Monday, August 24, 2009

Rodney Anoa'i

Rodney Agatupu Anoa'i (October 2, 1966 – October 23, 2000)[5] was a Samoan-American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Federation 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, Anoa'i had never competed as an actual sumotori. Though Yokozuna wrestled as a representative of Japan, he was of Samoan origin and was accordingly billed as hailing from Polynesia (although he was managed by Mr. Fuji, who would follow Anoa'i to the ring with a wooden bucket of salt, and waving a Japanese flag).[1]

In WWF, Anoa'i was a former two-time WWF Champion[6] and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion,[7] as well as the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble.[8] Anoa'i was the first wrestler of Samoan descent to hold the WWF Championship as well as the first Royal Rumble winner to receive a world title shot at WrestleMania, as a result of direct stipulation.

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