly new to the WWE scene and there's a strong chance he'll exceed expectations one day, but it's imperative the promotion ensures he maintains the momentum he has right now and never lets him lose direction.
Meanwhile, Fatu's role in The Bloodline has helped him carve out a spot for himself toward the top of the card, but he belongs in that mix and will stay there based entirely off his own skill set and ability to be an attraction in WWE for years to come.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
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