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Wild Samoans

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Wild Samoans
Tag team
MembersAfa
Sika
Name(s)The Samoans
The Samoan Warriors
The Wild Samoans
The Islanders
Billed heights6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) each
Combined
billed weight		645 lb (293 kg)[1]
Billed from"The Isle of Samoa"
Debut1973
Disbanded1997
TrainerPeter Maivia[1]

TheWild Samoanswere theprofessional wrestlingtag teamofAfa AnoaʻiandSika Anoaʻiin theNational Wrestling Alliance(NWA) and theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF). They held 20 tag team championships around the world.

Gimmick

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The Wild Samoans rarely spoke in interviews, instead grunting in a primitive dialect that only their managerCapt. Lou Albanocould understand. They had afros and fu manchu moustaches.[2]Completing their "wild man" image, the duo engaged in outrageous behavior such as nose picking, biting opponents, and eating raw fish during interviews.[2][3]

They are members of theAnoaʻi family.Their father Amituana'i Anoaʻi was ablood brotherto their trainerPeter Maivia.

History

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Early years (1973–1979)

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The team began its career inStu Hart'sCalgary, Alberta,CanadabasedStampede Wrestlingin 1973, where they won theStampede International Tag Team Championshipon two occasions.[1]Then they went toVancouverand won the tag title there. In 1975 they made their debut in the United States forBig Time Wrestlingin Detroit. They spent the majority of the 1970s in variousNational Wrestling Alliance(NWA) territories.[1]

From 1977 to 1979, the Samoans made repeated tours of Japan withInternational Wrestling Enterprise.In January 1978, they briefly held theIWA World Tag Team Championship.[4]

World Wrestling Federation (1979–1980)

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In 1979, the Wild Samoans joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). They were initially billed as simply "The Samoans" before reverting to their better-known name. Occasionally, they were introduced as "Lou Albano's Wild Men" during TV tapings. They made theirMadison Square Gardendebut on January 21, 1980, in aWWF Tag Team Championshipmatch againstTito SantanaandIvan Putski,who retained their title.[1]In the upcoming months, both men became contenders forBob Backlund'sWWF Championship,but neither man won the gold.[1]They won their first championship in the WWF, the tag team championship, by defeating Santana and Putski on April 12, 1980.[1]They reigned as champions for approximately five months, untildroppingthe title to Backlund andPedro Moralesin atwo out of three falls matchatShowdown at Shea.[1]Because Backlund was already the reigning WWF Champion, the team had to forfeit the title, and a tournament was held to crown new tag champions.[1]On September 8, 1980, the Wild Samoans defeatedTony GareaandRene Gouletin the tournament finals to win the title.[1]Their reign lasted for one month, until they lost to Garea and his new partner,Rick Martel.[1]The Wild Samoansfeudedwith the champions for the rest of the year, but they were not able to recapture the gold.[1]

Mid-South and Georgia (1981–1982)

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In late 1981, changing their name back to the Samoans they joinedMid-South Wrestling.With"Big Cat" Ernie Laddas theirfinancial adviserand manager, and then changing their team name from The Samoans to The Samoan Warriors, they won theMid-South Tag Team ChampionshipandfeudedwithJunkyard DogandDick Murdoch.[1]After also attacking Ladd, the two began a feud with their former adviser.[1]In response, Ladd sold their contract toSkandor Akbarand formed a team with"Iron" Mike Sharpe,with whom he forced the Wild Samoans to leave Mid-South.[1]

After leaving Mid-South, the duo appeared inGeorgia Championship Wrestling.As part of the territory, they defeated theFabulous Freebirdsfor theNWA National Tag Team Championship,which they later vacated.[2]

Return to WWF (1982–1985)

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The Wild Samoans eventually ended up back in the World Wrestling Federation with their former managerCapt. Lou Albanoin 1982. This time they grew full beards that were scruffy and bushy looking.[2]Afa and Sika began their thirdWWF Tag Team Championshipreign on March 8, 1983, by defeatingChief JayandJules Strongbow.[5]In a rematch on March 19, they were also victorious.[2]Also during this time, while feuding withRocky Johnson,Jimmy Snuka,andAndré the Giant,the duo added Afa's sonSamulato their team,[2]first as a replacement for Sika when he got hurt, then as their backup upon his return.

