Anoaʻi family

The Anoaʻi family, originating from American Samoa, is a family of professional wrestlers. Family members have comprised several tag teams and stables within a variety of promotions. Famous members of the family include Rikishi, Yokozuna, Roman Reigns and The Usos.

In addition, Reverend Amituana'i Anoa'i and Peter Maivia were "blood brothers",[1] a connection that continued with Afa and Sika, who regard Peter as their uncle. Peter married Ofelia "Lia" Fuataga, who already had a daughter named Feagaimaleata (Ata), whom he adopted and raised as his own. Ata married wrestler Rocky Johnson, and the couple became the parents of Dwayne Johnson, who wrestled under the names Rocky Maivia and The Rock, before establishing himself as an actor. Peter's youngest son Toa is in training to wrestle and his oldest son Peter Fanene Jr. is in the real estate business.

Family tree

Tovale Anoa'i
 
Amituana Anoa'i
 
 
 
Blood brothers
 
 
 
Peter Maivia
(1937–1982)
 
Lia Maivia
(1927–2008)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lynn Anoa'i
 
Afa AnoaʻiTumua Anoa'iAfoa Anoa'iSika Anoa'i
 
Lisa Anoa'iSipa Anoa'iElevera Anoa'i[2]
(1947–2008)
 
I'aulualo Folau Solofa Fatu[2]Toa MaiviaAta Maivia
 
Rocky Johnson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reno Anoa'i
(Black Pearl)		Rodney Anoa'i
(Yokozuna)
(1966–2000)		Matthew Anoa'i
(Rosey)		Leati Anoa'i
(Roman Reigns)		Sam Fatu
(Tonga Kid/Tama)		Eddie Fatu
(Umaga/Jamal)
(1973–2009)		Solofa Fatu Jr.
(Rikishi/Fatu)
 
Talisua FuavaiDwayne Johnson
(The Rock)
 
Dany Garcia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Samula Anoa'i
(Samu)		Afa Jr.
(Manu)		Deon Anoa'iLloyd Anoa'i
(L.A. Smooth)		Monica Anoa'i
 
Gary Albright
(1963–2000)		Jacob FatuTrinity McCray
(Naomi)
 
Jonathan Solofa Fatu
(Jimmy Uso)		Joshua Samuel Fatu
(Jey Uso)		Thavana MonalisaJeremiah PeniataSimone Alexandra Johnson
 
 
 
 
Lance Anoa'i

Other members

Hollywood stuntman Tanoai Reed (aka Toa on the new American Gladiators) is the great nephew of wrestling promoter Lia Maivia (Peter Maivia's wife),[3][4] while professional wrestler Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) is Peter Maivia's first cousin once removed. Other members of the Anoa'i family include NFL player Kaluka Maiava, the nephew of Dwayne Johnson.

Linked to the family by marriage but not actually a blood relative is wrestler "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, Snuka's son Jimmy Snuka Jr. formerly wrestled for WWE as Deuce,[5] his daughter Penina who attends the University of Arizona, where she plays volleyball for the Arizona Wildcats[6] and his daughter, Sarona Reiher, currently wrestles for WWE as Tamina Snuka.[7]

Tag teams and stables

The Headshrinkers

Main article: The Headshrinkers

3-Minute Warning

Main article: 3-Minute Warning

Samoan Gangstas

Samoan Gangstas
Tag team
Members Matt E. Smalls[8]
L.A. Smooth[9]
Name(s) Samoan Gangstas[10]
Heights 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) - Matt
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) - Lloyd
Combined
weight		 713 lb (323 kg; 50.9 st)
Debut 1997
Disbanded 1998
Promotions WXW
Trainer Wild Samoan Training Center[8][9]

Samoan Gangstas was a tag team in the independent promotion World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW).[10] The tag team consisted of members from the Anoa'i family.[8][9]

Samoan Gangstas was a tag team made up of cousins Matt E. Smalls and Sweet Sammy Silk (Matt and Samu Anoa'i).[11] Their tag team was formed in 1997 in WXW, the promotion of one half of The Wild Samoans, Samu's father and Matt's uncle Afa Anoaʻi. The duo received success in WXW in the tag team division.[10] On June 24, they won their first WXW Tag Team Championship by beating Love Connection (Sweet Daddy Jay Love and Georgie Love).[10] However, they were temporarily suspended and the title was declared vacant.[12] Matt was repackaged as Matty Smalls. They returned in the summer of 1997 and defeated Siberian Express (The Mad Russian and Russian Eliminator), on September 17 to win their second WXW Tag Team Championship.[10][13]

Problems began between Smalls and Smooth. The two partners began feuding with each other and could not focus properly on their tag title. On March 27, 1998, Smooth defeated Smalls in a Loser Leaves Town match. As a result of losing this match, Smalls was forced to leave the promotion.[10][13] He left WXW while Smooth focused on a singles career. After a short while, Smalls returned to WXW and the two partners reunited again as Samoan Gangstas and began teaming in the tag team division. They feuded with several tag teams in WXW and focused to regain the WXW Tag Team Championship. However, due to their family disputes and problems with each other, they did not take part in the tournament for the vacated tag title, and instead feuded with each other. Samoan Gangstas feuded with each other after their splitting until Smalls left WXW and began wrestling as Kimo. He began teaming with Ekmo (Eddie Fatu) as The Island Boyz and the duo worked in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) before signing with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and working in its developmental territories.

