If you are a fan of WWE, you might have heard of the Anoa’i family, one of the most influential and successful families in pro-wrestling history. Many WWE legends and superstars belong to this family, such as The Rock, Rikishi, The Usos, Umaga, and of course, the current Universal Champion, Roman Reigns. But did you know that another WWE legend, Yokozuna, was also related to Roman Reigns? In this article, we will explore the surprising truth about the relationship between Yokozuna and Roman Reigns, and how they are connected to the Anoa’i family.
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Who was Yokozuna?
Yokozuna was one of the most dominant and iconic wrestlers in WWE history. He debuted in 1992 as a sumo wrestler from Japan, although he was actually born in San Francisco, California. He quickly rose to the top of the WWE, winning the Royal Rumble in 1993 and defeating Bret Hart for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania IX. He also defeated Hulk Hogan for the title at King of the Ring 1993, becoming one of the few wrestlers to pin Hogan cleanly.
Yokozuna was known for his massive size and strength, as well as his signature move, the Banzai Drop, where he would crush his opponents with his 600-pound body from the top rope. He had memorable feuds with stars like The Undertaker, Lex Luger, Shawn Michaels, and Diesel. He was also part of a stable called Camp Cornette, led by his manager Jim Cornette, along with Owen Hart and The British Bulldog.
Yokozuna’s career declined in the late 1990s due to his weight issues and health problems. He left WWE in 1998 and wrestled in independent promotions until his death in 2000 at the age of 34. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012 by his cousins The Usos.
Yokozuna was Roman Reigns’ cousin. Specifically, Yokozuna was the son of Roman Reigns’ uncle Junior Anoa’i, making him Reigns’ first cousin. Junior Anoa’i was also a wrestler who competed as Kokina Maximus in Japan and Puerto Rico. He was the brother of Sika Anoa’i, who is Roman Reigns’ father and one half of the legendary tag team The Wild Samoans with his brother Afa Anoa’i.
Roman Reigns and Yokozuna are both part of the Anoa’i family, a large family of Samoan wrestlers who have made a huge impact on the wrestling industry. The family traces its roots to Reverend Amituana’i Anoa’i and Peter Maivia, who were blood brothers and regarded each other as family. Peter Maivia was also The Rock’s grandfather and married Lia Maivia, who became a wrestling promoter after Peter’s death.
The Anoa’i family includes many other famous wrestlers besides Yokozuna and Roman Reigns, such as:
- The Rock: The son of Rocky Johnson and Ata Maivia (Peter’s daughter), he is one of the biggest stars in WWE and Hollywood history. He is Roman Reigns’ second cousin.
- Rikishi: The son of Solofa Fatu Sr., he is Yokozuna’s brother and Roman Reigns’ first cousin. He is best known for his stink face move and being part of Too Cool with Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay.
- Umaga: The son of Solofa Fatu Sr., he is Yokozuna’s brother and Roman Reigns’ first cousin. He was a dominant heel who feuded with John Cena, Triple H, and Jeff Hardy.
- The Usos: The sons of Rikishi, they are Yokozuna’s nephews and Roman Reigns’ second cousins. They are one of the best tag teams in WWE history and currently aligned with Roman Reigns as part of The Bloodline.
- Nia Jax: The daughter of Joseph Fanene (Peter’s first cousin), she is The Rock’s second cousin once removed and Roman Reigns’ distant relative. She is a former Raw Women’s Champion and Women’s Tag Team Champion.
- Naomi: The wife of Jimmy Uso (Rikishi’s son), she is Yokozuna’s niece-in-law and Roman Reigns’ second cousin-in-law. She is a former SmackDown Women’s Champion and known for her glow-in-the-dark entrance.
What is the legacy of Yokozuna and Roman Reigns?
Yokozuna and Roman Reigns are both examples of how the Anoa’i family has produced some of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Yokozuna was a trailblazer who broke stereotypes and became a main event star in WWE. He was a two-time WWE Champion, a two-time Tag Team Champion, and a Royal Rumble winner. He is widely regarded as one of the best big men in wrestling history and a legend of the business.
Roman Reigns is the current face of WWE and the leader of The Bloodline. He is a four-time WWE Champion, a two-time Universal Champion, a one-time United States Champion, a one-time Intercontinental Champion, a one-time Tag Team Champion, and a Royal Rumble winner. He has headlined WrestleMania six times and defeated some of the biggest names in WWE, such as John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Edge, and The Undertaker. He is one of the most successful and popular wrestlers of his generation and a future Hall of Famer.
Yokozuna and Roman Reigns are both proud members of the Anoa’i family and have honored their heritage and legacy with their achievements and performances. They are both inspirations for many wrestlers and fans around the world and have shown that the Anoa’i family is truly the royal family of wrestling.
