On the July 22, 2002 episode of WWE RAW, The Island Boyz made their debut as 3-Minute Warning. Fatu (using the name Jamal) and his cousin (going by Rosey) were (kayfabe) hired as General Manager Eric Bischoff's enforcers, attacking seemingly random wrestlers or non wrestlers each week on his order. Fatu was released from his WWE contract later that year. Outside WWE Ekmo in TNA.Fatu worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) for a short while after his WWE release under his old name, Ekmo, and would later move to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) as a member of the Roughly Obsess & Destroy (RO&D) faction. Later, with Taiyo Kea, Fatu won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship. He also challenged Satoshi Kojima for the Triple Crown. Fatu also wrestled in many independent promotions during this time, including his brother Solofa's Nu-Wrestling Evolution. However, in December 2005, Fatu announced he would be returning to World Wrestling Entertainment and gave his notice to AJPW. His time in Japan was seen by many as a period of great improvement in his career, as he became a regular in main events and took on an aura of strength and credibility as a singles wrestler. Return to WWE In December 2005, it was confirmed that WWE re-signed Fatu. A return of 3-Minute Warning was hinted at for many weeks with the team of Matt Anoai and Fatu competing in dark matches together before RAW; however, Rosey was released before the team could be brought back on the main show. On the April 3, 2006, edition of RAW in Chicago, Illinois, Fatu made his re-debut using the name Umaga, alongside his manager, the Cuban Armando Alejandro Estrada. When Estrada interrupted a Ric Flair promo he introduced his new client, Umaga, who proceeded to viciously attack Flair. The 'destructive Samoan gimmick' is considered a throwback to many Samoan-based tag teams like The Wild Samoans, and The Headshrinkers and has drawn comparisons to 1980s gimmick Kamala the Ugandan Giant. Most of the matches Umaga participated in while establishing himself were squash matches against various jobbers; however, after competing in one of these squash matches, Ric Flair returned to attack him. Their mini-feud culminated with Umaga winning a match against Ric Flair at Backlash 2006. At SummerSlam, Estrada offered (the undefeated) Umaga's services to The McMahons (Vince and Shane) to "take out" their D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) opponents during their match. When he made his way to the ring for his mission, however, he was attacked by Kane. The two of them feuded, alternating the upper hand back and forth, for the next two months until Umaga won a Loser Leaves RAW match, sending Kane off of the brand. Their feud continued, however, at Cyber Sunday where Kane was again defeated by Umaga after fans selected him over Chris Benoit and The Sandman to be Umaga's opponent for the night. Umaga, still undefeated, was then named #1 contender for John Cena's WWE Championship and began challenging him for it, only to eventually lose to him at New Year's Revolution by roll-up, ending his streak. After Estrada played down Cena's victory a fluke, claiming Umaga was in cruise control for the whole match until the very end, a Last Man Standing rematch was signed for the Royal Rumble. On a RAW between the two pay-per-views Umaga attacked Cena (kayfabe) injuring his spleen and putting the match in jeopardy. When Cena refused to seek medical treatment for fear of a medical suspension which could lead to him being forced to forfeit the belt, the match proceeded as planned with Cena picking up the win after choking Umaga with the STFU with a ring rope that Estrada loosened earlier in the match. Umaga won his first WWE championship on February 19, 2007, defeating Jeff Hardy to claim the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Umaga then began a feud with ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley after Umaga was chosen by Vince McMahon for the Battle of the Billionaires match at Wrestlemania 23 and Bobby Lashley was chosen by Donald Trump. At Wrestlemania 23, Bobby Lashley defeated Umaga despite interference by Vince McMahon's son, Shane McMahon.Samoan Gangstas (LA Smooth and Matt E. Smalls, Kimo) defeated the Love Connection on May 24, 1997 to capture the WXW (World Xtreme Wrestling) Tag Team title in Hazleton, PA. - On September 17, 1997, the Samoan Gangstas captured the WXW Tag Team title from the Mad Russian and Russian Eliminator. - The Island Boys secured WWE developmental contracts, and were assigned to Les Thather's HWA promotion in Cincinnati, OH. - On June 21, 2001, the Samoans (Fatu and Matty Samu) defeated Hideki Hosaka and Yoshinori Sasaki for the FMW (Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling) Hardcore Tag Team title in Tokyo, Japan. - On November 14, 2001, the Island Boys defeated Shannon Moore and Evan Karagias in Dayton, OH to capture the HWA Tag Team title. - At the end of their run in the HWA, the Island Boys gained a manager in the form of Haku. - The Island Boys made their WWE television debuts on the July 22, 2002 episode of "Raw," destroying D-Lo Brown and Shawn Stasiak in the process. - The following week, the Island Boys jumped Mae Young and the Fabulous Moolah. One of the Boys delivered a big splash from the top rope on the ageless Young. - To the pleasure of Raw general manager Eric Bischoff, the Island Boys attacked ring announcers Howard Finkel and Lilian Garcia. - On the August 12, 2002 edition of "Raw," the Island Boys splashed Mini Dust. By this time, the boys were identified as Jamal and Rosey. - Two weeks later, the Island Boys did the same to wrestling legend Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. - On the September 12, 2002 episode of "Smackdown," Bischoff revealed himself as the old man conducting the Billy and Chuck wedding ceremony, and the Rosey and Jamal arrived and attacked Smackdown GM Stephanie McMahon. - At the 2002 Unforgiven PPV in Los Angeles, CA, Jamal and Rosey defeated Billy and Chuck. As a result, Stephanie was forced to perform HLA. - In their first WWE televised match, Jamal and Rosey defeated Booker T and Goldust. - A short time later, Jamal and Rosey became 3 Minute Warning. - On the February 3, 2003 episode of "Raw," 3 Minute Warning defeated the Dudley Boyz. - In June 2003, WWE released Jamal. - Fatu arrived in TNA months later and returned to the name Ekmo. - In late 2003, Fatu (with partner Justin Credible) worked All Japan's Real World Tag League. In Japan, Fatu wrestled as Jamal once again. - On December 1, 2004, Jamal and Taiyo Kea won the All Japan tag team tournament in Hachinohe. - Jamal and Kea defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie on January 16, 2005 in Osaka, Japan to claim the vacant All Japan World Tag Team. - In December 2005, Fatu resigned with WWE. - Fatu returned to WWE television on the April 3, 2006 edition of "Raw" as Umaga, managed by Armando Alejandro Estrada. - Umaga squashed Ric Flair at the 2006 Backlash. - At Vengeance '06, Umaga squashed Eugene in under two minutes. - On the October 9, 2006 "Family Reunion" episode of "Raw," Umaga defeated Kane in a "loser leaves Raw" match. - At Cyber Sunday '06, Umaga again defeated Kane. MyGen Profile Generator
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