WWE Legend Afa Anoa’i, Uncle of Roman Reigns, Passes Away at 81
The wrestling international is in mourning as Afa Anoa’i Sr., a WWE Hall of Famer and uncle to WWE Superstar Roman Reigns, has handed away at the age of 81. Afa, who customary one half of the legendary tag group The Wild Samoans alongside his brother Sika Anoa’i, modified right into a dominant pressure in expert wrestling for the duration of the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties.
Together, The Wild Samoans have grow to be renowned for their intimidating in-ring presence, shooting three World Tag Team Championships in WWE. Their impact prolonged past WWE, as in addition they left their mark in different promotions, along with Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), in which they garnered severa accolades.
Roman Reigns shared the data of his uncle’s passing on social media, expressing his own family’s grief: “Our own family has suffered every different wonderful loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana’i Anoa’i. We thank anybody for their resource and are comforted by way of the truth that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola’ivao Leati Sika Anoa’i, had been in fact mythical.”
In 1992, Afa transitioned from the hoop to a managerial position in WWE, guiding The Headshrinkers—a tag crew presenting his son Samu and nephew Fatu, additionally referred to as Rikishi. He retired from WWE in 1995 but remained influential inside the organization by using co-founding The Wild Samoan Training Facility along with his brother Sika. This facility helped train destiny WWE stars, which includes Batista.
Afa’s passing turned into showed thru his son, Samu Anoa’i, in a heartfelt Facebook put up: “It is with internal maximum remorse that we announce the passing of my father Afa Anoa’i Sr. It modified right into a peaceful transition, and he come to be surrounded via loved ones. Please appreciate our privateness as we mourn our father.”
In modern years, Afa had confronted severa fitness demanding situations, which include heart and decrease again surgical treatment in May. These difficulties in the long run brought on the closure of his Florida-based wrestling merchandising, World Xtreme Wrestling.
WWE released a announcement expressing their condolences: “WWE is saddened to observe that Afa Anoa’i Sr.—a WWE Hall of Famer and one-1/2 of the iconic Wild Samoans tag organization—has exceeded away. WWE extends its condolences to Anoa’i’s family, buddies, and fanatics.”
Earlier this year, Afa’s brother Sika, the father of Roman Reigns and the past due WWE well-known individual Rosey, additionally handed away at the age of 79.
