Wild Samoans
| Wild Samoans | |
|---|---|
 Afa (behind) and Sika (front) in 1983 | |
| Tag team | |
| Members | Afa Sika |
| Name(s) | The Samoans The Samoan Warriors The Wild Samoans The Islanders |
| Billed heights | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) each |
| Combined billed weight | 645 lb (293 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | "The Isle of Samoa" |
| Debut | 1973 |
| Disbanded | 1997 |
| Trainer | Peter Maivia[1] |
The Wild Samoans were the
Gimmick
The Wild Samoans rarely spoke in interviews, instead grunting in a primitive dialect that only their manager Capt. Lou Albano could 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 the Anoaʻi family, their father Amituana'i Anoaʻi was a blood brother to their trainer Peter Maivia.
History
Early years (1973–1979)
The team began its career in
From 1977 to 1979, the Samoans made repeated tours of Japan with International Wrestling Enterprise. In January 1978, they briefly held the IWA World Tag Team Championship.[4]
World Wrestling Federation (1979–1980)
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 their
Mid-South and Georgia (1981–1982)
In late 1981, changing their name back to the Samoans they joined Mid-South Wrestling. With, "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd as their financial adviser, and manager and then changing their team name from The Samoans to The Samoan Warriors with which they won the Mid-South Tag Team Championship and feuded with Junkyard Dog and Dick Murdoch.[1] After also attacking Ladd, the two began a feud with their former adviser.[1] In response, Ladd sold their contract to Skandor Akbar and 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 in Georgia Championship Wrestling. As part of the territory, they defeated the Fabulous Freebirds for the NWA National Tag Team Championship, which they later vacated.[2]
Return to WWF (1982–1985)
The Wild Samoans eventually ended up back in the World Wrestling Federation with their former manager
They lost their tag team title to the team of Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas on 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 by
Afa returned to WWF in 1992 and went on to manage his son,
Later years (1985–1997)
After WWF and AWA they went to wrestle in the
On September 10, 1988, they lost to
On August 15, 1997, both men reunited for one night teaming with Disco Inferno, Gene Ligon and the Big Cheese as they defeated Ken 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
During the late 1970s, Afa Anoaʻi opened the Wild Samoans Training Center, and the school's graduates include
In 2007, on the eve of WrestleMania 23, the Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. They were inducted by their sons Samula and Matt Anoaʻi.
In 2013 and 2014 Afa came out of retirement to wrestle for his promotion World Xtreme Wrestling at age 71.
The pair appeared at Hell in a Cell to celebrate Roman Reigns' victory.
On June 25, 2024, Sika passed away at the age of 79.
Championships and accomplishments
- Continental Wrestling Association
- Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- International Wrestling Enterprise
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Mid-South Wrestling
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Detroit
- 2 times)
- NWA Mid-America
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)[9][10]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked them # 93 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2012
- Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- Stampede Wrestling
- 2 times)[1]
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- World Wrestling Entertainment
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s (p.143)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s (p.144)
- ^ "The Wild Samoans". WWE. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "The Samoans - matches - International Wrestling Enterprise". Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "World Tag Team Title history". WWE.com. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
- ISBN 0-06-103101-1.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA United States Tag Team Title (Mid-America)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
Sources
- Brian Shields (2006). Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1-4165-3257-9.
Further reading
- Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). "The Evil Foreigners: the Wild Samoans". The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
External links
- The Wild Samoan Training Facility
- Wild Samoans on WWE.com
- Wild Samoans's profile at Cagematch.net
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