Rodney Agatupu Anoaʻi (October 2, 1966 – October 23, 2000) was a Samoan American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he wrestled under the ring name Yokozuna. The term yokozuna refers to the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling in Japan. Although the "Yokozuna" character was portrayed as a champion sumo wrestler, Anoaʻi never competed as an actual sumotori. Though Yokozuna wrestled as a representative of Japan, in real life Anoaʻi was Samoan American and was accordingly billed as hailing from Polynesia. However, he was managed by the Japanese character Mr. Fuji (in reality a Japanese American), who would follow Anoaʻi to the ring with a wooden bucket of salt, and waving a Japanese flag.In the WWF, Anoaʻi was a two-time WWF Champion and two-time Tag Team Champion (with Owen Hart), as well as the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble. Anoa'i was the first wrestler of Samoan descent to hold the WWF Championship as well as the first Royal Rumble winner who as a result of a direct stipulation received a world title shot at WrestleMania. He defeated WWE Hall of Famers Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan, in consecutive pay-per-view victories in the main event of WrestleMania IX and the 1993 King of the Ring, to win his two WWF Championships, and also headlined WrestleMania X against Hart. Anoaʻi was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.
October 2, 1966, San Francisco, California, United States
Died
October 23, 2000, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Place Of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA
Height
6' 4" (1.93 m)
Weight
290.8 kg
Profession
Actor
Nationality
American
Spouse
Monica Anoa'i
Children
Justin Anoa'i, Keilani Anoa'i
Movies
WWE: Survivor Series 1992, WWE: SummerSlam 1993, WWE: Survivor Series 1995
TV Shows
AWA All-Star Wrestling
Star Sign
Libra
#
Trademark
1
The Banzai Drop
#
Fact
1
WWE Hall of Famer.
2
In the AWA, he wrestled as Kokina Maximus, managed by Adnan Al-Kaissy. In Japan he used the Great Kokina gimmick.
3
Was the first Royal Rumble Winner in 1993 to face the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania.
4
Is the brother of former WWE superstar Rosey (Matt Anoai).
5
One day in the ring, he broke his leg in action. However, due to his weight a stretcher couldn't carry him out of the arena. They had to bring out a forklift to remove him from the arena.
6
A parallel can be made from him to another famous Yoko, Yoko Ono. While many argue that she helped destroy Beatlemania, it has been argued that Yokozuna helped to destroy Hulkamania. He defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWE championship in 1993, ending Hogan tenure in the WWE.
7
Was revealed as Owen Hart's "mystery parter" for Hart's tag team match at WrestleMania XI (1995).
8
Lost the WWF Championship only 2 minutes and 7 seconds after winning it.
Weighed between 500-550 pounds during his prime, was rumored to top 700 lbs. at the time of his death.
11
Former WWF World Champion & Tag Team Champion.
12
Professional wrestler.
13
Is a descendant of an extensive family of Samoan professional wrestlers, including Dwayne Johnson (aka "The Rock"), Solofa Fatu Jr. (aka "Rikishi"), Afa, Sika, Samu & Matt Anoai (aka "Rosey").
14
Became the first Samoan to win the WWF World Championship.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Heroes of Wrestling
1999
TV Movie
The Former Yokozuna
Aar Ya Paar
1997
Yokozuna (uncredited)
WWF Slammy Awards 1997
1997
Video
Yokozuna
The Mirror Has Two Faces
1996
Sumo Wrestler on TV (uncredited)
WXW Rage TV
1996
TV Series
Wild Samoan Kokina (1996)
WWF Superstars
1992-1996
TV Series
Yokozuna
WWF: U.K. Fan Favorites
1995
Video
Yokozuna
WWF Action Zone
1994
TV Series
Yokozuna
WWF Challenge
1992-1994
TV Series
Yokozuna
Summerslam
1993
Video
Yokozuna
WWF: Smack 'Em Whack 'Em
1993
Video
Yokozuna
King of the Ring
1993
Video
Yokozuna
WrestleMania IX
1993
Video
Yokozuna
WWF Mania
1993
TV Series
Yokozuna
WWF Prime-Time Wrestling
1992
TV Series
Yokozuna
L'homme au masque d'or
1991
L'Hawaïen
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Survivor Series
1996
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWE Raw
1993-1996
TV Series
Yokozuna
WWF in Your House: Beware of Dog
1996
TV Special
Yokozuna
WrestleMania XII
1996
TV Special
Yokozuna
In Your House 6
1996
TV Special
Yokozuna
Royal Rumble
1996
TV Special
Yokozuna
Survivor Series
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWF in Your House 4
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWF in Your House 3
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWF in Your House 2
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
King of the Ring
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWF in Your House
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
WrestleMania XI
1995
TV Special
Yokozuna
Survivor Series
1994
TV Special
Yokozuna
King of the Ring
1994
TV Special
Yokozuna
WrestleMania X
1994
TV Special
Yokozuna
Royal Rumble
1994
TV Special
Yokozuna
Survivor Series
1993
TV Special
Yokozuna- The Foreign Fanatics
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
TV Series
Himself
Royal Rumble
1993
TV Special
Yokozuna
Survivor Series
1992
TV Special
Yokozuna
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Owen: Hart of Gold
2015
Video documentary
Yokozuna
WWE Hall of Fame
2015
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWE Royal Rumble
2015
TV Special
Yokozuna
True Giants
2014
Yokozuna
WWE Royal Rumble
2014
TV Special
Yokozuna
WWE: Raw 20th Anniversary Collection
2013
Video
Yokozuna
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment
2013
Video documentary
Yokozuna
WWE 2k14
2013
Video Game
Yokozuna
Bret Hitman Hart: The Dungeon Collection
2013
Video
Yokozuna
WWE Saturday Morning Slam
2012
TV Series
Yokozuna
The 50 Greatest Finishing Moves in WWE History
2012
Video
Yokozuna
WWE Hall of Fame 2012
2012
TV Special
Yokozuna
Best of King of the Ring
2011
Video
Yokozuna
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
Video
Yokozuna
WWE Raw
2000-2010
TV Series
Yokozuna
Raw: The Beginning - The Best of Seasons 1 & 2
2010
Video
Yokozuna
WWE: John Morrison - Rock Star
2010
Video
Yokozuna
WWE: Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
2009
Video
Yokozuna
WWE: Greatest Stars of the '90s
2009
Video
Yokozuna
WWE Legends of WrestleMania
2009
Video Game
Yokozuna
WWE: Twist of Fate - The Matt and Jeff Hardy Story
2008
Video
Yokozuna
The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin
2008
Video
Yokozuna
The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling
2007
Video
Yokozuna
Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006
Video
Himself (as Yokozuna)
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
2006
Video
Yokozuna
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
2006
Video documentary
Yokozuna
The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be