Evolution Of The Samoan Influence
From the Wild Samoans to even before them, All the way to The Usos (new tag team champions) There has been a definitive and dominant impact of Samoan wrestlers in the world of professional wrestling. There is actual a long lineage of family within wrestling. If we trace the blood line we will find that The Rock, The Usos, Roman Reigns, to name a few are all cousins. We know or should know that Rikishi is the proud father of Jimmy and Jey Uso.
Just by mentioning the name “Anoa’i, we have relatives in Yokozuna, The Wild Samoans Afi and Sika, We have “Three Minute Warning”, We have Roman Reigns, Usos, Lesser known wrestlers: “The Great Samu” and a wrestler by the name “Samoan Thunder”.
We can also mention the great “Tonga Kid” as well who could ever forget the Samoan “Bulldozer” Umaga aka Jamal of “Three Minute Warning”. Through Marriage We link the name Anoa’i to Maivia thus linking these aforementioned superstars to Rocky Johnson, the father of Rocky Maivia aka The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson.
The Samoan influence spanned different territories, and several titles, from tag team gold, to world championship gold. The Wild Samoans held the tag team belts with Captain Lou Albano on several occasions, and I don’t remember ever watching Wrestling on Saturday morning without seeing Afa and Sika on the screen. There evolution of the Wild Samoans brought us the “Samoan Swat Team” aka “Headshrinkers” depending on your WCW or WWF memory bank.
I would be remiss not to mention the Hall of Fame Great Jimmy SuperFly Snuka, Father to Tamina Snuka, who is cousin to The Rock.
R.I.P. Umaga/Jamal, Yokozuna,
From Afa and Sika to Jimmy and Jey Uso, The Samoan influence will continue to grow...perhaps with Roman Reigns as a Champion….
Much love to the entire Samoan family that has entertained us over the many years and will always have a place within sports entertainment.
See you on the mat, enjoy wrestlemania, and thank you Vince for the WWE Network!!!!!
Martin Bryant
