Jacob Fatu Reveals He Literally LOST The WWE Title (WWE News)
Yokozuna didn't sweat it, but a young Jacob Fatu thought he was in big trouble.
Current WWE sensation Jacob Fatu once lost the company's top belt backstage and sent several staff members into panic mode. The reigning United States Champion told the Toronto Sun that he was just a kid playing behind the curtain with his uncle Yokozuna's title when he misplaced it.
Legendary referee Earl Hebner was the one who found it nearby on a table in catering with some cookies. It turns out that Jacob was having a little snack mid-play with the WWF Title, but he forgot to bring it back to Yoko once he was finished. According to Fatu, his uncle wasn't worried and actually found the whole thing pretty funny.
Jacob considers that time period (which must've been between April 1993-March 1994 during Yoko's two reigns as top champ) a firm favourite. He told the interviewers that this is when he really started getting into pro wrestling. It certainly didn't hurt that he had family on top of the biggest promotion in the world.
One can only imagine the colour draining from Hebner's face as he scrambled around backstage looking for the most important title in the entire company. Meanwhile, it's funny to think of Yokozuna chilling out and acting like it was no big deal.
Why The 1993 Royal Rumble Is Special To Fatu
Fatu can also remember watching Yoko win the 1993 Royal Rumble in Sacramento, California. That was a trip for young Jacob, because he's from Sacramento and couldn't believe something so monumental could happen that close to home. He described the pay-per-view as "very special" to him personally.
Yokozuna entered the '93 Rumble as #27 and worked around 15 minutes before lastly eliminating Randy Savage to win the whole thing. Along the way, Yoko also ousted Bob Backlund (who set a then-record for time spent in the match), Tatanka, Earthquake, Carlos Colon, Tito Santana and Owen Hart from contention that night.
Infamously, Savage went for a pinfall on his heel foe after blasting him with a trademark elbow from the top rope. That frankly ridiculous spot made the babyface look silly, but it was done on purpose so Yoko would look impressive when pressing him off the mat and over the ropes to the floor.
The 1993 Rumble was the first with official WrestleMania rewards. It was said ahead of time that the winner would become number one contender and get a guaranteed shot at the WWF Title on the biggest show of the year, so Yoko won out and Jacob was there to see it.