Sika Anoa’i, W.W.E. Hall of Famer and Father of Roman Reigns, Dies at 79

Sika Anoa’i, the Hall of Fame professional wrestler who was half of the 1980s superstar tag team the Wild Samoans and father of World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest current star, Roman Reigns, died on Tuesday. He was 79.

Anoa’i’s death was announced on Instagram by his nephew, Jahrus Anoa’i. W.W.E. also confirmed Sika Anoa’i’s death in a statement. No cause or place of death was given.

Sika Anoa’i was part of a long line of grapplers, known as the Samoan Dynasty, that has been called the greatest wrestling family of all time. Not all of them are biologically related. The progenitor was High Chief Peter Maivia, grandfather of the actor Dwayne Johnson, who as a wrestler was known as the Rock, and who became a “blood brother” to the Anoa’i family. Sika and his brother, Afa Anoa’i, known as Arthur, would form the Wild Samoans, considered one of the most influential duos in wrestling history.

Sika’s son Roman Reigns, born Leati Joseph Anoa’i, is a former W.W.E. champion and has headlined WrestleMania a record seven times. Reigns and his cousins, Jonathan Solofa Fatu and Joshua Samuel Fatu, who perform as Jey and Jimmy Uso, captivated wrestling fans with a story line, known as “The Bloodline,” that featured Reigns as the “Tribal Chief” and came to include the Rock.

Sika Anoa’i was born in American Samoa on April 5, 1945, and raised there, but his family eventually moved to San Francisco. He was working as a longshoreman when his brother Afa began coaching him in wrestling. Afa had been trained by Maivia.

Over 30 years, the Wild Samoans won 21 tag-team titles across Canada and the U.S., according to a biographical video of their induction into the W.W.E. Hall of Fame in 2007. Their opponents included other powerhouse teams like Tony Garea and Rick Martel, Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales, the Strongbows and Rocky Johnson, father of the Rock, and his teammate Tony Atlas.