Professional wrestling boasts many famous families, but none have had the extensive impact and legacy of the Anoaʻi family. For generations, this Samoan dynasty has produced some of the most iconic and recognizable names in sports entertainment. From tag team champions to world titleholders, and even Hollywood megastars, the Anoaʻi family tree is rich with wrestling royalty.
Believe it or not, the world of professional wrestling is deeply intertwined with genealogy, where family legacies are as important as in-ring prowess. Just like historical family trees, wrestling dynasties showcase generations of talent, with skills and showmanship passed down through bloodlines – and sometimes, through bonds just as strong. While families like the Ortons, Harts, and Von Erichs are wrestling institutions, the Anoaʻi family’s influence is unparalleled, creating a sprawling family tree that has shaped the very landscape of the sport.
To truly understand the magnitude of their contribution, consider this: within the ranks of WWF/WWE alone, the Anoaʻi family boasts an astonishing collection of accolades:
- Six Hall of Fame members cementing their legendary status.
- Thirty-Five tag team championships demonstrating their dominance in team competition.
- Sixteen World Championships highlighting their individual supremacy.
- Three Royal Rumble victories, showcasing their ability to triumph in chaotic, high-stakes environments.
- Six Intercontinental Championships, underscoring their mid-card excellence.
- One United States Championship, representing national pride and competitive spirit.
- One North American Championship, marking their reach across continents.
Two names instantly resonate with anyone familiar with wrestling: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Leati Joseph “Roman Reigns” Anoaʻi. These third-generation superstars are often cited as cousins, a fact widely accepted. However, the relationship is nuanced, stemming from the sacred Samoan tradition of blood brotherhood between their grandfathers, Amituanai Anoaʻi and High Chief Peter Maivia. This bond, while not biological, is profoundly significant in Samoan culture, effectively making the Maivia family a branch of the expansive Anoaʻi family tree.
Adding another layer to this fascinating family history is the fact that High Chief Peter Maivia was not the biological father of The Rock’s mother, Ata Maivia. Ata was Peter Maivia’s stepdaughter, adopted and raised as his own. This adoptive connection, deeply respected and honored, further solidifies the interwoven nature of these two wrestling families.
dwayne-the-rock-johnson
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, third-generation Anoa’i family wrestler, electrifies the crowd at WWE Wrestlemania 28 in 2012.
First Generation: The Pillars of the Dynasty
The Anoaʻi wrestling dynasty begins with two patriarchs: Reverend Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi (1914-1994) and “High Chief” Peter Maivia (1936-1982).
Reverend Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi, born in American Samoa in 1914, was a carpenter who later settled in San Diego. While not a wrestler himself, his lineage became the bedrock of the wrestling family. Standing at 5’7” and weighing 239 pounds, he certainly possessed a wrestler’s build, but his contribution was through his descendants.
“High Chief” Peter Maivia, born Fanene Pita Anderson in American Samoa in 1936, was a true wrestling pioneer. He wrestled globally, from New Zealand and England to the United States, Asia, and Europe. He even promoted wrestling in Hawaii and became a major attraction in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Maivia married Ofelia Fuataga and raised her daughter Ata. After Peter’s untimely death in 1982, Ofelia became one of wrestling’s first female promoters, continuing his legacy. Peter trained Wayde Douglas Bowles, later known as “Soulman” Rocky Johnson, who married Ata Maivia, further intertwining the families.
Second Generation: Forging a Wrestling Legacy
Reverend Amituanaʻi Anoaʻi and his wife Tovaleomanaia Leoso had nine children, with two sons becoming wrestlers and three others becoming parents of wrestlers. This prolific output solidified the Anoaʻi name in wrestling. His sons Afa and Sika Anoaʻi, born in 1942 and 1945 respectively, became the legendary tag team, The Wild Samoans. Trained by their uncle Peter Maivia and cousin-in-law Rocky Johnson, Afa and Sika embodied a ferocious, unforgettable wrestling style.
Other children of Rev. Amituanaʻi also contributed to the wrestling world. Tumua Anoaʻi became the father of wrestler Black Pearl. Afoa Anoaʻi, born in 1942, fathered Rodney Anoaʻi, who became the colossal WWF Champion Yokozuna. Elevera Anoaʻi married Iʻaulualo Folau Solofa Fatu Sr. and became the mother of the renowned Fatu wrestling family, demonstrating the branching nature of the Anoa’i family tree.
Ata Maivia, Peter Maivia’s stepdaughter, represents the Maivia branch of the family. Her marriage to Rocky Johnson connected the Anoa’i and Maivia families even further. Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia were tag team partners, and it was during this period that Rocky and Ata’s relationship blossomed. They welcomed Dwayne Johnson in 1972, setting the stage for a global phenomenon.
Third Generation: Superstars and World Champions
The third generation propelled the Anoaʻi family to unprecedented heights of fame and success. Tumua Anoaʻi’s son, Reno Anoaʻi, wrestled as Black Pearl. Afa Anoaʻi’s sons, Samula “Samu” Anoaʻi and Afa “Manu” Jr., continued the family legacy in the ring. Samu achieved tag team success as one half of the Headshrinkers.
