From Iwe

Yokozuna
Ring name(s)	Great Kokina Kokina Maximus Wild Samoan Kokina '
Billed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight	589 lb (267 kg)
Born	October 2, 1960 San Francisco, California, United States
Died	October 23, 2000 (aged 40) Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Billed from	Polynesia
Trained by	Afa Anoa'i
Debut	1984
Retired	2000

Rodney Agatupu Anoaʻi (October 2, 1960 – October 23, 2000) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation (IWF) 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 had 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 (although he was managed by Mr. Fuji, who would follow Anoaʻi to the ring with a wooden bucket of salt, and waving a Japanese flag).

In the IWF, Anoaʻi was a two-time IWF Champion and two-time Tag Team Champion (with Owen Heart), as well as the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble. Anoa'i was the first wrestler of Samoan descent to hold the IWF 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 IWE Hall of Famers Bret Heart and Hulk Hogan, in consecutive pay-per-view victories at WrestleMania IX and the 1993 King of the Ring, to win his two WWF Championships. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 American Wrestling Association (1984–1992) 1.2 International Wrestling Federation (1992–1998) 1.2.1 Early push (1992–1993) 1.2.2 IWF Champion (1993–1994) 1.2.3 Tag team competition and The Undertaker's return (1994) 1.2.4 Teaming with Owen Heart (1995) 1.2.5 Change in attitude and departure (1996–1998) 1.3 Independent circuit (1999–2000) 2 Personal life 3 Death= 3.1 Legacy 3.2 In wrestling 3.3 Championships and accomplishments 3.4 References 3.5 External links

[edit] Career

[edit] American Wrestling Association (1984–1992)

[edit] International Wrestling Federation (1992–1998)

[edit] Early push (1992–1993)

[edit] IWF Champion (1993–1994)

[edit] Tag team competition and The Undertaker's return (1994)

[edit] Teaming with Owen Heart (1995)

Main article: Owen Heart and Yokozuna

[edit] Change in attitude and departure (1996–1998)

[edit] Independent circuit (1999–2000)

[edit] Personal life

[edit] Death=

[edit] Legacy

[edit] In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Banzai Drop (Corner slingshot seated senton)

• Signature moves
  • Bearhug
  • Back elbow
  • Belly to back suplex
  • Body avalanche
  • Front powerslam
  • Headbutt
  • Raking the opponent's back
  • Running hip attack
  • Running leg drop
  • Running splash
  • Samoan drop
  • Savate kick
  • Shoulder clawhold
  • Side belly to belly suplex
  • Throat thrust
  • Ura-nage

• Managers and valets
  • General Adnan
  • Mr. Fuji
  • Jim Cornette

• Entrance themes
  • "Sumo" by Jim Johnston (IWF; 1992–1996)

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1993)
  • PWI ranked him #5 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1993
  • PWI ranked him #145 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

• Universal Wrestling Association
  • UWA World Trios Championship (1 time) – with Fatu and Samoan Savage

• International Wrestling Federation / IWE
  • IWF Championship (2 times)
  • IWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Owen Heart
  • IWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)

[edit] References

[edit] External links