The Sons of Samoa

The Sons of Samoa are a tag team currently wrestling in the Puerto Rican wrestling promotion World Wrestling Council and WXW. The team consists of Afa Jr. and L.A. Smooth (Lloyd).

The team was formed at WXW in 1998, briefly as a stable with Samu (Samula). The team reformed in April 2009 at a WXW show with Afa Jr. and L.A. Smooth. In 2013, they began wrestling at the WWC promotion in Puerto Rico. At Euphoria 2013, they lost to Thunder and Lightning. They won the WWC World Tag Team Championship from Thunder and Lightning on February 9, before losing the titles back to Thunder and Lightning on March 30 at Camino a la Gloria. However, they won the titles on June 29, 2013, at Summer Madness.

Wild Samoans

Main article: Wild Samoans

The Usos

Main article: The Usos

The Usos (born August 22, 1985) are a Samoan American professional wrestling tag team consisting of twin brothers Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso, who appear in WWE where they are former two-time WWE Tag Team Champions. The pair were previously managed by Tamina Snuka and are one-time FCW Florida Tag Team Champions.

Jimmy (real name Jonathan Solofa Fatu) and Jey (real name Joshua Samuel Fatu) are the sons of Solofa Fatu, better known as Rikishi, nephews of the late Umaga and Sam The Tonga Kid and are part of the Anoa'i family. As part of the family, they are also the cousins of fellow WWE superstars Roman Reigns and The Rock, as well as the late Yokozuna.

On the February 14, 2014 episode of SmackDown, The Usos along with Cody Rhodes and Goldust defeated The New Age Outlaws and Ryback and Curtis Axel when Jimmy pinned Road Dogg. The Usos received a tag team title shot at the Elimination Chamber PPV against the Outlaws, but were once again unsuccessful. After quickly defeating the Outlaws in a non-title match the previous week, The Usos received another title match on the March 3 episode of Raw against the Outlaws, and The Usos were finally successful, winning the titles, their first ones in WWE. The next night on Main Event, The Usos would successfully defend their titles against Los Matadores. At WrestleMania XXX, The Usos successfully defended their titles in a fatal-four way elimination match against RybAxel, The Real Americans, and Los Matadores. The next night on Raw, The Usos again defended the titles against the team of Batista and Randy Orton. Both teams were counted out and The Usos were assaulted by Orton and Batista outside the ring. At Night of Champions, the Usos would lose to Goldust and Stardust ending their first reign as tag team champions at 202 days.

In December, Naomi became involved with The Usos' feud with The Miz, in which Naomi and Jimmy Uso's real-life relationship was openly acknowledged on-screen. Miz began offering to help further her career as well as showing some hints of flirtation, much to Jimmy's dismay.[14][15] On the December 16 episode of Main Event, Naomi appeared on "Miz TV", where Miz managed to get Naomi a WWE Divas Championship match against Nikki Bella later that night on Super SmackDown Live; Miz came out mid-match to support Naomi, but she lost the match after Jimmy accidentally distracted her due to his anger of Miz being present.[16] On the December 29 edition of Raw, The Usos recaptured the titles from The Miz and Damien Mizdow after feuding with them over Naomi's entertainment opportunities.[17] On the January 9 episode of SmackDown, The Authority forced The Usos to defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against The Miz and Damien Mizdow and Gold and Stardust, despite many "close calls", Jimmy and Jey managed to retain their titles. In February, Naomi and The Usos briefly feuded with Natalya, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro[18] and on February 22 at Fastlane, they lost the titles to Tyson Kidd and Cesaro.[19] Despite getting a rematch the next night on Raw, The Usos did not regain the titles due to Natalya interfering for a disqualification win. At the March 9 SmackDown tapings, Jey Uso suffered a serious shoulder injury, the extent of which is unknown. At WrestleMania 31, The Usos competed in the fatal-four way tag team match, however Jey re-injured his shoulder at the hands of Cesaro. Jimmy then competed in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but was eliminated by Big Show.

Team B.A.D.

Main article: Team B.A.D.

Team B.A.D. is a tag team composed of WWE Divas Naomi and Tamina Snuka, both of whom are linked to the Anoa'i family (Naomi as the wife of Jimmy Uso, with Tamina as the daughter of Jimmy Snuka, who in turn is also related to the Anoa'i family by marriage).

