WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa’i passes away at 81
Afa Anoa’i — WWE legend and a vital member of one of pro wrestling’s greatest dynasties — passed away on Friday at 81 years old.
The WWE Hall of Famer had been battling for his life after entering hospice care recently. Today, Afa’s death was announced by his family. “It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of my father Afa Anoai Sr. It was a peaceful transition and he was surrounded by loved ones,” his son Samu wrote. “Please respect our privacy as we morn our father.”
Afa suffered two heart attacks this January while battling pneumonia. He then underwent multiple back surgeries after suffering a broken back in a fall that happened in March.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Afa and his younger brother Sika were a top act in the WWF as The Wild Samoans. They held the WWF Tag Team titles three times. In 2007, they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Sika passed away at 79 years old this June.
Afa was a wrestling trainer after the end of his in-ring career and operated the indie promotion World Xtreme Wrestling.
Though both Wild Samoans have now departed, their legacy lives on through their Bloodline family. Afa & Sika last appeared on WWE programming when they congratulated Sika’s son Roman Reigns on his victory over Jey Uso at Hell in a Cell 2020.
Reigns posted the following tribute:
Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana’i Anoa’i. We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola’ivao Leati Sika Anoa’I were loving brothers, the greatest tag team of their generation, and now they’re reunited together in heaven.
Rest in Power Wild Samoans.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque wrote:
Afa was devoted to his family, dominant in the ring, and dedicated to building future generations of @WWE Superstars. My thoughts are with the entire Anoa’i family as we remember the legendary Afa.