Former WWE Star Reflects On Being Umaga’s Final Opponent

Published: Nov 10, 2025 by Connel Rumsey | Last Updated: Nov 10, 2025 by Connel Rumsey

Connel has over five years of wrestling journalism experience writing about some of the biggest stories from across the wrestling world. Being a fan for 20 years, Connel has an expansive knowledge from a wide range of various wrestling promotions, including WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and Joshi.
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A former WWE star has reflected on being the final wrestling opponent of Umaga prior to his passing in 2009.

Before the Bloodline were causing chaos on WWE television, the legendary Samoan Bulldozer Umaga was rampaging through WWE from 2006 until his eventual departure in June 2009.

Following his departure, Umaga competed on the Hulkamania Let The Battle Begin tour in Australia, which would end up being his final tour before his passing in December 2009.

On the final night of the tour, Umaga, going by the name Uso Fatu, faced off against Mr. Anderson (WWE’s Mr. Kennedy) in what would end up being his final match.

Speaking to 99.9 Punk World Radio FM’s Elite Wrestle Talk, Kennedy reflected on being Umaga’s final opponent.

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He said:

“It was actually Umaga and Rikishi who got me booked on that tour, because Umaga had just parted ways with the company as well, with WWE, and we ere pretty good friends, and he just saw a great opportunity.

“Hogan was putting together a really good list, it was a really solid line up, and it turns out to be one of the most fun tours I’ve ever been apart of.

“It happened to be I wrestled Umaga on the very last show of the tour, then I got back to the US and three days later I got a call from Charlie Haas.

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“I was at Dick’s Sporting Goods, just pulled up, and Charlie called me and said if you’re not sitting down you need to sit down, and he told me that Umaga had passed away.

“We worked each other a ton in WWE, whether it be house shows, Raw, pay-per-views, and Umaga was always, it wasn’t a lazy thing, he was very lets be smart about what we do in the ring, not take a bunch of risks.

“This particular night, he knew I had a chip on my shoulder the way I left, and he also had a chip on his shoulder, he wasn’t happy with the way he left the company, and he said ‘you know they’re going to be watching this, the office is going to get their eyes on this, so lets go out there and kill it and fuckin’ prove to them what they’re missing out on.”

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