On December 4, the wrestling world suffered another loss with the passing of Eddie "Eki" Fatu, known most recently by his ring name, Umaga. Fatu died December 4, 2009, as a result of a heart attack.

Fatu, born Edward Smith Fatu March 28, 1973 in San Francisco, California, was a member of the famous Anoa'i wrestling family, which included Afa & Sika (The Wild Samoans), Samula ("Sam") (better known as Tonga Kid and Tama of The Islanders) and Solofa Jr. (best known as Rikishi), Rodney (aka Yokozuna in the WWF) as well as Dwayne Johnson, perhaps best known as The Rock. His mother, Vera, was the sister of Afa and Sika of the Wild Samoans

Fatu trained to become a professional wrestler at the Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center operated by his uncles, Afa and Sika. In 1995, after completing his training, he started wrestling for Afa's World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) promotion. The next year, both Fatu and his cousin Matt (known in the WWF as Rosey) were brought into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to work with Fatu's brother and Matt's cousin, Solofa Fatu Jr. (aka Rikishi), which unfortunately ended up being dropped, along with the two of them, and they were sent to the WWF's "farm territory" Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) in Cincinnati, where they formed a tag team, now calling themselves Kimo and Ekmo, which stayed together through various promotions, including Memphis Championship Wrestling and Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW) in Japan, holding championships in both of the previous-named promotions under the names The Samoan Gangstas and The Island Boyz.

In 2002 the team was brought back to the (now renamed) World Wrestling Entertainment as 3-Minute Warning, a pair of enforcers for Raw brand General Manager Eric Bischoff. The team lasted almost a year, before Fatu was released from his WWE contract in June 2003.

After his release from WWE, Fatu reverted to his previous ring name, Ekmo, which he used when he was a member of the Island Boyz team, and began working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He worked for TNA between June and November 2003, during which time he was put into a tag team with Sonny Siaki. The team feuded with the team of America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm). Fatu would leave TNA to take bookings in Japan.

In All Japan Pro Wrestling, he used the name Jamal, the name he used as a member of 3-Minute Warning. He was again wrestled as a part of tag team, first with Justin Credible, then forming a more permanent team with Taiyo Kea, with whom he held the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship and won the World's Strongest Tag Team League tournament in 2004. The team also wrestled a stint in Hawai'i Championship Wrestling (HCW) , holding the HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship.

In December 2005, Fatu re-signed with World Wrestling Entertainment, and although initial signs pointed to a reunion of 3-Minute Warning, Rosey (Anoa'i) was released from WWE before the team could be brought to TV, although Fatu remained on contract.

Fatu returned to WWE television on the April 3, 2006 episode of Raw with a new gimmick similar to that of Kamala and The Headshrinkers, playing a "Samoan savage" who could only be controlled by his manager, Armando Alejandro Estrada. Now called Umaga, supposedly the name of the final and most painful part of the Samoan tattooing process, meaning "the end", he would begin a high-profile feud with Ric Flair, whom Estrada would interrupt in the middle of a promo to tell Flair how much of a fan of his he used to be, but that now he was old and needed to retire. Offering the fans a new "hero" to watch, Estrada introduced Umaga, who proceeded to beat down Flair. For the next few weeks, Umaga would destroy all he faced, until he finally dispatched Flair at Backlash 2006. Umaga's winning streak would continue, defeating majority of the Raw roster, including such stars as Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and WWE Champion John Cena.

His next feud started at SummerSlam, where he was to be an enforcer on behalf of The McMahons (Vince and Shane) during their match against D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H), only to be attacked by Kane as he made his entrance. Kane and Umaga feuded for the next two months until Umaga won a Loser Leaves Raw match, sending Kane off the brand. Although separated by different brands, Umaga and Kane had one final match at Cyber Sunday where Umaga again defeated Kane after fans selected him over Chris Benoit and The Sandman to be Umaga's opponent for the night.

Umaga, still undefeated, was deemed the number one contender for the WWE Championship and feuded with then-champion John Cena over the title. Cena retained his belt at the New Year's Revolution pay-per-view, pinning Umaga with a roll-up and ending Umaga's undefeated streak. Manager Estrada played down Cena's victory, claiming it was a fluke, until a Last Man Standing rematch was signed for the next pay-per-view, Royal Rumble. On a Raw prior to the Rumble, Umaga attacked Cena causing an injury to his spleen and putting the match in jeopardy. Cena refused a medical exam, the results of which could cause him to forfeit his title, and ended up defeating Umaga by submission, wrapping a loosened ring rope around his neck during an STFU.

Despite being out of the world title picture, Umaga was named Vince McMahon's "representative" for the WrestleMania 23 "Battle of the Billionaires" with Donald Trump. Immediately after choosing Umaga, McMahon granted him a match against the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Hardy, which he won handedly to take the title. After Bobby Lashley was named Trump's representative, the two began a feud which lasted even beyond WrestleMania.

