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Afa Anoaʻi

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For his son, also a professional wrestler, see Afa Anoa'i Jr.

Afa Anoa'i
Afa (right) in 1986
Birth nameGataivasā Afa Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi
Born(1943-11-21)November 21, 1943
Leone, American Samoa
DiedAugust 16, 2024(2024-08-16) (aged 80)
Spouse(s)
Lynn Anoaʻi
​
(m. 1960)​
Children7 including Afa Jr, Lloyd, and Samula[1]
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]

Gataivasā 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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Gataivasā Afa Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi[4][5] was born in Leone, American Samoa, on November 21, 1943, to Reverend Amituana'i Anoa'i and Tovaleomanaia Ripley-Anoa'i.[6] 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.[6] At the age of 17, Anoaʻi enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.[7][8]

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.[9] He later received supplementary training from Kurt Von Steiger. He wrestled his first match in 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.[10] He then trained his brother Sika, and the siblings formed a tag team known best as The Wild Samoans.[9]

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

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.[14] According to Afa, he lost his job because he missed work to attend the birth of his son.[15]

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.[16] Anoaʻi left the WWF in mid-1995.[17]

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.[18] In 1997, both men reunited for one night teaming at IWA Night Of The Legends.[10]

On March 31, 2007, the Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Samu and Sika's son, Matt.[11][19] He was the wrestling trainer for Darren Aronofsky's 2008 film, The Wrestler.[20]

In 2013 and 2014, Afa came out of retirement to wrestle for his promotion World Xtreme Wrestling at age 71.[10]

The Wild Samoans appeared at Hell in a Cell in 2020 to celebrate Roman Reigns's victory.[21]

Usos Foundation

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In 1999, Afa and Lynn Anoaʻi 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.[22]

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.[23]

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. ^ "Forgotten Members of Famous WWE Families: Afa Anoa'i Jr". Bleacher Report.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Afa". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE.
  4. ^ Roman Reigns [@WWERomanReigns] (August 16, 2024). "Our family has suffered another great loss" (Tweet). Retrieved August 17, 2024 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Afa Anoai's Florida Voter Registration". voterrecords.com. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "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. [Afa] lived in San Francisco, California, where his father established the First Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in California.
  7. ^ "Afa's Corner". WildSamoan.com. 2006. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2007. [Anoaʻi] was born and raised in the Island of Samoa, before moving with his family to San Francisco...Afa joined the Marines when he was only 17 years old.
  8. ^ Saalbach, Axel (August 16, 2024). "WWE: Hall of Famer Afa Anoa'i (81) verstorben". genickbruch.com (in German). Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "The Wild Samoans". WWE. 2007. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007. Arthur "Afa" Anoaʻi began his career being trained by his Uncle Peter Maivia and cousin Rocky Johnson after he left the United States Marine Corps. Afa would then train his brother, Leati "Sika" Anoaʻi, and the two would form a tag team.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b "The Wild Samoans". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  12. ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE. 2007. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007. ...they debuted in WWE in 1979...The Wild Samoans joined with manager Captain Lou Albano as they ascended the tag division...[they] were two men of very few words, but of many quirks. They grunted, picked their noses, they ate raw fish...
  13. ^ "The Wild Samoans". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007. October, 1979: [The Wild Samoans] made their WWWF debut wrestling under the team name "Albano's Wildmen"...The Wild Samoans adopted a new, savage-like demeanor, which they never portrayed before joining the WWF...Around this time period [Afa challenged] WWF Champion Bob Backlund...
  14. ^ "The Wild Samoans". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007. 1981–82: The Wild Somoans wrestled in Bill Watt's Mid-South Wrestling...1982: The Wild Samoans had a brief stint in Jim Crockett's NWA: Mid Atlantic territory...1983: the Wild Samoans returned to the WWF...The Wild Samoans introduced [Samu], who temporarily replaced an injured Sika...
  15. ^ Beyond the Mat (Media notes). 1999 [2015].
  16. ^ Afa's match history, from WrestlingData.com
  17. ^ "Afa Anoa'i, WWE Hall of Fame Tag Team Wrestler, Dies at 81". Yahoo Entertainment. August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE. 2007. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007. Afa was not seen in WWE until returning in 1992 to manage The Headshrinkers...Samu is Afa's son, and partner Fatu is [his] nephew...The Headshrinkers terrorized WWE competition under the leadership of Afa, and captured the World Tag Team Championship on one occasion.
  19. ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE. 2007. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007. Two more of their sons and trainees, Samula "Samu" Anoaʻi (Afa) and Matt "Rosey" Anoaʻi (Sika), inducted Afa [and] Sika into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ Powell, Jason (October 25, 2020). "WWE Hell in a Cell results: Powell's review of Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso in an I Quit Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Universal Championship, Bayley vs. Sasha Banks in a Hell in a Cell match for the Smackdown Women's Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Usos Foundation website
  23. ^ "Afa The Wild Samoan (Afa Anoa'i) Passes Away At The Age Of 81". Fightful. August 16, 2024.
  24. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title (Detroit)". Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  27. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (1999). "NWA National Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2000). "Tennessee: U.S. Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 194. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  33. ^ "NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ "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.
  37. ^ Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  38. ^ Duncan, R.; Will, G. (2005). "International Tag Team Title History". Solie.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ Kasabian, Paul. "WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa'i Dies at Age 81; Uncle of Roman Reigns". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  41. ^ 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. Korean banker's hired goons, for example, are played with a perfect air of comedic menace by the Wild Samoans, Sika and Afa.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  42. ^ Daly, Wayne (August 16, 2024). "WWE Hall Of Famer Afa Anoa'i Passes Away Aged 81". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  43. ^ 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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