Afa Anoa'i Jr.
Afa Anoaʻi Jr. | |
---|---|
Samula Anoaʻi[1] | |
Debut | August 28, 1998[1] |
Afa Anoaʻi Jr. (born October 6, 1984) is an American
Early life and education
Anoaʻi attended
Following graduation from Freedom High School, Anoaʻi attended
He began training as a
Professional wrestling career
World Xtreme Wrestling (1998–2006)
In 1998, Anoa'i joined the family
World Wrestling Entertainment (2006–2009)
Development territories (2006–2007)
In October 2006, Anoa'i received a try-out with
Siaki and Afa reorganized as the Samoan Fight Club. Anoa'i then wrestled for WWE's new developmental territory,
Main roster (2007–2009)
On November 19, 2007, Anoa'i made his debut on WWE under the name Mai Tai Anoa'i in a losing effort against Jim Duggan at WWE Heat.[7] Anoa'i was later suspended by WWE for 30 days, on March 20, 2008, for violating WWE's Wellness Policy.[8]
At Unforgiven in September 2008, Anoa'i made his debut on the full-time roster under the name "Manu".[9] He aligned himself with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, attacking Cryme Tyme after their World Tag Team Championship match.[9] Later that night, the three helped Randy Orton attack the World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and Kofi Kingston.[9] On the September 8, 2008 edition of WWE Raw, Manu, Rhodes, and DiBiase defeated Cryme Tyme and Kofi Kingston in a six-man tag team match.[10] On the November 17 episode of Raw, Anoaʻi made his singles debut in a losing effort against Dave Bautista.[11]
Rhodes, DiBiase, and Manu entered a storyline with Randy Orton in which Orton was constantly criticizing and insulting them, and attacked DiBiase on the November 3 episode of Raw.[12] Manu and Rhodes accepted Orton's offer for an alliance in the following weeks, and the trio dubbed themselves The Legacy.[13]
After Orton tired of The Legacy losing matches, he scheduled a test for each member on the December 29 episode of Raw. Manu failed to pass his test after losing to ECW Champion Matt Hardy and being kicked out as his former companions Rhodes and Sim Snuka turned their backs on him.[14] Later, Snuka also got kicked out of the group, and the two quickly reunited.[15] They planned to obtain revenge against Orton and Rhodes on the January 12, 2009 episode of Raw with the aid of returning Ted DiBiase. DiBiase betrayed them, however, and joined The Legacy with Orton and Rhodes.[16]
Anoa'i was released from his WWE contract on February 23, 2009.[17]
Independent circuit (2009–present)
On April 18, 2009, two months after being released by WWE, Anoa'i returned to the independent circuit at a World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) show. He reformed the Sons of Samoa tag team with Samu, and the pair competed as a tag team throughout the rest of 2009.[1] In 2010, Anoa'i competed for the Belgian Catch Wrestling Federation and NWA Dawg Pound.
On February 9, 2013, Afa Jr. and L. A. Smooth, as The Sons of Samoa, won the
At the Regional Championship Wrestling event Rumblemania 9 in Reading, Pennsylvania on March 15, 2014, Manu and RC beat Rob Noxious in a respect match. This was a hardcore match that ended up going all over the building; after the match, Manu shook hands with Noxious and beat up RC, his manager.
Since 2014, Afa has been attached to Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling (PPW) in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, capturing the promotions Heavyweight Championship and its No Limits Championship. Afa captured the PPW Title from his nephew Lance Anoaʻi and retained the title against contenders, including Dan Maff and Samoa Joe. Afa defeated Al Snow at the December PPW Event to retain the PPW No Limits Title. In July 2017, he appeared on an NWA card in Morgan City, Louisiana, where he was defeated by NWA North American heavyweight champion Mustang Mike.
Personal life
Anoaʻi is a member of the
Legal issues
In August 2003, Anoaʻi was implicated as the getaway driver of a duo who committed an armed robbery in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, stealing money and jewellery worth over $150,000 and stabbing an elderly female resident. Anoaʻi pleaded no contest to the charge of receipt of stolen property and was sentenced to two years probation.[20]
Championships and accomplishments
- Belgian Wrestling School
- BWS Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Defiant Pro Wrestling
- Florida Championship Wrestling
- Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling
- Jersey Championship Wrestling
- Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling
- Primal Conflict Wrestling
- PCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Nui Tofiga
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Regional Championship Wrestling
- RCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rob Noxious
- World Wrestling Council
- L.A. Smooth
- World Wrestling Professionals
- L.A. Smooth[26]
- World Xtreme Wrestling
- and Sean Maluta (1)
- 2 times)
- Wild Samoan Tag Team Tournament (2017) – with Sean Maluta[27]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Manu Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "WWE Bio". WWE. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
- ^ "Recruiting: Pitt pins lineman, lures Virginia FB". www.post-gazette.com. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Afa Jr". January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ WWE signs Afa's son Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "October 16, 2007--Florida Championship Wrestling". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
- ^ "WWE Raw Results - November 19, 2007". Online World of Wrestling. November 19, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
- ^ "Developmental performer suspended for 30 days". WWE. March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
- ^ )
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (September 8, 2008). "Dangerous liaisons". WWE. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
- )
- )
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (December 8, 2008). "Slam, bam, thank you ma'am!". WWE. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
- )
- )
- )
- ^ "Manu released". WWE. February 23, 2009. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
- ^ "WWC CROSSFIRE 2013: T.N.T. RETURNS!, CARLITO VS REY FENIX, TAG TEAM TITLE CHANGES HANDS AND MORE FROM PUERTO RICO - PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "WWC Euphoria - Tag 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.de. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Third suspect caught in Bethlehem Twp. robbery, assault". tribunedigital-mcall. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results - October 2006". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Afa Jr. at Bodyslamming.com". Archived from the original on November 15, 2007.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "PPW Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "PPW No Limits Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2008". Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "WWP World Tag Team Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "WXW Wild Samoan Tag Team Tournament 2017 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
External links
- Afa Anoaʻi Jr. at IMDb
- Afa Anoa'i Jr.'s profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database