Best Samoan Wrestlers Of All Time

The Samoan Dynasty is likely one of the largest households in skilled wrestling historical past. It goes again to the ’60s and ’70s, with the Wild Samoans. Through the years, youngsters and grandchildren have all began working in skilled wrestling, and lots of of them achieved excessive ranges of success.

Many Samoan wrestlers at the moment are WWE Corridor of Fame stars, and a number of other of them have labored a number of the largest occasions in WWE historical past. With Roman Reigns among the many new breed of Samoan superstars and others worldwide, it would not seem that the Samoan Dynasty is slowing down anytime quickly.

Toa Liona

Former ROH Trios Champion

Toa Liona has been making his title as one of many latest Samoan wrestlers, though he’s not associated to any member of the Anoa’i household. Nonetheless, he does have a connection to the household, as Rikishi educated him. Standing 6 ft 4 in and 301 kilos, he’s a beast of a wrestler and towers over a lot of his opponents. He has additionally adopted the old-school Samoan savage gimmick. He noticed success when he gained the Ring of Honor World Six Man Tag Group Championships twice together with his Gates of Agony companions Kaun and Brian Cage.

Manu

A Former Member Of Legacy

Manu acquired an enormous alternative in WWE that he may by no means observe by way of. The son of Afa (actual title Afa Anoa’i Jr), he was a part of Legacy within the Ruthless Aggression Period of WWE. This was a steady of second (and third) era stars the place he labored with Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase Jr. Out of all of the members, he did the least in that run. His debut in Legacy was in September 2008, and WWE launched him in February 2009. After engaged on the impartial circuit for a couple of years, he began his personal promotion in Pennsylvania referred to as BattleField Professional Wrestling​​​​​.

Reka Tehaka

The Samoan Savage

Reka Tehaka is an impartial wrestler who made her in-ring debut in 2019. With the nickname “The Samoan Savage,” she has largely labored in Ladies of Wrestling, though she has additionally competed in AEW on episodes of Darkish. Her final match in AEW earlier than the corporate shuttered Darkish was a tag staff match the place she was on the shedding aspect. She did not win a single match in AEW (her first look there was a loss to Jade Cargill in 2021). Most not too long ago, she labored in Viral Professional Wrestling.

Ava Raine

The WWE NXT Basic Supervisor

Ava Raine is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s daughter. Ava (actual title: Simone Johnson) works for NXT and began as a part of the Schism faction when she debuted on-screen. Ava signed with WWE in 2020 and educated on the WWE Efficiency Heart earlier than making her debut two years afterward NXT. She had since labored largely as a manager-type determine with Schism, however she had additionally began working her approach right into a wrestling function as properly.

She has solely six matches listed on Cagematch.internet and is 1-1 as a wrestler, with the final coming in August 2023. Nonetheless, Ava Raine has discovered her place in WWE because the Basic Supervisor of NXT. This began on January 23, 2024, and she or he has since turn out to be a revered determine for the model because the face of the workplace.

Samu

A Member Of The Samoan Swat Group

Samu is Samula Anoa’i, the son of Afa of the Wild Samoans. His profession began in WWE in 1983, when he instantly teamed up together with his father as a member of the Wild Samoans when Sika was injured. After that, he got down to make his personal approach within the enterprise however stored his household heritage in his gimmick as he teamed together with his cousin Fatu because the Samoan Swat Group in Puerto Rico, World Class Championship Wrestling, and later in WCW.

When he returned to WWE in 1992, he and Fatu modified their title to the Headshrinkers and gained the tag staff titles there. He additionally labored in ECW; his son, Lance Anoa’i, can be now wrestling. Samu has formally retired from energetic wrestling and signed a “Nostalgia Contract” with WWE in 2022.

Sonny Siaki

A Former TNA X-Division Champion

Sonny Siaki is a former member of TNA Wrestling, and he was a part of the notorious SeX (Sports activities Leisure Xtreme) steady led by Vince Russo. Whereas Siaki held the X-Division Championship, he by no means reached the heights of different faction members, corresponding to Christopher Daniels, Low-Ki, and Elix Skipper. He acquired his first main break in WCW earlier than the corporate closed its doorways, and whereas he was a TNA unique, he was gone from the corporate by 2006. He tried to make it with WWE in 2007, however they did not signal him after a tryout match. He lastly retired in 2009.

