The Anoa’i Family is legendary in professional wrestling, with over a dozen members finding a home on the WWE roster at some point in their careers.
This includes Rikishi, Peter Maivia, Rocky Maivia, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Naomi, Solo Sikoa, Umaga, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Ava, Roman Reigns, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Unfortunately, a beloved member of the family, Afa Anoa’i Sr., passed away recently. He was 81 years old. His brother and tag team partner, Sika, passed away two months earlier.
Dwayne Johnson recently paid tribute to his uncle on Instagram, saying he was finally at peace with his brother.
Uncle Afa Anoa’i is finally at peace with his brother, Uncle Sika Anoa’i,” Johnson wrote. “‘The Wild Samoans’ were trailblazers in the world of professional wrestling. Multi-time WWE tag team champions and eventually, bestowed their rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.”
“The last picture is one of my all time favorites,” Johnson continued. “It’s my uncles Afa and Sika with my grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia and Tor Kamata. What I love about this picture is you can SEE & FEEL the LOVE & MANA amongst these smiling, loving men. You can also see and feel that this wasn’t a table you wanted to f*** with.”
“I love you uncle and I’ll never forget what you did for our family in ’87. ‘Come to me.’ Nashville to Bethlehem. Give my grandpa and my dad a kiss and a hug from me.”
Former WWE Champion Roman Reigns also paid tribute on X to both Afa and Sika, his uncle and father respectively.
Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana’i Anoa’i,” Reigns said. “We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola’ivao Leati Sika Anoa’I were loving brothers, the greatest tag team of their generation, and now they’re reunited together in heaven. Rest in Power Wild Samoans.”
The Wild Samoans made their professional wrestling debut at Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in 1973 and would continue to wrestle in multiple promotions.
In 1979, Afa and Sika would make their debut in the WWE, then known as WWF, where they would win the WWF World Tag Team Championship three times. They would eventually retire in 1995.
In the late 1970s, Afa Anoa’i Sr. opened the Wild Samoans Training Center. Notable Graduates include Yokozuna, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rikishi, Billy Kidman, Paul Orndorff, and Batista.
The Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
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