WWE Has a Secret Weapon to Shake Up Road to WrestleMania 42

Jacob Fatu is just the Superstar WWE needs to shake up the main event scene amid an underwhelming, predictable road to WrestleMania 42. 

The Royal Rumble set up the centerpiece for the company's return to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. However, the rest of the build to The Show of Shows has been scant, and viewers are still waiting for something as disruptive as John Cena's heel turn or the emergence of The Final Boss.

Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk is undeniably a blockbuster matchup worthy of the grandest stage in sports entertainment. Contrarily, Drew McIntyre's current direction and the prospect of another one-on-one encounter with Cody Rhodes aren't nearly as intriguing. 

The second-generation star is the clear favorite to win the men's Elimination Chamber match and earn a rematch against The Scottish Warrior. Most fans won't be enthused, but Fatu is the missing piece that will bring this storyline together after McIntyre cost him a spot in the upcoming stipulation match.

Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu's Long History

Fatu made his WWE debut during the June 21, 2024 episode of SmackDown as an unpredictable force of nature. His chaotic presence was exactly what Solo Sikoa needed to re-establish The Bloodline as the most dangerous faction on the roster. 

Just as Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and Rhodes had Sikoa cornered, The Samoan Werewolf singlehandedly turned the tide. On his first night with the blue brand, he left The American Nightmare lying in what remained of the announce table.

WWE/Getty Images

As such, it was a bit poetic that Fatu unintentionally cost Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship. The two have a shared enemy in McIntyre, but his return shattered their uneasy alliance.

Honestly, their history together since his arrival makes for a much more compelling feud than Rhodes vs. McIntyre. In fact, their popular backstage segment on Jan. 23 proved it and cemented Fatu's growth into a nuanced character.

As he stated, the 33-year-old is different from any other Samoan he has faced, and their subsequent match at Saturday Night's Main Event was a blast. If WWE wants to add some much-needed intensity to the world title picture, the creative direction must rely on their dynamic in the weeks to come. 

Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images

An Ideal Triple Threat Match 

Fatu also has an axe to grind with McIntyre because he cost him a chance to become the number one contender twice. On the surface, the reigning champion initially did so to guarantee he would face Rhodes instead, but there's more to it than that. 

His motives are simple. No one hates The Bloodline more than him because they stymied his championship aspirations at the height of their power. To that end, his character never truly recovered after his loss to Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle in 2022.

So, it isn't hard to see why he would want to prevent another member of the Anoaʻi family from claiming the company's top prize. Reigns' recent promo likely didn't help matters. However, his Royal Rumble win also assured they would've been a threat to both the Undisputed WWE and World Heavyweight Championships.

Cooper Neil/WWE via Getty Images

Attacking Fatu achieves two purposes at once. It stops his ascent to the top of the brand in its infancy, allowing McIntyre to take over instead.

A triple threat match is such a perfect option because all three men have well-established reasons to despise one another. Even more, their justifications work much better when they're all involved in the storyline. 

If this were merely Rhodes' bid to avenge his loss in the 3 Stages of Hell match, this build would be bland and formulaic. Fatu is the special ingredient that will elevate it into a layered story that capitalizes on years of continuity.  

This may not be the right time to make the Samoan wrestler champion, but he's already a believable main eventer. He is the secret weapon WWE needs to expand its world title picture and disrupt the status quo.