Rosey

The Superhero Samoan

Matthew Anoa’i is greatest identified for his time in WWE because the superhero Rosey alongside Hurricane Helms. He’s additionally the son of Sika and the brother of Roman Reigns. Rosey educated together with his cousin Eddie Fatu (Umaga), and so they labored collectively as a tag staff after they entered the enterprise. They even acquired an opportunity to work in ECW because the Samoan Gangster Get together in 1996.

His large break got here in 2002 in WWE when he modified his title to Rosey, and he and Eddie teamed as 3-Minute Warning. By 2003, he was within the superhero gimmick with Hurricane, and so they gained tag staff gold. Sadly, Rosey died in 2017 of congestive coronary heart failure.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Rosey was a member of 3-Minute Warning throughout his time in WWE, and though the pair aren’t concerned in an actual historic match, they’ve been positioned in a Fantasy Match within the mode, being put towards The Authors Of Ache in a Tables Match.

Lance Anoa’i

Half Of MLW’s Samoan Swat Group

Lance Anoa’i is a third-generation Samoan Dynasty star, the son of Samu, and grandson of Afa. He acquired his begin on the impartial circuit in 2010 working within the NWA territories and later in Home of Hardcore. Whereas he has household connections, he has obtained three completely different tryouts with WWE, though he by no means acquired signed to a deal.

His largest second in WWE was when Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre beat him down after a match on Uncooked in 2019. He has largely labored in MLW. He has teamed together with his father there and, extra not too long ago, with Juicy Finau as a part of The Samoan Swat Group, the place they grew to become MLW tag staff champions.

Nia Jax

Former WWE Uncooked Ladies’s Champion

The concept of Nia Jax displaying up on this record in any respect could also be anathema to many wrestling followers, however she has been a distinguished WWE star for a couple of years, so she’s definitely price evaluating. Properly-booked and guarded in NXT, Jax — the real-life cousin of The Rock — discovered herself out of her ingredient on the principle roster. Her dimension made her an acceptable monster heel. Nonetheless, her in-ring skills didn’t stack up in followers’ eyes.

Many followers deem her an “unsafe employee” after Nia Jax by chance injured a number of wrestlers, together with breaking Becky Lynch’s nostril. Her current WWE return has seen the corporate lean into her fame as a harmful wrestler, and it is clear WWE has large plans for her. This paid off in 2024 when she gained the Queen of the Ring Event in Saudi Arabia, guaranteeing her a title match at SummerSlam.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Nia Jax has been part of some notable matches, however maybe her most essential one was on the King & Queen Of The Ring present in 2024, the place she defeated Lyra Valkyria to turn out to be the Queen Of The Ring, and gamers will be capable of play this within the Showcase mode. This match set Jax up for an enormous 2024 the place she went on to turn out to be WWE Ladies’s Champion.

Tamina Snuka

Superfly Jimmy Snuka’s Daughter

Whereas Tamina Snuka’s father, WWE Corridor of Famer Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, hails from the island of Fiji, Tamina’s mom Sharon was a member of the Anoa’i professional wrestling household that produced lots of the stars from that lineage. Within the early years of Tamina’s WWE profession, she even managed her cousins, The Usos, however that WWE relationship has since been downplayed. Whereas she’s by no means been a singles champion so far, Tamina’s usually functioned very properly as a no-nonsense enforcer character for smaller performers up to now, like AJ Lee.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Tamina was by no means actually on the forefront of the ladies’s division, however was part of historical past as she took half within the first ever ladies’s Cash In The Financial institution ladder match in a area involving Carmella, Becky Lynch, Natalya, and Charlotte Aptitude. Including a multi-person ladder match to the Showcase mode will certainly pose some difficulties.

Tonga Child (a.ok.a. Tama)

Jacob Fatu’s Father

One of many extra underrated Samoan wrestlers of the Nineteen Eighties, Sam Fatu, is the dual brother of Rikishi, older brother of Umaga, and father of Jacob Fatu. When he debuted within the early Nineteen Eighties, Fatu was offered as The Tonga Child, a kayfabe cousin of Jimmy Snuka, and he helped Snuka in his rivalry with Rowdy Roddy Piper. After a couple of years, nevertheless, he succeeded as a tag staff specialist, first “Tama” of The Islanders with Haku, and later in WCW as a part of the Samoan Swat Group in WCW alongside Rikishi and Samu.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Alongside Haku as a part of The Islanders, Tonga Child has been showcased in 2K25 in a ‘Fantasy Match’, going up towards Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins of The Road Income in an entire conflict of generations.

