10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2006
6. Umaga’s Arrival And Push Was Badass
Or "Umanga" if you're William Regal.
Do not adjust your screens, that really was the hairstyle Umaga rocked for his re-debut on Raw during the 3 April episode. He was repackaged after some time away and returned to shake things up just 24 hours after WrestleMania 22. First impressions count, and Umaga made a good one by attacking Ric Flair.
He'd go on to beat Flair in a feud, then Umaga went on a winning streak that saw him destroy everyone from John Cena and Shawn Michaels to Triple H and Kane. WWE were blatantly prepping Umaga for a big push heading into 2007, and all of these victories reflected that.
Don't sleep on his his TKO win over Jeff Hardy on the 11 December Raw - that was also killer. There was an air of danger about the ex-3 Minute Warning member which few others on the roster could match. Truthfully, Umaga was everything WWE had wanted Rikishi to be when he turned heel in 2000. Shame they kept big Kish in his thong, eh?
Umaga's debut, squashes and mini-feuds with some of the biggest stars on Raw stood out from the crowd when binging episodes of the flagship from '06. He'd change the hair following that April introduction, and WWE suddenly had a hot new heel on their hands who could work well with all comers.
His post-WrestleMania repackage job was the complete opposite of what happened to Matt 'Albert/A-Train' Bloom in 2012. The less said about his misery as Lord Tensai, the better. Sorry, sir!