vivekwwe.com legendry status awarded on : 2001 

Real Name:Rodney Agatupu Anoa'i 

Ring name(s)

Great Kokina
Kokina Maximus
Mr. Sumo
Wild Samoan Kokina
Yokozuna
Billed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight 660 lb (300 kg)
Born October 2, 1966
San Francisco, CA, U.S.
Died October 23, 2000 (age 34)
Moat House Hotel, Liverpool
Billed from Japan
Polynesian Islands
Trained by Afa Anoa'i
Debut 1984

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.

In 1992, Anoa'i was contacted by Vince McMahon of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was offered a new gimmick: Yokozuna. Managed by Harry Fujiwara (Mr. Fuji), Yokozuna debuted in October 1992, and was announced as a sumo wrestler competing under the Japanese flag.His first notable victory came at Survivor Series 1992, when he squashed the much smaller Virgil.Soon, Yokozuna's career took off, and he headed into 1993's Royal Rumble billed as a potential favorite. He eliminated Randy Savage to win the Rumble, cementing his movement towards main event status.

WWF Championship reigns (1993-1994)

At WrestleMania IX, Yokozuna faced off against Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. Hart had the match won with Yokozuna about to submit to the Sharpshooter, when Mr. Fuji threw salt into the champion's face. Blinded, Hart was then pinned by Yokozuna, who won the WWF Championship, causing a major upset, and officially making Yokozuna the seventeenth WWF Champion, He was the youngest champion that time. He lost his title immdeiately to Hulk Hogan.

At King of the Ring 1993 he reclaimed his title back from Hulk Hogan.To celebrate, he held a "Bodyslam Competition" aboard the USS Intrepid on Independence Day. Many wrestlers and athletes alike tried to slam Yokozuna, with no success. As Yokozuna thought that there would be none left to challenge him, Lex Luger flew in by helicopter, stepped forward, and slammed him on the deck.

At SummerSlam 1993, Yokozuna Lost the title match to Lex Lugar via countout and hence didnot lose his belt.Yokozuna and Luger continued to feud until Survivor Series 1993, where each chose a team of allies for an elimination match. The match was billed as an All Americans (Lex Luger, The Undertaker and Steiner Brothers) vs. Foreign Fanatics (Yokozuna, Quebecer Jacques, Ludvig Borga and Crush) contest.

okozuna was forced to accept a Casket match with The Undertaker. The match occurred at Royal Rumble 1994, where all the odds looked to be in the Undertaker's favor.However, after a lengthy match, Mr. Fuji called out the troops, bringing a dozen heel wrestlers out to aid Yokozuna in attacking the Undertaker.Yoko won the casket match by locking Undertaker inside the casket.

Later, in the actual 1994 Royal Rumble match, the last two competitors, Lex Luger and Bret Hart, fought and eliminated each other simultaneously. Since the winner of the Royal Rumble was to become the number one contender to Yokozuna's title, it was decided that both wrestlers would get a shot at the title at WrestleMania X.Yokozuna lost the title to Hitman after he fell out from the ropes and be counted out.

espite being a fearsome and ruthless competitor on camera, he was regarded by many of his peers and fellow superstars to be a genuinely friendly and heartwarming man who was a true professional in the ring. Superstars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, and Hulk Hogan have spoken highly of Anoa'i in various interviews about his professionalism in and outside the ring. Anoa'i was also close friends with The Undertaker, despite their on screen rivalry.

On October 23, 2000, Anoa'i died of fluid in his lungs while in his room at the Moat House Hotel, Liverpool. It was widely reported that his death was caused by a heart attack or heart failure. Anoa'i Died at the weight of over 600 pounds.

WWF Championship (2 times)
WWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) with Owen Hart
Royal Rumble (1993) winner.

vivekwwe.com salutes the legend, long live his legacy.

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