Zilla Fatu Reveals His Late Father Umaga Used to Call His Name During Matches: ‘That Means a Lot to Me’

For most wrestling fans, the name Umaga brings back memories of chaos, power, and raw emotion — a man whose presence in the WWE ring was as intimidating as it was unforgettable.

But for Zilla Fatu, the youngest son of the late Samoan Bulldozer, those memories carry something far deeper: the realization that every roar, every cry, every battle his father fought on television carried a hidden message — one that was meant for him.

In a recent emotional post shared on Instagram, Zilla revealed something few fans ever knew about Umaga’s performances: that during some of his most intense matches, the WWE legend would call out his son’s real name, “Isayah,” in the middle of the action.

“Throughout my dad’s career, he had thousands of matches,” Zilla said. “If you guys didn’t know, my dad actually used to say my name in the middle of his matches sometimes. My real name, ‘Isayah.’ Pops used to say it — anytime he did something big. I think now, matter of fact, growing up, I never peeped that… until I started wrestling and studying my dad. That means a lot.”

A Hidden Message Across Time

It’s a small detail that fans might have missed for years — a grunt, a shout, a battle cry buried under the roar of the crowd and the smack of body slams. But for Zilla, it’s become something profound: proof that even in the chaos of the ring, his father was thinking of him.

“I didn’t realize it when I was a kid,” he said. “But now, when I go back and watch his matches, I can hear it. I can hear him say ‘Isayah’ right before he hits a move, and it just hits me different. Like… that was for me.”

The discovery wasn’t just sentimental; it was spiritual. Zilla describes it as a connection that transcends time — as if his father left breadcrumbs of love scattered throughout his career for him to find when he was ready.

“It’s almost like he was talking to me, even when he was out there doing what he loved,” Zilla said. “Now that I’m walking that same path, it means everything.”

Carrying on the Bloodline

Zilla Fatu is part of wrestling’s most powerful dynasty — the Anoa’i Family, whose members include Roman Reigns, The Usos, Rikishi, Solo Sikoa, and of course, Umaga himself.

But unlike his cousins, who were born into wrestling spotlights, Zilla’s journey has been more complex.

Before entering the ring, he spent years battling personal challenges and rebuilding his life — finding purpose and discipline through the very industry that defined his family. His decision to pursue wrestling wasn’t just about legacy; it was about redemption and connection.

“When I started wrestling, it wasn’t about fame,” Zilla said. “It was about understanding my dad. I wanted to feel what he felt in there — the energy, the crowd, the fight.”

In training, he began watching Umaga’s old matches — not as a fan this time, but as a student. And that’s when he first noticed something remarkable.

“I’d be studying film, and I’d hear him yell something. I paused it, replayed it, and realized — that was my name. It blew my mind,” he said. “He was saying my name when he hit the Samoan Spike. Like, that was his way of keeping me close, even when he was out there doing his thing.”

A Father’s Legacy, A Son’s Calling

Umaga — whose real name was Edward Fatu — passed away in December 2009, when Zilla was just a child. For years, the loss felt like an open wound.

Zilla has been candid about the pain of growing up without his father, but also about the strength he’s found through rediscovering him in the squared circle.

“When you lose someone that big in your life, you carry the pain with you,” he said. “But now I see it differently. I feel like my dad’s still speaking to me — not in words, but through the way he lived, the way he fought, the energy he gave to people.”

Every match Zilla wrestles now feels like a continuation of that story — a living tribute to a father whose impact still echoes through the arenas of WWE.

“Every time I step into that ring, I’m representing him,” he said. “That’s my mission — to make people remember who he was, but also to show them who I am.”

The Spirit of Umaga Lives On

For longtime fans, hearing this revelation gives Umaga’s matches a whole new emotional layer. What once seemed like primal aggression now feels like a father’s passion intertwined with love.

Even his signature intensity — the wide eyes, the guttural shouts, the unstoppable drive — can be seen differently now, as the energy of a man who carried his family with him in every performance.

“That’s the part that gets me,” Zilla admitted. “He wasn’t just fighting opponents — he was fighting for something bigger. For family, for pride, for legacy.”

Zilla says he’s watched clips of Umaga’s legendary bouts — against John Cena, Triple H, Jeff Hardy — and now notices moments he never saw before. A pause. A yell. A look toward the camera.

“I know now what that meant,” he said. “He was talking to me.”

The Power of Family in Wrestling

Family has always been at the heart of Samoan wrestling culture. The Anoa’i family’s bond stretches across generations, and each member seems to carry a piece of the ones who came before.

From The Rock’s charisma to Roman Reigns’ dominance, from Rikishi’s showmanship to Umaga’s ferocity — their stories intertwine in ways that transcend the business.

And now, through Zilla Fatu, that legacy continues in a new light — not just through bloodline, but through spiritual inheritance.

“People talk about The Bloodline like it’s just a faction,” Zilla said. “But to me, it’s real. It’s who we are. We carry our ancestors in everything we do.”

A Legacy of Love, Not Just Violence

While fans remember Umaga for his brutal power and unmatched intensity, Zilla wants them to remember something else too — the man behind the warrior.

“He had a big heart,” Zilla said. “He loved his family. He loved entertaining people. And now, every time I hear him say my name in those old matches, I know he loved me too — even when I was too young to understand it.”

For Zilla, the discovery has transformed not just his career, but his identity. He’s no longer chasing his father’s shadow — he’s walking beside it.

“I used to feel pressure to live up to him,” he said. “Now I just feel proud to be his son.”

As he forges his own path in professional wrestling, Zilla Fatu carries with him a message that’s both powerful and deeply human — that love doesn’t always have to be spoken loudly to last forever.

Sometimes, it’s whispered in the middle of a fight, carried on the echo of a crowd’s roar, buried in the heart of a name shouted between punches.

For Zilla Fatu, that name was Isayah — and it will forever remind him of the father who never stopped calling for him, even in the heat of battle. 💔🔥