Cocoa Samoa

Sabu The Wildman

Through the years, Cocoa Samoa labored underneath many names, together with Sabu The Wildman and Tami (or Tama) Samoa, however likelihood is this Samoan wrestler is basically unknown to trendy followers. Wrestling from 1976 to 1997, Cocoa Samoa is a type of Samoan wrestlers who isn’t a part of the Anoa’i household however is however price figuring out about.

A territory wrestler on the peak of his profession, Cocoa Samoa was a regional champion within the Pacific Northwest and the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Affiliation, the place he defeated Jerry Lawler for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship.

Solo Sikoa

The New Head Of The Desk

Upon debuting on NXT in 2021, Solo Sikoa was offered because the black sheep of the Anoa’i household, having gone his personal approach because the “Road Champion of the Island” versus promoting the truth that his older brothers are Jimmy and Jey Uso. Nonetheless, by serving to Roman Reigns beat Drew McIntyre at Conflict on the Fortress, the household relationship was made specific, as Sikoa was made a part of the Bloodline.

As a part of the Bloodline, Sikoa was initially the group’s muscle, serving as an enforcer who takes out enemies of Reigns and firm with Umaga’s outdated Samoan Spike finisher. Nonetheless, since Roman Reigns left after shedding his world title to Cody Rhodes, Solo turned on his brothers and stepped up as the brand new Head of the Desk and chief of The Bloodline, and is lastly assembly his potential.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Solo Sikoa has loads of time to carve out his legacy, however for now his record of tremendous essential singles matches is not too lengthy. WWE takes a step again to take a look at his run in NXT throughout the Showcase Mode the place he took on Carmelo Hayes for the North American Championship, in what continues to be Sikoa’s one and solely title reign in WWE so far.

Dakota Kai

A Member Of Harm Management

At this level, Dakota Kai is approaching a decade and a half within the wrestling sport, with half a decade spent in WWE’s developmental promotion, NXT, the place she’s confirmed an knowledgeable striker and skilled tag staff success with Raquel Gonzalez. Nonetheless, followers could be stunned to know that she’s Samoan, because it’s not “marketed,” and she or he’s not a part of the Anoa’i household.

In a single notable occasion within the indies, Dakota Kai made her heritage identified in a violently entertaining method. Absorbing a collection of headbutts from Jinny, Dakota Kai screamed, “I’M SAMOAN!” and returned a devastating headbutt to her opponent in response. She has since turn out to be a much bigger star in WWE after years of labor and is a part of Harm Management.

The Rock

The Folks’s Champion

Simply, essentially the most profitable and well-liked Samoan wrestler in historical past is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Whereas he shares household ties to the Anoa’i household, his relationship to them shouldn’t be blood. His grandfather, Excessive Chief Peter Maivia, is a blood-brother of Amituanai Anoaʻi, the daddy of Afa and Sika. The Rock’s father, Rocky Johnson, can be a former skilled wrestler.

Over his profession, The Rock gained 10 World Titles, two Intercontinental Titles, and 5 World Tag Group Titles. He’s additionally one in all Hollywood’s high stars, and his films make tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} recurrently. The Rock made his WWE return in 2024, and he’s a member of the Board of Administrators and likewise often returns to play a job as The Rock on WWE programming.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – WWE may have chosen so many various matches from The Rock for the Showcase Mode, however WWE determined to return to early on in The Rock’s profession when he nonetheless wrestled as Rocky Maivia. This match is between two icons of WWE and two present highly effective gamers within the operating the corporate at this time, The Rock and Triple H, going again to an episode of RAW Is WAR after they battled over the Intercontinental Championship.

Yokozuna

Two-Time WWE Champion

WWE selected to vary the nationality of the character of Yokozuna. The corporate used him as an evil heel character from Japan and had his gimmick mimic the traditional Japanese sumo wrestlers. With Mr. Fuji as his supervisor, Yokozuna gained the World Title twice and the Tag Titles twice. Nonetheless, Yokozuna was not Japanese. He was a Samoan wrestler who was the cousin of Roman Reigns, Umaga, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Yokozuna was the son of Afoa Anoa’i and a blood member of the Anoa’i Samoan wrestling dynasty. Yokozuna tragically died in 2000.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Yokozuna’s WWE Title wins got here throughout two large stars within the enterprise, one in all which got here towards Hulk Hogan at King Of The Ring 1993, and followers will be capable of replay it within the 2K25 Showcase Mode. Yokozuna managed to get some revenge on Hogan stealing the highlight in the principle occasion of WrestleMania 9.