Afoa Anoaʻi’s son, Rodney “Yokozuna” Anoaʻi, became a dominant force. Despite his Samoan heritage, Yokozuna was presented as a Japanese sumo wrestler, highlighting wrestling’s theatrical storytelling. He captured the WWF Championship twice, demonstrating the family’s ability to reach the very top of the industry.
Leati “Sika” Anoaʻi’s sons, Matthew “Rosey” Anoaʻi and Leati Joseph “Roman Reigns” Anoaʻi, further solidified the dynasty’s dominance. Rosey won tag team gold, while Roman Reigns achieved unparalleled success, holding the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship for an extended period, becoming the face of modern WWE.
Elevera Anoaʻi and Iʻaulualo Folau Solofa Fatu Sr.’s sons, Samuel “Tama/Tonga Kid” Fatu, Solofa “Rikishi” Fatu, and Edward “Umaga” Fatu, expanded the family’s reach. Rikishi, inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, and Umaga both achieved Intercontinental Championship success. Samuel Fatu’s son, Jacob Fatu, continues the legacy today.
Rikishi, a third-generation Anoa’i family member, inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, showcasing the family’s lasting impact.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, son of Rocky Johnson and Ata Maivia, transcends wrestling. His accolades within WWE are staggering: eight WWE Championships, two WCW Championships, two WWE Intercontinental Championships, five WWE Tag Team Championships, and a Royal Rumble victory. Beyond wrestling, The Rock became a global movie star, making him arguably the most famous member of the Anoa’i family and one of the most recognizable people in the world. Despite the non-biological link, his place within the Anoa’i family tree is firmly established.
Fourth Generation: The Bloodline and Beyond
The fourth generation continues to make waves in WWE. Rikishi’s sons, Jonathan “Jimmy Uso” Fatu, Joshua “Jey Uso” Fatu, and Joseph “Solo Sikoa” Fatu, known as The Usos and Solo Sikoa, have become central figures in modern WWE. They formed The Bloodline faction with Roman Reigns, highlighting their shared family heritage and Samoan pride, becoming one of the most dominant and compelling storylines in recent wrestling history.
The Rock’s daughter, Simone “Ava” Johnson, is also forging her path in WWE’s NXT brand, becoming the first fourth-generation Anoa’i family member in WWE. Savelina “Nia Jax” Fanene, a distant relative, also competes in WWE, further illustrating the family’s widespread influence.
Conclusion: A Lasting Wrestling Dynasty
The Anoaʻi family’s four generations of wrestling success are unmatched. Their complex family tree, filled with both biological and culturally significant connections, provides a fascinating case study in family dynamics and legacy. More than just wrestlers, the Anoaʻi family embodies a dynasty, their impact on professional wrestling deeply woven into the fabric of the sport. Their story is a testament to family, tradition, and the enduring power of the wrestling world.
Notes
1 California, U.S., San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895-1985, H· F· Suhr Company, February 1969, Case No. 27743, Ancestry.com.
2 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Anoai Amituanai, SSN: 575285024, Ancestry.com.
3 “Amituanai, Tovale Anoai (Ripley)” San Francisco Examiner, 7 October 1988, pg. 26.
4 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991, Muliaiga Anoai Faamaile, Petition Number: 149641, Ancestry.com.
5 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991, Amituanai Anoai, Petition Number: 153736, Ancestry.com.
6 Anoai Household, Leone, Lealataua, American Samoa, 1950 United States Census, Roll: 6289; Page: 29a; Enumeration District: 3-1a, Ancestry.com.
7 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files,1944-2003, Amituanai Anoai, Registration Number: 012651094, Ancestry.com.
8 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991, Amituanai Anoai, Petition Number: 153736, Ancestry.com.
9 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Petelo Fanene, SSN: 576066496, Ancestry.com.
10 “High Chief Peter Maivia, Wrestling Promoter, Dies” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 15 June 1982, pg. 3.
11 “Peter Maivia” Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 16 June 1982, pg. 78.
12 U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1, Afa A Anoai Sr, Ancestry.com.
13 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991, Leati Anoai, Petition Number: 153737, Ancestry.com.
14 Biography, The Wild Samoans, WWE.com.
15 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Junior Amituanai Anoai Jr, SSN: 557625873, Ancestry.com.
16 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991, Initalia Anoai, Petition Number: 153741, Ancestry.com.
17 California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991, Peteroni Anoai, Petition Number: 153736, Ancestry.com.
18 The Rock, The Rock Says, (Harper Collins, New York, 2000), pg. 7.
19 The Rock, The Rock Says, (Harper Collins, New York, 2000), pg. 10.
20 Oliver, Greg, “DNA Says These Five Strangers Were All Fathered by the Same Wrestler—and The Rock Is Their Half Brother” Sports Illustrated, 30 June 2022.
21 Sutter, Frederic Koehler, The Samoans: A Global Family, (University of Hawaii Press, 1989), pg. 195.
