Sika Anoaʻi

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1973–1980) Anoaʻi was trained to wrestle by his brother Afa and Kurt Von Steiger, debuting in 1973 in Stampede Wrestling as "Sika". Calling themselves "the Wild Samoans", the brothers gained notoriety due to their large, wild afros, sarongs, and habit of wrestling barefoot and eating raw fish in the ring. Throughout the 1970s, the Wild Samoans appeared with promotions including Big Time Wrestling, the Continental Wrestling Association, Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling, NWA All-Star Wrestling, NWA Mid-America, Stampede Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Council, winning multiple tag team championships. 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.

World Wrestling Federation (1980) In January 1980, the Wild Samoans debuted in the World Wrestling Federation with Lou Albano as their manager, quickly establishing themselves as a force in the tag team division through a series of decisive victories. In addition to competing in the tag division, the brothers wrestled as singles, Sika unsuccessfully challenging Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship in March 1980. They left the WWF in December 1980.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1981) On November 22, 1981, the Wild Samoans were disqualified in a match against Animal Hamaguchi and Rusher Kimura.

Mid-South Wrestling (1981–1982) In April 1981, the Wild Samoans debuted in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based promotion Mid-South Wrestling. They were initially managed by Ernie Ladd before betraying him to align themselves with Skandor Akbar. They held the Mid-South Tag Team Championship on three occasions between June 1981 and May 1982, feuding with Junkyard Dog and his partners. They left the promotion in May 1982.

Return to WWF (1983–1985) The Wild Samoans returned to the WWF in November 1982, once again adopting Lou Albano as their manager. They won the WWF World Tag Team Championship for a third and final time on March 8, 1983, defeating Chief Jay Strongbow and Jules Strongbow. During their reign, Sika was injured and his nephew Samu substituted for him in several title defences. On November 15, 1983, they lost the belts to Soul Patrol (Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas) after Albano accidentally hit Afa with a chair. They left the WWF once more in January 1985.

Various promotions (1985–1986) The Wild Samoans appeared with several promotions in 1985 and 1986, including Pro Wrestling USA, Lutte Internationale and International Championship Wrestling.

Second return to WWF (1986–1988) With Afa now semi-retired, Sika returned to the WWF in August 1986 as a singles wrestler. Managed by The Wizard, he went undefeated before dropping a countout to Ricky Steamboat, a pinfall to Pedro Morales and a disqualification to Hillbilly Jim in November 1986.

In March 1987, Sika formed a tag team with Kamala, aligning himself with Kamala's manager, Mr. Fuji, and "handler", Kim Chee. The duo wrestled a series of matches against The Can-Am Connection and took part in several tournaments. The team was dissolved in August 1987 when Kamala left the WWF. In September 1987, he competed in the King of the Ring tournament, losing in the first round to S. D. Jones. On the October 3, 1987 Saturday Night's Main Event XII (recorded September 23, 1987), he unsuccessfully challenged WWF Champion Hulk Hogan in the main event. He wrestled a series of matches against Bam Bam Bigelow and then against Jake Roberts. At the Slammy Awards ceremony on December 16, 1987, the "Song of the Year" category ended with no winner after he ate the envelope containing the winner's name.

In early 1988, Sika's regular opponents included Lanny Poffo, George Steele, and Hillbilly Jim. On March 27, 1988, he appeared on his first pay-per-view, competing in a battle royal at WrestleMania IV. He left the WWF once more following the bout.

Independent Circuit (1988–1989) After leaving the WWF, Sika wrestled several matches on the independent circuit. He formed a short-lived tag team with his nephew Kokina in the Continental Wrestling Federation, where they were managed by Alan Martin. He retired in 1989.

Sporadic appearances (1991–2020) He wrestled a couple of matches in 1991 in Austria and Connecticut.

On August 15, 1997, the Wild Samoans 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.

His last match was in 2006.

On March 31, 2007, the Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Sika's son Rosey and Afa's son Samu.

Personal life Anoaʻi was married to and separated from Patricia Hooker. Younger son Joseph played college football for Georgia Tech from 2003 to 2006 before beginning a professional wrestling career in 2010, winning the WWE Championship on multiple occasions as Roman Reigns. Anoa'i held the matai title of Pola’ivao. His death was caused by a heart attack. Just under two months after his death, his real life brother and tag team partner Afa would also pass away.

Championships and accomplishments Big Time Wrestling NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (2 times) – with Afa Georgia Championship Wrestling NWA National Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Afa International Wrestling Enterprise IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Afa Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him # 462 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 PWI ranked him # 93 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Afa in 2003 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2012 – with Afa