Wrestling Star Afa Anoa'i Dies at 81

Pro wrestling icon Afa Anoa’i has died at the age of 81, as confirmed by his daughter, Vale Anoa’i, on social media platform X. She expressed her profound grief, stating, “Today, all of our lives are irreparably changed. I love you so much, Dad. More than any words could ever express.” Afa, alongside his brother Sika, who passed away in June, made significant contributions to the wrestling world, being inducted into both the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012. The Anoa’i brothers, known as the Wild Samoans, were a formidable tag team in the early 1980s, capturing the WWE Tag Team titles three times. Afa was also the uncle of current WWE superstar Roman Reigns, who recently made a return to the ring after an impressive title run. Reigns shared his sorrow on X, acknowledging the loss of his uncle and expressing gratitude for the support from fans and the wrestling community. Reactions to Afa's passing poured in from various figures in the wrestling industry, including WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H and former WWE Women’s Champion Natalya. Reigns honored his uncle's legacy, stating, “Rest in Power Wild Samoans.” Beyond WWE, Afa and Sika's impact extended across multiple promotions, where they held tag team titles, including a record-setting reign in the NWA World Tag Team Championships.