Rikishi

WWE Corridor Of Fame Celebrity

Rikishi is a WWE Corridor of Fame famous person and was probably the most well-liked stars of the Perspective Period. Most followers keep in mind Rikishi dancing across the ring with Too Cool after matches, and he was an enormous fan favourite throughout that period. He’s additionally the daddy of The Usos and Solo Sikoa. Nonetheless, Rikishi was very fashionable earlier than he grew to become a dancing large man. The son of Fatu of the Wild Samoans, he adopted in his father’s footsteps by taking up the title Fatu and dealing as a part of the Samoan Swat Group in WCW and Headshrinkers in WWE together with his cousin Samu.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – WWE tried to push Rikishi as a giant heel star within the early 2000s, and this noticed him feud with ‘Stone Chilly’ Steve Austin, attacking him “for The Rock”. 2K25 Showcase will host the No Mercy 2000 No Holds Barred between the pair.

Jimmy Uso (The Usos)

Eight-Time WWE Tag Group Champion

Rikishi’s sons are The Usos, Jimmy and Jey, and so they have turn out to be one of many hottest tag groups in WWE at this time. The Usos made their debut in WWE in 2010 and rapidly grew to become fan favorites. Through the years, they’ve confirmed to be well-rounded and work the heel roles in addition to they did the babyface roles. Whether or not you contemplate Jimmy or Jey the higher of the 2 performers, the brothers as a unit have undoubtedly left their mark on the trade.

Jimmy Uso battle his brother at WrestleMania XL, however after his loss, he discovered himself and not using a dwelling. Roman Reigns left and Solo Sikoa attacked his brother and kicked him out of the Bloodline, leaving Jimmy Uso’s struggling solo profession questionable.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Jimmy Uso’s singles run in WWE hasn’t but hit the excessive marks, however followers can play as him inside two completely different matches within the 2K25 Showcase, each of that are mult-man bouts. The primary of which comes when The Usos battled The New Day inside Hell In A Cell to wrap up a chapter of their iconic 2017 rivalry. Jimmy Uso additionally seems within the Survivor Sequence 2024 Bloodline vs. Bloodline WarGames match.

Jey Uso (The Usos)

“The Essential Occasion”

Through the years, each Jey and Jimmy have been extremely profitable within the WWE tag staff division. They gained the WWE World Tag Group Championship two occasions and the SmackDown Tag Group Championship 5 occasions. Their almost 600 mixed days as SmackDown Tag Group Champions is essentially the most out of anybody. Ever since forming the Bloodline with their cousin Roman Reigns, their stardom has boomed and at this level, it is arduous to think about the brothers ever splitting up as a staff.

Jey famously cut up from the Bloodline in 2023 and challenged his cousin Roman Reigns in the principle occasion of SummerSlam 2023 in a shedding effort. Jey Uso has since moved on to a profitable solo profession as “Essential Occasion” Jey Uso and has proven that he’s a star with out his brother and his well-known Samoan household by his aspect.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – Jey Uso has had much more singles matches than his twin that would warrant its personal place within the Showcase Mode, however he too is confined to multi-man bouts – The Usos vs. New Day at Hell In A Cell 2017, and The Bloodline vs. The Bloodline at Survivor Sequence 2024 contained in the WarGames construction.

“Excessive Chief” Peter Maivia

The Rock’s Grandfather

Excessive Chief Peter Maivia is likely one of the earliest profitable Samoan wrestlers within the trade. He was born as an Ali’i member of the family however grew to become a buddy to Amituanai Anoa’i, who was the daddy of the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). Which means that Peter Maivia and his descendants are thought to be family members. Over his wrestling profession, Peter Maivia gained a number of titles, all within the NWA. He was a two-time Texas Heavyweight Champion, held the NWA New Zealand British Empire Commonwealth Title twice, and quite a few others. He entered the WWE Corridor of Fame in 2008.

WWE 2K25 Showcase – ‘Excessive Chief’ Peter Maivia is expectedly concerned in 2K25 because of the Board Of Administrators presence of his grandson The Rock. Recreation-makers have not chosen an actual match from his match, as an alternative placing forth a ‘Fantasy Match’ towards George ‘The Animal’ Steele inside a Metal Cage.