The Wild Samoans
The Wild Samoans was the tag team of Afa and Sika in Mid-South Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The Samoans held 21 tag team championships around the world.
World Wrestling Federation
In the early 1980s, the Wild Samoans joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). They made their Madison Square Garden debut on January 21, 1980 in a WWF Tag Team Championship match against Tito Santana and Ivan Putski, who retained their title. In the upcoming months, both men became contenders for Bob Backlund's WWF Championship, but neither man won the gold. They, however, won their first championship in the WWF, the tag team championship, by defeating Santana and Putski on April 12, 1980. They reigned as champions for approximately five months, until dropping the title to Backlund and Pedro Morales in a two out of three falls match at Showdown at Shea. Because Backlund was already the reigning WWF Champion, the team had to forfeit the title, and a tournament was held to crown new tag champions. On September 8, 1980, the Wild Samoans defeated Tony Garea and Rene Goulet in the tournament finals to win the title. Their reign lasted for one month, until they lost to Garea and his new partner, Rick Martel. The Wild Samoans feuded with the champions for the rest of the year, but they were not able to recapture the gold.
Return to the World Wrestling Federation
The Wild Samoans eventually ended up back in the World Wrestling Federation with their former manager Capt. Lou Albano. Afa and Sika began their third WWF Tag Team Championship reign on March 8, 1983 by defeating Chief Jay and Jules Strongbow. In a rematch on March 19, they were also victorious. Also during this time, while feuding with Rocky Johnson, Jimmy Snuka, and André the Giant, the duo added Afa's son Samula to their team, first as a replacement for Sika when he got hurt, then as their backup upon his return. They lost their tag team title to the team of Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas on November 15.During the match, Albano tried to interfere on the Samoans behalf by attempting to hit Johnson over the head with a chair. He accidentally hit Sika instead, however, and Atlas covered him for the win. The duo eventually left the WWF in 1984. In 1987 Sika reappeared briefly in the WWF, now managed by Mr. Fuji, performing both in singles competetition and as a tag team (partnered with Kamala. Kamala and Sika's biggest match as a tag team was a loss to the Can-Am Connection on Superstars of Wrestling. Sika also participated in the invitational battle royal that opened Wrestle mania IV. He was the second one eliminated, however.
Post-tag team careers
Both men went on to have successful careers, both as singles wrestlers and managers. During the 1990s, Afa Anoa'i opened the Wild Samoans Training Center, and the school's graduates include Paul Orndorff, Junkyard Dog, Sherri Martel, Michael P.S. Hayes, Yokozuna, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Batista. They also promote live wrestling shows under the WXW banner. In 2007, on the eve of WrestleMania 23, the Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. They were inducted by their sons Samula and Matt Anoa'i.
Return to the World Wrestling Federation
The Wild Samoans eventually ended up back in the World Wrestling Federation with their former manager Capt. Lou Albano. Afa and Sika began their third WWF Tag Team Championship reign on March 8, 1983 by defeating Chief Jay and Jules Strongbow. In a rematch on March 19, they were also victorious. Also during this time, while feuding with Rocky Johnson, Jimmy Snuka, and André the Giant, the duo added Afa's son Samula to their team, first as a replacement for Sika when he got hurt, then as their backup upon his return.
They lost their tag team title to the team of Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas on November 15. During the match, Albano tried to interfere on the Samoans behalf by attempting to hit Johnson over the head with a chair. He accidentally hit Sika instead, however, and Atlas covered him for the win. The duo eventually left the WWF in 1984.
In 1987 Sika reappeared briefly in the WWF, now managed by Mr. Fuji, performing both in singles competetition and as a tag team (partnered with Kamala. Kamala and Sika's biggest match as a tag team was a loss to the Can-Am Connection on Superstars of Wrestling. Sika also participated in the invitational battle royal that opened Wrestlemania IV. He was the second one eliminated, however.
Post-tag team careers
Both men went on to have successful careers, both as singles wrestlers and managers.During the 1990s, Afa Anoa'i opened the Wild Samoans Training Center, and the school's graduates include Paul Orndorff, Junkyard Dog, Sherri Martel, Michael P.S. Hayes, Yokozuna, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Batista. They also promote live wrestling shows under the WXW banner. In 2007, on the eve of WrestleMania 23, the Wild Samoans were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. They were inducted by their sons Samula and Matt Anoa'i.
