Eddie “Umaga/Jamal” Fatu Death Update: Cause Of Death Revealed

The official cause of death of former WWE star Eddie Fatu, who competed as Jamal & Umaga in the promotion was revealed today: the simple explanation is drugs. From Irv Muchnick’s blog:

The results are in for the toxicology study of World Wrestling Entertainment performer Eddie “Umaga” Fatu, who died at age 36 of a heart attack in Houston on December 4, 2009.

Dan Morgan, supervisory forensic investigator for Harris County, told me in an email, “The cause of death is acute toxicity due to combined effects of hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and diazepam.”

Hydrocone is a painkiller. Carisoprodol, commonly called soma, is a muscle relaxer. Diazepam, commonly called Valium, is an anti-anxiety medication.

In the statement of condolence published on the WWE website at the time of Fatu’s death, the company for which U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon was the long-time CEO made what many observers felt was the gratuitous point that he was no longer under contract to WWE. Fatu had been released six months earlier after failing a drug test under the company “wellness policy” and refusing to go to rehab.

The Fatu toxicology results come just a day after Brian Lockhart reported, on the front page of Hearst newspapers in Connecticut, that a Congressional committee and a White House drug policy office “dropped the ball” on the investigation of drugs and death in pro wrestling that followed the June 2007 murder-suicide of Chris Benoit.

Linda McMahon will be appearing in a live televised debate with the other GOP Senate candidates in Hartford on Tuesday night.

http://wrestlingbabylon.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/exclusive-wwe-wrestler-umaga-died-of-acute-toxicity/

Unfortunate that drug abuse/addiction to painkillers and/or other meds claims another one too young, but that’s the sad nature of the business in WWE and wrestling in general. You work so many dates, you’re on the road so much with little or no time to really rest up without serious injuries, it all adds up. Hopefully this at least brings a little closure to the Fatu & Anoai families.

Eki/Eddie “Jamal/Umaga” Fatu Death Update: Funeral Services Planned

On December 18th, there will be a private family viewing for Eddie Fatu, while December 19th will be an open service to the public. Services will take place at the following address:

Davis Funeral Home
6200 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV. 89119

Flowers and cards may be sent to the same address.

I haven’t heard any more regarding the exact cause of death, I’ll pass it along when I do.

Eki/Eddie “Jamal” Fatu Death Update: “Pops” Releases Statement

“Pops” is Anoai family patriarch Afa The Wild Samoan, who released this statement on the death of nephew/wrestler Eki (Eddie) “Jamal” Fatu:

On behalf of my family, the Anoa’i and Fatu family, we are devastated and shocked by the loss of our Eki. Our son, nephew, brother, cousin, husband, father. Our hearts are broken, and words can’t express what each of us are feeling. It is so comforting to know how loved Eki is by his family, peers, friends, and most of all his fans. When I received that a.m. phone call that my nephew was in the hospital, I dug deep and prayed and cried and begged for a miracle. When we lost Eki, I knew it was God’s will, and that he is with my sister, his mother, who passed just a year ago.

We are making our plans now for our farewell to Eki, but I wanted to take this time to thank everyone for all of the thousands of posts, emails, letters, and cards. Although I have not been able to bring myself to answer them personally, your kindness does not go unnoticed. I want to especially thank our WWE family and Stephanie McMahon for everything, and her phone call was very comforting to me in my time of sorrow.

God bless each and every one of you, and I’ve said it a hundred times, the best people in the world are our wrestling people. You’ll never find a more dedicated group of people.

Be safe and be healthy, and love one another.

God bless,
Afa the Wild Samoan
“Pops”

Heartfelt statement from a good man. God Bless, Afa. Stay strong.