Afa

Afa Anoa'i

Class of 2007

Early life[]

Anoa'i was born in Samoa, but his family relocated to San Francisco, California in the United States of America when he was young. At the age of 17, Anoa'i enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Wrestling career[]

Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Anoa'i began training as a wrestler under family friendsRocky Johnson andPeter Maivia, later receiving supplementary training fromKurt Von Steiger. He debuted in 1971, wrestling his first match in Phoenix, Arizona. Anoa'i subsequently trained his brotherSika, and the siblings formed atag team known as theWild Samoans.

Throughout the 1970s, the Wild Samoans competed for the CanadianStampede Wrestling promotion, where they received supplementary training fromStu Hart, and for numerousNational Wrestling Alliance affiliates. In 1978, the Wild Samoans traveled to Japan and competed for the International Wrestling Alliance, winning the IWA Tag Team Championship.

World Wrestling Federation[]

In 1979, the Wild Samoans joined theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) where they were partnered withmanagerLou Albano and renamed "Albano's Wildmen". The "wild" nature of the brothers was highlighted by their unorthodox behavior, which included communicating only in unintelligible grunts and consuming unprepared raw fish during interviews and on approach to the ring. While in the WWWF (renamed the World Wrestling Federation, or WWF, in 1979) the Wild Samoans won theWWWF World Tag Team Championship and challengedBob Backlund for theWWWF Heavyweight Championship on several occasions. They left the promotion in 1980.

The Wild Samoans wrestled inMid-South Wrestling andJim Crockett Promotions before returning to the WWF in 1983 and regaining the WWF World Tag Team Championship. When Sika suffered an injury, the tag team was supplemented by Anoa'i's sonSamu. The trio remained in the WWF until 1984. Anoa'i returned to the WWF for a third time in 1992 as the manager ofThe Headshrinkers, Samu and Anoai's nephewFatu. Anoa'i remained with the WWF until 1994.

Later career[]

Upon leaving the WWF, he began training wrestlers at the Wild Samoan Training Facility along with his brother. On March 31, 2007, the Wild Samoans were inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame by Samu and Sika's son,Matt. He was the wrestling trainer for Darren Aronofsky's 2008 filmThe Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke.

In wrestling[]

• Finishing moves
  • Anoa'i Kick (Savate kick)
  • (Diving seated senton) from the second rope

• Nicknames
  • The Dream Maker
  • The Godfather of Professional Wrestling
  • Pops
  • The Wild Samoan

• Wrestlers managed
  • Headshrinker Fatu
  • Samoan Savage
  • Samu
  • Headshrinker Sionne
  • Yokozuna

• Wrestlers trained

Championships and accomplishments[]

• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - withSika

• Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sika

• Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • NWA National Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sika

• Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Sika

• International Wrestling Alliance
  • IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sika

• Mid-South Wrestling Association
  • Mid-South Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Sika

• NWA All-Star Wrestling
  • NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship(Vancouver version) (1 time) - with Sika

• NWA Detroit
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship(Detroit version) (2 times) - with Sika

• Southeastern Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Southern Tag Team Championship(Southern Division) (2 times) - with Sika

• Stampede Wrestling
  • Stampede International Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Sika

• World Wrestling Entertainment / World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Sika
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)

Acting career[]

• Body Slam (1987)
• Miami Vice (1987) in the episode "By Hooker by Crook" as "Henchman #2"
• Mr. Nanny (1993)

External links[]

• WWE.com Profile
• Profile
• WildSamoan.com (Official Website)