Despite Umaga losing in the "Battle of the Billionaires" hair versus hair match and causing Vince McMahon to get his head shaved, the McMahons continued to second Umaga to the ring. Two weeks after WrestleMania, Lashley interfered in a match and helped a fan, (later to be revealed as Santino Marella), defeat Umaga for the Intercontinental title. However, at Backlash, the team of Umaga, Vince, and Shane McMahon wrestled Bobby Lashley for his ECW World Championship in a Handicap match, winning the title for Vince.

Umaga would continue to be involved with the Lashley/McMahon feud, competing at Judgment Day in the return match for the ECW Championship, which was once again a Handicap Match with the McMahons and Umaga taking on Bobby Lashley. The feud culminated at One Night Stand, with Umaga aiding The McMahons in defending the ECW Championship against Bobby Lashley in a Street Fight, which Umaga and The McMahons lost.

In June, Umaga re-entered into a feud with Marella, the man who won his Intercontinental Championship in April. When they met at the Vengeance pay-per-view, Umaga was solidly in control of the match, but lost by disqualification when he disregarded the referee's instructions and continued to punch Marella. In a rematch on July 2, Umaga beat Marella to win the Intercontinental Title back, beginning his second reign. He defeated both Mr. Kennedy and Carlito in a triple threat match at SummerSlam to retain his Intercontinental Title, but on the September 3 Raw, Umaga lost the title to Jeff Hardy in a singles match. Later that night, he teamed with Carlito in a handicap match against Triple H, after which Triple H struck him several times with his sledgehammer, injuring him. As a result, he was given a match against Triple H at No Mercy, which was changed to a title match for the WWE Championship during the event when Triple H won the title earlier that night. Unfortunately, Umaga was defeated by Triple H.

During the weekend of August 30, 2007, articles posted by Sports Illustrated, the New York Daily News, and The Washington Post named Fatu as one of a number of superstars to have purchased pharmaceuticals from an online pharmacy, a violation of the WWE "Talent Wellness" program. Fatu specifically was said to have received somatropin, a growth hormone, between July and December 2006, after the "No drugs from online sources" rule was instituted. Fatu violated this rule again in 2009, which led to his later release.

Coming up to WrestleMania XXIV, Fatu started feuding with Batista, but lost to him at WrestleMania. Upon Jeff Hardy's return, William Regal sent Umaga into the ring to punish Jeff, reigniting the feud between Umaga and Hardy. Umaga would go on to face Hardy at WWE One Night Stand in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, which Umaga lost.

On June 23, 2008, Umaga was drafted from Raw to SmackDown as part of the 2008 WWE Draft. After having a short-lived rivalry with Mr. Kennedy and The Big Show, Fatu suffered a torn PCL at a SmackDown event during a match with Jeff Hardy.

On the January 30, 2009 episode of SmackDown, Umaga returned to action, winning his return match against Jimmy Wang Yang. Umaga suffered his first defeat since his return losing to Triple H by disqualification, after Triple H was attacked by The Legacy (Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Jr. and Cody Rhodes). After a short hiatus, Umaga returned on the May 1, 2009 episode of SmackDown, attacking CM Punk on multiple occasions and repeatedly interrupting Punk's attempts to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase. At Judgment Day, Umaga defeated Punk, and on the May 22 episode of SmackDown, he spoke in English for the first time as Umaga, when he challenged Punk to a Samoan strap match. At Extreme Rules, Umaga lost to Punk, who would later cash in the Money In the Bank later that night to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Jeff Hardy.

On June 8, 2009, Umaga was released from his WWE contract. It was later revealed that this was due to violation of the Wellness Policy. It was reputed that his refusal to enter rehabilitation led to his premature dismissal.

A few days prior to December 4, 2009, Fatu had returned home to Spring, Texas after completing a wrestling tour with Hulk Hogan in Australia. On December 4, 2009, Fatu was hospitalized after his wife found him not breathing with blood coming out of his nose a few hours after he had fallen asleep the night before while watching television. He was rushed to a local hospital in Houston, Texas and was admitted into the intensive-care unit. It was reported that Fatu had suffered a heart attack.

Fatu was pronounced dead around 6:00 PM EST after suffering a second heart attack.

Fatu is, of course, a member of the famous wrestling Anoa'i family. The founders of the family, Reverend Amituanai Anoa'i and his wife Tovale, had nine children; six sons: Afa, Afoa, Tumua, Peteroni, Sipa, and Sika; and three daughters, Matalima, Lia, and Vera, who died April 25, 2008. Afa and Sika became wrestlers, forming the tag team the Wild Samoans. Afa's three sons are all wrestlers � Samula (best known as Samu), Afa Jr. (known as Manu) and Lloyd (best known as L.A. Smooth).

Sika's older son Matt Anoa'i wrestled under the name Ekmo, Ro'Z, and Rosey, while his younger son Joe played football for Georgia Tech and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings.

Their oldest sister Elevera Fatu gave birth to four sons, who all but one would become wrestlers: Sam Fatu (known as Tama of the Islanders and Tonga Kid), Solofa Fatu Jr. (as Fatu and Rikishi and Junior Fatu ) and Eddie Fatu (known as Kimo, Jamal, and Umaga who died December 4, 2009).

