Jacob Fatu's absence from WWE Raw may have a real-world explanation. Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio that Fatu is taking part in a WWE project alongside Joe Hendry and Drew McIntyre, and tied that to the storyline that took Fatu off television. Wrestling Inc reported Meltzer's comments after Fatu did not appear on the October 5 edition of Raw.
On last week's Raw, Jaida Parker drove a car into Fatu in a backstage parking area. The moment revealed Parker as the newest member of The 946, the faction led by Royce Keys that also includes Bronco Nima and Lucien Price. Bleeding Cool's review of the episode said Parker first acted as though the hit was an accident, then stood with Keys and said, "Ain't nobody safe." The scene came after a brawl between The 946 and The Bloodline that spread through the arena and backstage.
Meltzer connected the angle to Fatu's schedule. He said on the show, "I believe Jacob and Joe Hendry and Drew McIntyre are doing some WWE show," and that this "explains that angle with Jacob."
Wrestling Inc wrote that the three men are starring in a live-action microdrama series for ReelShort, a platform that produces short vertical videos. The site noted that WWE announced a partnership with ReelShort earlier this summer. Meltzer's comments did not come with a title or a release date, and neither has been publicly confirmed.
It is also not known how long Fatu will be away from WWE television. Wrestling Inc described his return timeline as uncertain because of the filming commitments, and WWE has not announced a plan for him.
For now, the filming explanation rests on Meltzer's account on Wrestling Observer Radio, and Fatu's return to Raw has not been scheduled.
