Jacob Fatu Shocks WWE SmackDown With Surprise Return, Directly Costs Cody Rhodes the Undisputed Title

Jacob Fatu Shocks WWE SmackDown With Surprise Return, Directly Costs Cody Rhodes the Undisputed Title

Jacob Fatu made a stunning and completely unexpected return to WWE television during the main event of this week’s SmackDown, instantly changing the outcome of the Undisputed WWE Championship match.

Fatu reappeared during the final stage of the Three Stages of Hell showdown between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. With the match reaching its steel cage finale, McIntyre attempted to escape through the cage door — only to be stopped by a mysterious hooded figure.

Moments later, the attacker revealed himself to be Jacob Fatu, sending shockwaves through the arena. Fatu, who had been written off television following a backstage assault on the October 17 episode of SmackDown, prevented McIntyre from escaping and stepped into the cage himself.

Cody Rhodes immediately confronted Fatu, pulling him away and igniting a chaotic brawl between the two. The distraction proved costly, as McIntyre took advantage of the chaos, slipped out through the cage door, and captured the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Fatu’s return carries even more intrigue given the unresolved storyline from October. Before his sudden disappearance, Fatu had been scheduled to face McIntyre in a number one contender’s match for the same championship. That bout never happened after Fatu was found laid out backstage, with the attacker never identified.

Now back on SmackDown and already impacting the WWE title picture, Jacob Fatu’s return raises major questions about his next move — and whether Cody Rhodes is firmly in his crosshairs.