Wild Samoan Afa

AFA "The Wild Samoan" wrestled in the old era of pro wrestling, when heels and faces were not allowed to interact outside of pro wrestling! Since those days, pro wrestling has drastically changed! AFA first won the WWF Tag Team Championship on 4/12/80 with his brother Sika against Ivan Putski and Tito Santana. Their second title reign came on 09/09/80 against Rene Goulet and Tony Garea, and the third and their final title reign came on 03/08/83 against The Strongbow's (Jules and Jay). AFA since retiring all those years ago has been running a pro wrestling school in Allentown, PA and operating his own wrestling federation "WXW". Both of those project's have web pages WildSamoan.com and WXW Wrestling.

The following is an interview with one of the great legends of pro wrestling AFA The Wild Samoan!

CJ: I understand you have a lot of projects you are currently involved in. Give us some information on those project's.

Afa: I just moved my Allentown school into a larger location. I am planning to franchise The Wild Samoan Training Center. I am also doing a book on my life and career, and my wrestling promotion Top Rope Productions Inc., WXW is doing LIVE monthly TV taping shown on Service Electric Cable and Blue Ridge Cable networks here in Allentown PA.

CJ: Now speaking of the school, you have turned out quite a few successful wrestlers over the years! Do any stick out in your mind?

Afa: I am very proud of all of my family and students. My kids have all made names for themselves and have carried on the tradition of becoming champions. I am also proud of all of my students who have worked and trained so hard but have yet to get their break. Some of my students who did go on to great success are: Billy Kidman, Bam Bam Bigelow, Doink the Clown, Luna Vachon, Gangrel, and Sherri Martell.

CJ: Let's put the shoe on the other foot, How did you get in to pro wrestling? Who trained you?

Afa: My late uncle, High Chief Peter Maivia inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Along with his knowledge & skill, I was also trained by Rocky Johnson & Ricky Thompson.

CJ: "The Wild Samoan's" won the WWWF Tag Team Title's three times of course! You dominated the tag team division for quite some time, What was it like to fulfill the dream of being WWF World Tag Team Champion?

Afa: Being a WWF champion has been a dream come true for my brother Sika and me. We came a long way from the Island of Samoa and never dreamed that we could achieve the success that we did. Opening the doors for our family and students has brought me much pride.

CJ: How many family members are currently involved in pro wrestling, as well as the training facilities?

Afa: My brother and partner, Sika. My son's Samu, L.A. Smooth and Afa Jr Sika's son, Matty Smalls Our nephews, the late Yokozuna, Rikishi, Tonga Kid, The Rock, Hamo Bull & Eki Fatu.

CJ: The Rock of course is setting the world on fire with his movie debut, did you happen to see his movie yet? I did, and I personally think it was a very very good movie!

Afa: I did not see the movie yet. My kids did and loved it. I heard lots of great reviews from fans and friends. I know that Duane has great talent and is a good actor, so I am sure that I will enjoy the movie when I do get to see it.

CJ: What are your thoughts on the evolution of the business and how it has changed since the 1970's to the current form (however; I must admit in my opinion the business in the 70's was just as violent as it is today, and the 80's to me de-evolved the business and the WWF "Attitude" and "ECW" styles simply brought wrestling back to its roots of the early 70's and 80's in the Memphis circuit and WWWF days prior to the 80's)?

Afa: I enjoyed the old school style of wrestling. I started my career in the early 1970's and entered the WWF in the early 1980's. I know that things must change with the times but all I can say is that I train my students & run my wrestling promotion similar to the wrestling of the 1980's.

CJ: Do you think the business being exposed as 'entertainment' is good? In your day wrestlers kept that as a 'trade secret' and went to their graves without revealing it!

Afa: This is something that bothers me. In my day the fans would not see the main event having dinner together after the match. We protected the business and each other. Hell, my son Samu was thrown out of more school for protecting my honor. Kids would tell him what a savage, bad guy I was and my son would give them the Samoan drop. I always say if we are entertainment than we should has SAG Union & benefits.

CJ: Do you have any humorous stories from the days on the road?

Afa: I love the stories of life on the road, the friendships I made and people I met along the way. My favorite stories are traveling with my family & brothers family in the early days. I have a book coming out soon, you can read about wrestler's life on the road.

CJ: Where do you see the business going now that WWFE owns both WCW and WWF? This will be interesting to watch. Do you think this is a good thing for the business or a bad thing?

Afa: Its good for the promoter but not the boys. Our business is a hard one because you are limited on where you can go, now if you are not WWF there is nowhere to go.

CJ: What was Vince McMahon like to work with past, present, and future?

Afa: Vince is an excellent businessman. He has an eye for talent and has always been good to my self and family.

CJ: The last subject I want to touch upon is Yokozuna. He was a guy that busted his ass night in and night out and worked his way up from the AWA to the WWF. When he made it to the WWF there were a lot of people that did not think he would make it, and laughed. They said he would never be any thing outside of midcard filler. He proved them all wrong and became the WWF World Heavyweight Champion on a number of different occasions! It was certainly one of the saddest days for myself when I learned of his passing. And I certainly extend my best wishes to his family, and to your family for your loss. My question has to do about the man behind the WWF persona. Can you relate any stories about Rodney for our fans?

Afa: It was a very sad day for all of us when we lost my nephew. I was especially close to him. In his teenage years Rodney came to live with me while Sika and I trained him. My wife and I are the Godparents of his two children. Rodney was a great athletic and for a man of his size he could move like a cruiserweight. He was a very loving, loyal family man and would give anyone the shirt off his back.

CJ: Well, Thank you very much for the interview! I truly appreciate the time you took out of your busy schedule and hope everything goes well with you. Keep me up to date on the book! Again thank you Afa!

Afa: Thanks for the interview. Afa "The Wild Samoan"