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Pro wrestling legend Afa Anoa’i died this week, his family announced.
He was 81.
His daughter, Vale Anoa’i, confirmed the news on X, writing, “Today, all of our lives are irreparably changed. I love you so much, Dad. More than any words could ever express.”
Anoa’i and his brother Sika — who died in June at 79 years old — were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
As the Wild Samoans, they won the WWE Tag Team titles on three occasions in the early 1980s.
Afa was the uncle of the current face of WWE, Roman Reigns, who returned this month on air at SummerSlam after having the longest WWE title run in the modern era.
Sika was the father to Reigns, as well as former WWE standout Rosey (Matt Anoa’i), who passed away at 47 in 2017.
Many reacted to the news, including Reigns, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H, long-time wrestler and former WWE Women’s Champion Natayla.
“Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana’i Anoa’i,” Reigns said on X. “We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace.”
He later added, “Rest in Power Wild Samoans.”
Anoa’i wasn’t only known for his WWE run, but with Sika, the Wild Samoans won tag team titles across 12 different promotions, including the Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Championships, which they won multiple times and held for a record 407 combined days.