The oldest brother Afoa is father to Rodney Anoa'i also known as "Yokozuna" who died in October 2000. His daughters are Komiti Panama & Bernadette Anoa'i.

His third eldest daughter Monica Anoa'i is the widow of wrestler Gary Albright, who died after a match promoted by Afa. His youngest daughter is Lynn Tovale Anoai. Afa and Sika's father considered Peter Maivia his "blood brother", a connection that continued to Afa and Sika, who regard Peter as their uncle. Peter Maivia and his wife Leah Maivia had a daughter, Ata Maivia, who married wrestler Rocky Johnson. The couple became the parents of Dwayne Johnson, who is better known in wrestling as The Rock. Peter Maivia's youngest son Toa is in training to wrestle. Maivia's oldest son Peter Fanene, Jr is in real estate.

Hollywood stuntman Tanoai Reed (aka Toa on the 2008 version of American Gladiators) is the great nephew of wrestling promoter Leah Maivia (Peter Maivia's wife).

Boxer David Tua and actor Solo Siaopo are also related to the Anoa'i family.

Linked to the family by marriage but not actually a blood relative is wrestler "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. Snuka's son Jimmy Snuka, Jr. used to wrestle for WWE as Sim Snuka and Deuce.

In an Article in Pro Wrestling Illustrated Samoa Joe claims to share a distant ancestor with the Anoa'i family, but well before Reverend Amituanai Anoa'i, so he would not be considered a member of the family.

On April 25, 2008, Fatu's mother Vera died after a seven-year battle with cancer.

It was announced on October 21, 2008, that Leah Maivia died at the age of 81.

As of June 8, 2009, it has been the first time no Anoa'i family member has been a member of the WWF/WWE roster, but not for long as Jonothan Fatu, son of Solofa Fatu Jr. reportedly signed a WWE develomental contract in early November . He has been assigned to FCW and works under the name of Jimmy Uso. The first of a new generation of the Anoa'i family legacy.

Fatu had the taste of gold early in his career, Ekmo and Kimo teamed as the Samoan Gangstas to defeat the Love Connection on May 24, 1997 and win the WXW Tag Team Championships. A second title reign began on September 17th when the Samoan Gangstas defeated the Mad Russian and the Russian Eliminator.

Ekmo and Kimo were later dubbed The Island Boys and, after being signed to WWE developmental contracts, were assigned to Les Thatcher's Heartland Wrestling promotion in Cincinatti, Ohio. Before they had worked too long with HWA, the team headed to Tokyo, Japan and teamed Matty Samu to defeat Hideki Hosaka and Yoshinori Sasaki for the Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling Hardcore Tag Team title. However, before leaving, they would make their mark in HWA, defeating Shannon Moore and Evan Karagias to win the HWA Tag Team Championship on November 14, 2001. Although they would lose the belts to Val Venis and Steve Bradley on December 8th, the Island Boys had one more title run in them before heading back to WWE. Unfortunately, they would not be able to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship prior to the team splitting when Fatu was released from WWE.

Wrestling once again as Jamal, competing for All Japan Pro Wrestling, he teamed with Justin Credible and made it to the finals of the All Japan Real World Tag League, losing to Satoshi Kojima and Kaz Hayashi. He also formed a tag team with Taiyo Kea, with whom he competed in the 2004 and 2005 Real World Tag League tournaments. On January 16, 2005, Kea and Jamal defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie in Osaka, Japan and won the vacant All Japan Unified World Tag Team Championship. Kea would also team with Fatu to capture the World's Strongest Tag Team League Tournament Championship in 2004.

Returning to WWE, he attacked and defeated Ric Flair, and feuded with WWE Champion John Cena, although he was unable to wrest the belt from Cena. However, he would manage to take the Intercontinental Championship first from Jeff Hardy and then later from Santino Marella.

As part of the Island Boys team, he would also Memphis Championship Wrestling's Southern Tag Team Championship three times.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him #22 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 for 2007.

World Xtreme Wrestling C4 & the Anoa'i Family released a statement regarding Fatu the day of his passing.

WXW C4's Statement On The Passing Of Eki "Umaga" Fatu

12/04/09 - On behalf of the Anoai Family and front office of WXW C4 it is our sad duty to announce that earlier today, December 4th, we lost another member of not only our wrestling family, but immediate family.

Eki "Umaga" Fatu passed away today in Houston at the age of 36. While we mourn the passing of Eki, we also remember all the good times that we were able to share with him and the smiles on the millions of fans faces around the world when he walked to the ring to do what he loved most: wrestle.

During this difficult time, we please ask for the fans and the press to respect the privacy of his family during this tough time. When there is more information to be made public, his family will do so. The worst thing that could happen would be to have false information about this horrible situation out there, only to make the situation even worse.

We'd like to thank everyone for their sympathy and prayers and ask that everyone celebrate the life of Eki Fatu.

Several independent promotions recognised Fatu's death, including Shadow Fire Promotions affiliate All-Star Championship Wrestling, where "Kamikaze Ken" Anderson and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake would make an announcement to the live crowd, and sound a ten-bell salute.

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