Sika Anoa’i, a WWE Hall of Famer and father to Roman Reigns, reportedly died at 79 years old. The news was confirmed by his nephew, Jahrus Anoa’i.
The announcement was made on Instagram by Jahrus, who stated, “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Former Hall of Famer Polaivao Leati Sika Anoa’i. He passed away peacefully on June 25th. Sika was a celebrated figure whose contributions and legacy have left an indelible mark. His memory will live on through his achievements and the many lives he touched.”
Belonging to the renowned Anoa’i family from American Samoa, Sika Anoa’i gained fame in the late 1970s when he and his brother Afa, known as The Wild Samoans, made their mark in WWE, then the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The Wild Samoans were notorious for their disheveled look and unconventional tactics.
The Wild Samoans started their WWF journey in 1979 and clinched their first World Tag Team Championship in April 1980. They held the titles three times until their last reign in 1983. Post-retirement from active competition in the late 1980s, Sika Anoa’i took up a training role, mentoring several stars like Yokozuna, Rikishi, and Batista at The Wild Samoan Training Center, which he and his brother Afa founded.
Sika’s sons, Matthew and Joseph Anoa’i, have carried forward his wrestling legacy. Matthew, known by his ring name Rosey, had a brief career with WWE before his death in 2017. Joseph, popularly known as Roman Reigns, has been a dominant figure in WWE since 2012. Reigns held the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for 1,316 days, marking one of the longest reigns in WWE history, until he lost the title at WrestleMania 40.
On social media platform X, Roman Reigns expressed his gratitude saying, “My father had a profound impact on my entire family, and we are forever grateful for the foundation he built for us. There’s no way to fill the void left by his passing, but my sisters and I will do our best to represent him and his legacy. Rest in Power, Dad. We love you.”
In 2007, The Wild Samoans were honored with an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, acknowledging their lasting influence on professional wrestling. Sika’s last WWE appearance was in 2020 when he joined his brother Afa to celebrate Reigns’ victory at Hell in a Cell.