Championship and accomplishments

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Roman Reigns
Yokozuna
Rikishi
Umaga
The Usos
Peter Maivia
Manu
Rosey
Gary Albright
Naomi
The Black Pearl
Lia Maivia

References

  1. ↑ "Hall of Fame: High Chief Peter Maivia". WWE. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  2. 1 2 Green, John (2014). Historical Dictionary of Wrestling. Scarecrow Press. p. 28. ISBN 0810879263.
  3. ↑ Liane Bonin (2003-09-24). "Rock Candy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-01-09. ...The Rock's double, his cousin Tanoai Reed, shattered an ankle.
  4. ↑ Tenley Woodman (2008-01-03). "Red, white and bruised". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-09. Among the new gladiators are Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's cousin Tanoai Reed as Toa, an island warrior who intimidates opponents by performing a tribal war dance...
  5. ↑ Varsallone, Jim (December 2002). "Superfly, the Sequel: Jimmy Snuka Jr. looks to follow his legendary father's footsteps in the ring". Wrestling Digest. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  6. ↑ "#20 Penina Snuka". Arizona Wildcats. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2013/0917/565681/tamina-snuka-responds-to-rock-recent-comments/
  8. 1 2 3 "Rosey Bio". Wild Samoan. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  9. 1 2 3 "L.A. Smooth Bio". Wild Samoan. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "WXW World Tag Team Title History". Solie's Title Histories. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Samoan Dynasty". Wild Samoan. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  12. ↑ "Samoan Dynasty's first WXW Tag Team Championship summary". WXW Wrestling. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-01. 5/24/97: Samoan Gangstas (LA Smooth & Matt E. Smalls) beat Love Connection. 6/97: (Samoan Gangstas are temporarily suspended, titles vacated)
  13. 1 2 "Samoan Dynasty's second WXW Tag Team Championship summary". WXW Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-03-01. 9/17/97: Samoan Gangstas beat Siberian Express. 3/27/98: After a family feud, LA Smooth beat Matt E Smalls (loser leaves Top Rope) BELTS VACANT
  14. ↑ Caldwell, James (December 1, 2014). "CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 12/1: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw – Anonymous GM, TLC hype, more". Professional Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  15. ↑ Parks, Greg (December 5, 2014). "PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 12/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Friday show, including Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper for the I.C. Title, Santino Marella runs the show". Professional Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
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  19. ↑ Clapp, John. "Tyson Kidd & Cesaro def. The Usos to win the WWE Tag Team Championship". WWE. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
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  21. ↑ "NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) history".
  22. ↑ "NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship history".
  23. ↑ "NWA Florida Tag Team Championship history".
  24. ↑ "NWA Florida Television Championship history".
  25. ↑ "N.W.A. (Mid-America)/A.W.A. Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  26. ↑ "NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship history".
  27. ↑ "NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship history".
  28. ↑ "NWA Macon Tag Team Championship history".
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Manu Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  30. ↑ "Independent Wrestling Results – October 2006". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  31. 1 2 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
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  33. ↑ WebCite query result
  34. 1 2 Milner, John M. "Rosey". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
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  36. ↑ "Gulf Coast Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Afa Jr. at Bodyslamming.com". Archived from the original on 2007-11-15.
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  41. ↑ "NWE World Heavyweight Title History". cagematch.net. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  42. ↑ "NWA Texas Hardcore Championship history".
  43. ↑ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship history".
  44. ↑ "NWA Texas Tag Team Championship history".
  45. ↑ "NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) history".
  46. ↑ "NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship history".
  47. ↑ "NWA Americas Tag Team Championship history".
  48. ↑ "NWA Beat the Champ Television Championship history".
  49. ↑ "CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship history".
  50. ↑ "Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship history".
  51. ↑ "NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) history".
  52. ↑ "NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) history".
  53. ↑ http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/poly/poly-t.html
  54. ↑ "NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship history".
  55. ↑ "NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship history".
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  60. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners – Wrestler of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
  61. ↑ "UWA World Trios Championship history".
  62. ↑ "Rock's first WCW Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved August 19, 2001.
  63. ↑ "Rock's second WCW Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved November 5, 2001.
  64. 1 2 "Yokozuna Bio". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-28. WORKS INSIDE SALES AT CONTI
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  67. ↑ "1993 Royal Rumble match". WWE. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
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  69. 1 2 Meltzer, Dave (January 30, 2012). "Jan 30 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Gigantic year-end awards issue, best and worst in all categories plus UFC on FX 1, death of Savannah Jack, ratings, tons and tons of news". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, CA). ISSN 1083-9593.
  70. 1 2 Meltzer, Dave (January 23, 2013). "The 2012 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, California). ISSN 1083-9593.
  71. 1 2 Meltzer, Dave (January 27, 2014). "Jan 27 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2013 Annual awards issue, best in the world in numerous categories, plus all the news in pro-wrestling and MMA over the past week and more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, California): 1–37. ISSN 1083-9593.
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External links

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