Anoa'i family

TheAnoa'i Family, originating from American Samoa and Independent Samoa, is a legendary family ofprofessional wrestlers.

Family members[]

The founders of the family, Elder Reverend Amituana'i Anoa'i and his wife Tovaleomanaia Leoso Ripley, had Seven sons, Tumua, Anoa'i (Jr.), Arthur (Afa), Leati (Sika), Tusipa, Peteroni, Fasito'o; and Four daughters, Sina, Elevera, Nita (Initalia), Matalima.

Tumua is the father of Reno Anoa'i (known asBlack Pearl andCount of California) married to Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i; also Tumua is the grandfather of Reno Anoa'i III, finalist of American Idol 2014 Season.

Anoa'i, Jr. is the father of the lateRodney Anoa'i, known best under hisWWFring nameYokozuna.

Afa and Sika became wrestlers, forming the tag team theWild Samoans.

Afa's Three sons are all wrestlers —Samuel (best known asThe GreatSamu),Afa Jr.(best known asManu),Lloyd (best known asL.A. Smooth). His daughter Monica Anoa'i is the widow of wrestlerGary Albright.

Samuel Anoa'i is the father of Lance Anoa'i (known asSamoan Storm)

Sika's late older sonMatt Anoa'i was wrestling under the nameRo'Z and Matt E. Smalls, while his younger sonJoe Anoa'i (best known asRoman Reigns) played football for Georgia Tech and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings.

Elevera married Solofa Fatu and gave birth to four sons, three who would become wrestlers:Solofa Fatu Jr. (best known asRikishi),Samuel Fatu (known asTama andTonga Kid), and SmithEdward (Eki) Fatu (known asJamal andUmaga).

Solofa Fatu Jr. is the father of twins Jonathan & Joshua Fatu (best known asJimmy & Jey Uso) and Joseph Fatu (best known asSolo Sikoa); Samuel Fatu is the father of Jacob Fatu (known asSamoan Werewolf); Edward Fatu had four children; one of his sons, Zilla, has become a pro wrestler.

Afa and Sika's father consideredPeter Maivia his "blood brother", a connection that continued to Afa and Sika, who regard Peter as their uncle. Peter Maivia and his wife Lia Maivia had a daughter, Ata Maivia, married wrestlerRocky Johnson. The couple became the parents ofDwayne Johnson, better known asThe Rock. Peter Maivia's youngest son Toa is in training to wrestle. Maivia's oldest son Peter Fanene Jr. is in the real estate business.

Hollywood stuntman Tanoai Reed (akaToa on the newAmerican Gladiators) is the great nephew of wrestling promoter Lia Maivia (Peter Maivia's wife)

Boxer David Tua, actorSolo Siaopo are also related to the Anoa'i family.

Linked to the family by marriage but not actually a blood relative is wrestler"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. Snuka's son Jimmy Snuka Jr. wrestled forWWE asDeuce and his daughter Taimane also wrestles under the ring nameTamina.

In an Article in Pro Wrestling IllustratedSamoa Joe claims to share a distant ancestor with the Anoa'i Family, but well before Reverend Amituana'i Anoa'i, so he is not a member of the family.