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Afa Anoaʻi

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(Redirected from Afa Anoai)
For his son, also a professional wrestler, see Afa Anoa'i Jr.

Afa Anoa'i
Afa (left) in 1986
Birth nameAfa Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi[1]
Born(1943-11-21)November 21, 1943
Leone, Tutuila, American Samoa
DiedAugust 16, 2024(2024-08-16) (aged 80)
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Spouse
Lynn Anoaʻi
​
(m. 1960)​
Children7 including Afa Jr, Lloyd, and Samuel
FamilyAnoaʻi
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Afa
Wild Samoan #1
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[2]
Billed weight326 lb (148 kg)[2]
Billed from"The Isle of Samoa"[3]
Trained byKurt von Steiger[2]
Peter Maivia[2]
Rocky Johnson[2]
Debut1971[2]
Retired1995[2]

Afa Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi (November 21, 1943 – August 16, 2024) was a Samoan-American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. He is best known for performing with his brother Sika as The Wild Samoans. He operated the World Xtreme Wrestling promotion after he retired from pro wrestling in 1995, and trained wrestlers at the Wild Samoan Training Center in Minneola, Florida.

Early life

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Anoaʻi was born in Leone, American Samoa, on November 21, 1943, to Reverend Amituana'i Anoa'i and Tovaleomanaia Ripley-Anoa'i.[4] When he was young, his family relocated to San Francisco, California, in the United States, where his father established the First Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa.[4] At the age of 17, Anoaʻi enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.[5][6]

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1971–1979)

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Afa (front) with his brother Sika in 1983

Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Anoaʻi began training as a wrestler under his uncle Peter Maivia and cousin-in-law Rocky Johnson.[7] He later received supplementary training from Kurt Von Steiger. He wrestled his first match in 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.[8] He then trained his brother Sika, and the siblings formed a tag team known best as The Wild Samoans.[7]

Throughout the 1970s, The Wild Samoans wrestled for the Canadian Stampede Wrestling promotion (where they received further training from Stu Hart) and for numerous National Wrestling Alliance affiliates. In 1978, The Wild Samoans traveled to Japan to wrestle for International Wrestling Enterprise, winning the IWA World Tag Team Championship.[9]

World Wrestling Federation (1979–1995)

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In 1979, The Wild Samoans joined the World Wrestling Federation, where they were managed by Lou Albano and referred to as "Albano's Wildmen". The "wild" nature of the brothers was conveyed through their unorthodox behavior (which included communicating only in unintelligible grunts and consuming unprepared raw fish, during interviews and while approaching the wrestling ring). While in the WWF, The Wild Samoans won the WWF World Tag Team Championship. Both members also challenged Bob Backlund for the WWF Heavyweight Championship on several occasions. They left the promotion in 1980.[7][9]

The Wild Samoans then wrestled in Mid-South Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions, before returning to the WWF in 1982 and regaining the WWF World Tag Team Championship in 1983. After Sika suffered an injury, the tag team was supplemented by Afa's son Samu (the relationship was not acknowledged on TV). The trio remained in the WWF until 1984.[9] According to Afa, he lost his job because he missed work to attend the birth of his son.[10]

Anoaʻi returned to the WWF for a third time in 1992, as the manager and occasional tag partner of The Headshrinkers (Samu and Anoai's nephew, Fatu). He wrestled his final match on May 22, 1994, teaming with The Headshrinkers to defeat The Quebecers and Johnny Polo at the Rosemont Horizon.[11] Anoaʻi left the WWF in mid-1995.[12]

Training and semi-retirement (1995–2024)

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After leaving the WWF, he began training wrestlers at his Wild Samoan Training Facility, along with Sika.[7] In 1997, both men reunited for one night teaming at IWA Night Of The Legends.[8]

On March 31, 2007, the Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Samu and Sika's son, Matt.[7] He was the wrestling trainer for Darren Aronofsky's 2008 film, The Wrestler.[13]

In 2013 and 2014, Afa came out of retirement to wrestle for his promotion World Xtreme Wrestling at age 71.[8]

The Wild Samoans appeared at Hell in a Cell in 2020 to celebrate Roman Reigns's victory.[14]

Usos Foundation

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In 1999, Afa and his wife Lynn started the Usos Foundation, a non-profit organization aiming to turn youth away from drugs, gangs, and poverty by providing scholarships to the Wild Samoans Training Center.[15]

Personal life

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Anoa'i was married to Lynn Maluta.[4][16] His sons Afa Jr, Lloyd, and Samuel were professional wrestlers.[17] Anoa'i held the matai title of Gataivasā.[18]

Death

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On August 16, 2024, Samu Anoa'i announced Afa had died of a heart attack at the age of 80, less than two months after Sika's death. Sika was Afa's real life brother and tag team partner.[19]

Championships and accomplishments

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Acting career

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Quiles, Fernando. "WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoaʻi of The Wild Samoans Passes Away". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Afa". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE.
  4. ^ a b c "Afa Anoa'i — The Wild Samoan — passes away". Samoa News. August 22, 2024. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "Afa's Corner". WildSamoan.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  6. ^ Saalbach, Axel (August 16, 2024). "WWE: Hall of Famer Afa Anoa'i (81) verstorben". genickbruch.com (in German). Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "The Wild Samoans". WWE. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c Alston, Trey (August 17, 2024). "Hall of Fame Wrestler Afa Anoa'i, Uncle of Roman Reigns, Dead At 81". Complex Networks. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "The Wild Samoans". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  10. ^ Beyond the Mat (Media notes). 1999 [2015].
  11. ^ Afa's match history, from WrestlingData.com
  12. ^ "Afa Anoa'i, WWE Hall of Fame Tag Team Wrestler, Dies at 81". Yahoo Entertainment. August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Afa to Train Mickey Rourke for Wrestling Movie Role". Pulse Wrestling. December 28, 2007. Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
  14. ^ Powell, Jason (October 25, 2020). "WWE Hell in a Cell results Title". prowrestling.net. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Usos Foundation website
  16. ^ "Vale Anoa'i - Guest Bio". Lake County Comic Convention. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025.
  17. ^ "Forgotten Members of Famous WWE Families: Afa Anoa'i Jr". Bleacher Report.
  18. ^ a b Kasabian, Paul. "WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa'i Dies at Age 81; Uncle of Roman Reigns". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Afa The Wild Samoan (Afa Anoa'i) Passes Away At The Age Of 81". Fightful. August 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  21. ^ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006) [2000.]. "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, Ontario: Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  22. ^ "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  23. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (1999). "NWA National Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  24. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (1998). "NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  25. ^ "International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  26. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (1998). "Mid South Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  27. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (2007). "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  28. ^ Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2000). "Tennessee: U.S. Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 194. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  29. ^ "NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  30. ^ Dick, Jeremy (August 17, 2024). "Afa Anoa'i, WWE Hall of Famer and Legendary Tag Team Wrestler, Dies at 81". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  31. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  32. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  33. ^ Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  34. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (2005). "International Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  35. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (2007). "WWWF/WWF/WWE Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  36. ^ Kapur, B. (March 6, 2006). "Body Slam a blast for Benedict". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  37. ^ Daly, Wayne (August 16, 2024). "WWE Hall Of Famer Afa Anoa'i Passes Away Aged 81". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  38. ^ Copeland, Cody (March 13, 2021). "What Afa Anoa'i Has Been Doing Since Retiring From Pro Wrestling". Grunge. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
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