“The Samoan Bulldozer” is not just a clever moniker for Umaga – it's what he is. Perhaps no other Superstar in WWE lives up to his billing as completely as the 348 pounder.
Originally brought to WWE in 2006 by ECW General Manager Armando Estrada, Umaga comes from a long line of Samoans with a rich history – and a brutal path of destruction. Immediately upon his debut, it was clear that the Samoan Bulldozer would make a lasting impact, targeting and brutalizing the legendary “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Umaga was bloodthirsty and powerful. Three-minute warnings fell on deaf ears with him. He only knew one speed – full-speed ahead. Maybe he was too simple to comprehend – or maybe he was just fearless – but he wasn’t intimidated by WWE heroes and legends. Flair and the rest of WWE knew at that moment that a new monster was on the loose.
Since then, Umaga has battled WWE’s elite, from John Cena to Triple H and Jeff Hardy, among others. His epic battles with Cena and Hardy over the WWE Championship and Intercontinental Title are modern day WWE classics. And perhaps more than anyone, Umaga pushed Triple H to the limit. Many times The Game needed help walking back to the locker room after his battles with the Samoan Bulldozer.
Umaga is not a typical plodding big man; he is a heavyweight who is deceptively quick and can be as comfortable on the top rope as any cruiserweight. These traits, combined with his penchant for sadism, make Umaga very dangerous and perhaps that’s why he has been used as a hired gun occasionally by Mr. McMahon.
Still, Umaga remains an enigma to many observers in WWE. He rants in a tongue no one understands. He has yet to utter a word of English, but has demonstrated some comprehension of the language. Underneath that tattooed, monstrous exterior may be a method to Umaga’s madness. After all, he has worn the Intercontinental Championship and headlined WrestleMania 23 in the Battle of the Billionaires, representing the Chairman against Donald Trump-backed Bobby Lashley.At the very least, we know Umaga is competitive, proud and understands the meaning of gold. And he doesn’t let anyone stand in the way of his goals. But is there more to the Samoan Bulldozer than meets the eye? Before all is said and done, there may be many more chapters to write in the book of Umaga.
