Jimmy Uso is an American professional wrestler widely recognized for his career with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Alongside his identical twin brother, Jey Uso, he forms the popular tag team known as The Usos. The duo has competed in professional wrestling matches and events around the world, earning considerable success as a team. Wrestling is deeply rooted in Jimmy’s family, as his father, uncles, and several other relatives have also worked as professional wrestlers. He belongs to the renowned Anoaʻi wrestling family of Samoan heritage, which includes prominent wrestling figures such as The Rock, Umaga, Yokozuna, and Roman Reigns. Although Jimmy was passionate about football during his college years, he eventually chose to follow his family’s wrestling tradition. He entered the professional wrestling industry alongside his twin brother, and the two quickly established themselves as a successful tag team in WWE.
Childhood & Early Life
Jimmy Uso was born Jonathan Solofa Fatu on August 22, 1985, in San Francisco, California, United States. His father, Solofa F. Fatu Jr., is a professional wrestler widely known by his ring name, Rikishi. Jimmy has four siblings: his identical twin brother, Jey Uso, and three others named Joseph Fatu, Jeremiah Peniata Fatu, and Thavana Monalisa Fatu.
His father introduced him to wrestling moves at an early age, but Jimmy initially dreamed of becoming a professional American football player. Both he and his twin brother hoped to join the National Football League (NFL). Nevertheless, wrestling remained a major part of their lives, as they frequently accompanied their father to wrestling events. These visits also gave them opportunities to meet professional wrestlers, including members of their extended family, backstage.
Jimmy spent his childhood in Pensacola, Florida, where he attended Escambia High School. He excelled as a member of the school’s football team. After completing high school, he received a partial scholarship to attend the University of West Alabama. He continued playing football there as a linebacker for the university team. His twin brother also attended the same university and played American football.
Career of Jimmy Uso
Jimmy initially aspired to pursue a career in the National Football League alongside his brother. When their plans to become professional football players did not work out, the twins took jobs selling office furniture at a furniture store. At the same time, they began participating in wrestling events during their spare time.
After gaining experience in amateur wrestling competitions, the brothers decided to pursue professional wrestling seriously. They subsequently moved to Houston, Texas, where they trained under their uncle, professional wrestler Umaga.
Jimmy made his professional wrestling debut in 2007 with World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW), an independent wrestling promotion based in Florida. The organization was founded by his distant relative and former wrestler, Arthur “Afa” Anoa’i. On June 8, 2007, Jimmy made his tag team debut alongside his identical twin brother, Jey, at a WXW event in Milton, Florida.
In 2009, Jimmy briefly appeared in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he teamed up with Donny Marlow. He later joined his brother in the promotion’s tag team division. Together, they defeated The Dudebusters to win the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship. Following this achievement, the brothers committed to competing as a regular tag team and adopted the name The Usos, a Samoan word meaning “brothers.”
In April 2010, The Usos successfully defended their FCW Tag Team Championship by defeating Hunico and Tito Nieves. However, they lost the championship to Los Aviadores in June of that year. In 2010, the brothers also made their debut in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). During their first appearance on WWE Raw, they teamed up with female wrestler Tamina and attacked The Hart Dynasty. This incident marked the beginning of an extended rivalry between the two teams.
In April 2011, Jimmy and Jey were assigned to WWE SmackDown. After joining the brand, they began performing the traditional Samoan Siva Tau dance before their matches. They continued this entrance ritual until 2016, when they adopted a villainous role, commonly referred to in wrestling as turning heel. The Usos experienced several defeats during 2011, losing matches against teams and wrestlers including Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater of The Corre, as well as Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga in July.
In 2012, Jimmy competed in several individual matches on WWE Superstars. In one notable contest, he defeated Canadian-Indian wrestler Jinder Mahal. During the same year, The Usos developed a rivalry with Titus O’Neil and Darren Young after the two wrestlers mocked their traditional Siva Tau dance. Although The Usos defeated O’Neil and Young in a tag team match, they lost several of their individual contests against them. In July 2012, the brothers also appeared alongside their father, Rikishi.
The year 2013 proved more successful for Jimmy and his tag team partner. In June, The Usos defeated the team of Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal, earning the position of number-one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Despite putting together an impressive run of victories, they were unable to capture the title when they challenged the reigning champions, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
On March 3, 2014, Jimmy and Jey defeated The Outlaws to win the WWE Tag Team Championship for the first time. They subsequently defended their titles against several challengers, including Los Matadores, the team of Batista and Randy Orton, and the duo of Harper and Rowan. On July 25, an episode of WWE SmackDown featured another victory for The Usos over RybAxel. Later that year, they also defeated The Miz and Damien Mizdow.
In April 2015, Jimmy defeated Xavier Woods on WWE Main Event. He reunited with his brother Jey in September and resumed competing as part of their tag team. The brothers also joined forces with their cousin Roman Reigns during a WWE SmackDown event. In December 2015, The Usos received the Slammy Award for Tag Team of the Year.
In August 2016, The Usos participated in a 12-man tag team match alongside American Alpha and The Hype Bros. Their team defeated The Vaudevillains and The Ascension during the SummerSlam pre-show.
The brothers maintained their success throughout 2017, becoming the first tag team to win championships on both the Raw and SmackDown brands. In August of that year, they made WWE history by becoming the first tag team to capture the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship twice. They also secured their fourth tag team championship reign, matching an achievement previously accomplished by The Dudley Boyz in 2001.
Family & Personal Life
Jimmy has two children, Jayla Fatu and Jaiden Fatu, from a previous relationship. He has kept the identity of their mother private.
On January 16, 2014, Jimmy married his longtime girlfriend, WWE wrestler Trinity McCray, in a private ceremony held in Hawaii, United States. Trinity is better known to wrestling fans by her ring name, Naomi.