Report of missing wrestler in SF, related to The Rock & Roman Reigns, turns out to be a stunt

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The viral report about a missing member of the legendary Anoa’i pro wrestling family, which includes The Rock and Roman Reigns, has been revealed to be false. The individual who originally posted the news on social media has now admitted it was part of a planned storyline.

Journey Fatu, the younger brother of current WWE superstar Jacob Fatu and son of 80s wrestler The Tonga Kid, was reported missing after appearing at a West Coast Pro event on Sept. 13 in San Francisco. The Anoa’i family, with a strong presence in California, has several current stars like WWE’s Jey Uso, who calls the Bay Area home, adding to the concern when the news first broke.

The story gained traction when pro wrestler Juicy Finau (aka Big Juicy), a protégé of Journey’s brother Jacob, posted on X on Sept. 28, saying, “Idk where you are brother miss you uso! Please if you see our uso @JourneyFatu @fatu_journey please contact me asap! Please use the following hashtag if you see him around! #WheresJourney.”

It’s important to note that Juicy is not related to the Anoa’i family but is closely associated as a protégé of Jacob Fatu.

The post quickly went viral, catching the attention of fans and media outlets. Concerned followers shared messages of support, with one user replying, “I’m so sorry, I hope he is okay and is found safe soon. I feel really bad for you and the family.”

KRON4 News reached out to the San Francisco Police Department Missing Persons Unit for information, but they responded, “I am unable to locate a police report with the name you provided.”

Despite the absence of an official report, Juicy continued to stoke the concern with a follow-up post, urging people to call a hotline with any information on Journey’s whereabouts. Then, on Oct. 1, Juicy shocked fans by posting an update on X, revealing that the entire disappearance was fabricated as part of a wrestling storyline. He wrote, “First and foremost, I want to apologize for any emotional damage & distress caused by the Journey angle. We’ve been working on this story since early August for our home promotion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware of the real-world situation. I apologize sincerely. This was only meant to be a story, and it blew up. I am sorry.”

Fans reacted with frustration, with one commenting, “That’s not good, we really worried about Journey’s safety.”

As of this report, Journey Fatu has yet to make a public statement about the stunt.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.