It’s never easy when a family has to grieve the loss of a loved one, and the Anoa’i family has had quite a rough summer in that regard. On Friday, legendary wrestler Afa Anoa’i, 81, one half of the Hall of Fame duo The Wild Samoans, died. Earlier this summer, his brother and tag team partner Sika Anoa’i also succumbed to the fight.
WWE issued an official statement regarding the loss.
WWE is sad to announce the passing of Afa Anoa’i Sr., WWE Hall of Fame member and one half of the legendary tag team Wild Samoans.
Anoa’i was best known for teaming with his brother Sika Anoa’i, forming the legendary tag team The Wild Samoans. The siblings began teaming together in the 1970s, collecting accolades and championships in Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling promotion and the National Wrestling Alliance before debuting in WWE in 1979. The brothers dominated WWE throughout the 1980s, winning the World Tag Team Championship three times and becoming known as one of the most feared teams in WWE history.
Afa returned to WWE in 1992 as manager of the Headshrinkers, a team consisting of his son Samu and his nephew Fatu, aka Rikishi, before retiring from WWE in 1995.
Afa and Sika later opened the Wild Samoan Training Facility, where the legendary duo would train future generations of WWE Superstars, including Batista. In 2007, the Wild Samoans received the highest honor in sports entertainment when they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, where they will forever be immortalized as one of the greatest tag teams of all time.
WWE extends its sincere condolences to Anoa’i’s family, friends and fans.