They lost their tag team title to the team ofRocky JohnsonandTony Atlason November 15.[2][5][6]

During the match, Albano tried to interfere on the Samoans' behalf by attempting to hit Atlas over the head with a chair.[2]He accidentally hit Afa instead and Atlas covered him for the win.[2]The North-South Connection, Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch, would later defeat Atlas and Johnson for the tag title on April 17, 1984. The Samoans turned face and challenged them in a lengthy feud. After failing to regain the belts, the duo eventually left the WWF in 1985 and reappeared in Pro Wrestling USA (NWA/AWA) where they had a dream match vs the Road Warriors. The bout ended in a Double DQ.[2]

Sika reappeared for a lengthy run in the WWF from 1986 to 1988, now managed byMr. Fuji,performing both in singles competition and as a tag team (partnered withKamala). Kamala and Sika's biggest match as a tag team was a loss to theCan-Am ConnectiononSuperstars of Wrestling.Sika also participated in the invitational battle royal that openedWrestlemania IV.He was the second one eliminated.

Afa returned to WWF in 1992 and went on to manage his son,Samuand his nephewFatuasThe Headshrinkers.He left the WWF in 1995.

Later years (1985–1997)

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After WWF and AWA they went to wrestle in theindependent circuitfrom 1986 to 1991. In 1987 they made a few appearances inNational Wrestling Federation.

On September 10, 1988, they lost toJimmy ValiantandRufus R. Jonesby disqualification at the 15thWWC Aniversarioin 1988 in Puerto Rico. In 1991, they split up and both men went their separate ways. Sika would retire from wrestling and trained wrestlers at the Wild Samoans Training Center. Afa managedThe Headshrinkersin the WWF from 1992 to 1995. After WWF, Afa continued to train other wrestlers. In 1996 Afa, foundedWorld Xtreme Wrestlingbased inAllentown, Pennsylvania.[citation needed]

On August 15, 1997, both men reunited for one night teaming withDisco Inferno,Gene Ligon and the Big Cheese as they defeatedKen Timbs,George Love, Jay Love, Gary Royal and Kane Adams at IWA Night of the Legends in Kannapolis, North Carolina.[citation needed]

Post-tag team careers

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During the late 1970s, Afa Anoaʻi opened the Wild Samoans Training Center, and the school's graduates includePaul Orndorff,Junkyard Dog,Luna Vachon,Michael P.S. Hayes,Yokozuna,Bam Bam Bigelow,Rikishi,Sherri Martel,Virgil,Billy Kidman,Gene Snisky,Chris KanyonandBatista.[2]They also promote live wrestling shows under theWXWbanner.[2]

In 2007, on the eve ofWrestleMania 23,the Wild Samoans were inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame.They were inducted by their sonsSamulaandMatt Anoaʻi.

In 2013 and 2014 Afa came out of retirement to wrestle for his promotionWorld Xtreme Wrestlingat age 71.

The pair appeared at the 2020Hell in a Cellto celebrateRoman Reigns' victory.

On June 25, 2024, Sika died at the age of 79, and then, on August 16, 2024, Afa died at the age of 81.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklmnopShields, Brian.Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s(p.143)
  2. ^abcdefghijklShields, Brian.Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s(p.144)
  3. ^"The Wild Samoans".WWE.Archived fromthe originalon December 25, 2007.RetrievedDecember 28,2007.
  4. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."The Samoans - matches - International Wrestling Enterprise".Cagematch.net.RetrievedJuly 25,2023.
  5. ^ab"World Tag Team Title history".WWE.com.RetrievedDecember 31,2007.
  6. ^Foley, Mick (2000).Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks.HarperCollins. p. 36.ISBN0-06-103101-1.
  7. ^Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006) [2000.]. "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977]".Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present.Waterloo, Ontario: Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^"Southern Tag Team Title".Wrestling-Titles.RetrievedJanuary 19,2020.
  9. ^Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Tennessee: U.S. Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 194.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  10. ^"NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)".wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedApril 23,2015.

Sources

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Further reading

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  • Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "The Evil Foreigners: the Wild Samoans".The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams.ECW Press.ISBN978-1-55022-683-6.
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