Report: Jacob Fatu’s WWE Return Timeline Updated After Brutal SmackDown Attack — Major Push Reportedly Delayed Ahead of Hometown Raw

Jacob Fatu’s momentum might have just hit an unexpected detour. The “Samoan Werewolf” was brutally attacked backstage during Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown, leaving him bloodied, missing teeth, and possibly sidelined for several weeks — and the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Before Friday’s show, multiple backstage sources had confirmed that WWE was preparing a major push for Fatu heading into tonight's Monday Night Raw in Sacramento, California — his hometown. Despite being a SmackDown superstar, Fatu was expected to appear on Raw in a cross-brand segment that would have reportedly “cemented his next chapter” heading into Survivor Series season. That appearance is now off the table following the mysterious assault.

According to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, Fatu’s current absence stems from a dental procedure following the attack, and he is not yet medically cleared to compete. Early word was that the Samoan powerhouse could be out for the remainder of the year, but insiders now believe a return before Survivor Series: WarGames in late November is possible.

Meanwhile, The Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez reported that WWE creative still hopes to have Fatu back by the November 29 SmackDown in San Diego, which would allow him to play a major role in the final Premium Live Event of 2025.

During Friday’s show, Fatu was found unconscious under a metal truss backstage, bleeding heavily from the mouth — with several teeth lying nearby. WWE cameras cut to the scene in a shocking moment before officials and medical staff rushed to his aid. Drew McIntyre, who was scheduled to face Fatu in a No. 1 Contender’s Match, denied involvement before going on to face Cody Rhodes in an impromptu main event that ended in a disqualification.

As of now, Fatu’s attacker remains unidentified, though fans online have speculated everything from a returning Solo Sikoa to a possible betrayal within The Bloodline’s ranks. WWE officials have remained tight-lipped.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is also expected to address another major injury tonight — that of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins — after the devastating attack by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed last week. With Rollins reportedly undergoing shoulder surgery and Fatu sidelined, WWE’s creative landscape heading into WarGames could be shifting rapidly behind the scenes.

Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

Jacob Fatu’s rumored push was said to be one of the biggest creative plans Triple H had lined up for fall 2025 — including a potential Survivor Series tie-in involving The Bloodline. The timing of this attack — just days before a planned Raw hometown appearance — raises serious questions about whether this was a storyline pivot or a legitimate medical issue that forced WWE’s hand. Either way, the Samoan Werewolf’s absence leaves a noticeable void on SmackDown, and his eventual return could be explosive.

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