Report: Umaga Was Close To Returning To WWE

Eddie "Umaga" Fatu was set to return to World Wrestling Entertainment by the end of the year or early 2010, reports The Sun.

WWE officials confirmed to The Sun that Fatu would have been back on the roster had he passed a screening test. Fatu only had two strikes on his record when he was released by WWE this past June after refusing to enter a rehabilitation center following his second violation of the company's drug testing policy. Had he returned to the company, his previous two offenses would have remained.

In October, Umaga told colleagues that he was speaking to WWE about returning to the company. This was the reason he gave for pulling out of a previously scheduled 'shoot' interview filming.

Also according to a source, Hulk Hogan wanted to bring Fatu to TNA following the 'Hulkamania' tour of Australia. However, he told people there was no way he was going to TNA and that he was heading back to WWE once the tour had commenced.

One WWE source said they expected him to return by the Royal Rumble providing he passed his screening test.

Fatu died on Friday after his wife found him unresponsive inside their Houston area home. He reportedly died of a heart attack. The official report on his death is expected to be released later this week.

Fatu's passing was not acknowledged during last night's episode of Monday Night RAW.