2015 WWE Hall Of Fame 3rd Inductee: Rikishi!
- Duration: 2:11
- Updated: 10 Feb 2015
To think of Rikishi as just another fun-loving dancer in WWE would be to grossly underestimate this fearless and charismatic big man from the islands. Rikishi was one of the most popular Superstars in WWE’s chaotic Attitude Era, and as announced on Raw, he now he becomes the third member of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
Born Solofa Fatu, Jr., a member of the legendary Anoa’i family dynasty, Rikishi is the nephew of WWE Hall of Famers Afa and Siki, The Wild Samoans. With wrestling in his blood, he was competing by the time he was 20 alongside his cousin Samu as The Samoan Swat Team, and achieved immediate success by winning tag team titles in Puerto Rico’s World Wrestling Council, and the legendary World Class organization in Texas. In 1989, they joined the NWA under the leadership of Paul E. Dangerously, aka Paul Heyman, and spent a year battling The Midnight Express and The Road Warriors.
But it was during the heart of the Attitude Era that Rikishi found his greatest success. Having packed on the pounds, ‘Kish was one of the most popular competitors of the period. He danced his way to WWE Superstardom alongside the hip-hop duo of Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty, known as Too Cool, and employed the smelliest maneuver in the squared circle: The Stink Face. The trio even managed to get some dancing in during the 2000 Royal Rumble Match at Madison Square Garden.
But the big man was about more than just boogieing, as proven by his brutal rivalry with Val Venis over the Intercontinental Championship. During a Steel Cage Match, Rikishi’s fearlessness was on full display as he dove from the top of the cage onto his opponent, evocative of fellow islander Jimmy Snuka.
Despite being one of WWE’s most popular personalities, Rikishi’s most noteworthy moment may be when he was revealed as the driver of the car that ran over “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in Autumn 1999. After admitting to the dirty deed, the Samoan claimed that taking out Austin allowed his cousin, The Rock, to become the company’s biggest star and win the WWE Championship. Following this, Rikishi battled both his cousin and Austin in memorable brawls.
Fans eventually forgave the big man for his heinous act, and he continued to see success before departing WWE in 2004. But Rikishi wasn’t done leaving his legacy. The proud Anoa’i tradition lives on by way of his sons, The Usos, and his first cousin, Roman Reigns. And now, he will join relatives like Yokozuna, The Wild Samoans and High Chief Peter Maivia by becoming a WWE Hall of Famer
Name: Rikishi
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Finisher: Rikishi Driver and Rump Shaker
WWE Debut: 1992
Championship Accomplishments:
Portland Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion
PPW Heavyweight Champion
UWA World Trios Champion
WWC Caribbean Tag Team Champion
(3x) WCWA World Tag Team Champion
WCWA Texas Tag Team Champion
WWE Tag Team Champion
(2x) WWE World Tag Team Champion
WWF/E Intercontinental Champion
and 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee
All World Wrestling Enteratinment programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of WWE entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. © 2015 World Wrestling Entertainment Action, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
*All material in my videos is intellectual property of its respected corporations and entities. My videos is 100% non-profit
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To think of Rikishi as just another fun-loving dancer in WWE would be to grossly underestimate this fearless and charismatic big man from the islands. Rikishi was one of the most popular Superstars in WWE’s chaotic Attitude Era, and as announced on Raw, he now he becomes the third member of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
Born Solofa Fatu, Jr., a member of the legendary Anoa’i family dynasty, Rikishi is the nephew of WWE Hall of Famers Afa and Siki, The Wild Samoans. With wrestling in his blood, he was competing by the time he was 20 alongside his cousin Samu as The Samoan Swat Team, and achieved immediate success by winning tag team titles in Puerto Rico’s World Wrestling Council, and the legendary World Class organization in Texas. In 1989, they joined the NWA under the leadership of Paul E. Dangerously, aka Paul Heyman, and spent a year battling The Midnight Express and The Road Warriors.
But it was during the heart of the Attitude Era that Rikishi found his greatest success. Having packed on the pounds, ‘Kish was one of the most popular competitors of the period. He danced his way to WWE Superstardom alongside the hip-hop duo of Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty, known as Too Cool, and employed the smelliest maneuver in the squared circle: The Stink Face. The trio even managed to get some dancing in during the 2000 Royal Rumble Match at Madison Square Garden.
But the big man was about more than just boogieing, as proven by his brutal rivalry with Val Venis over the Intercontinental Championship. During a Steel Cage Match, Rikishi’s fearlessness was on full display as he dove from the top of the cage onto his opponent, evocative of fellow islander Jimmy Snuka.
Despite being one of WWE’s most popular personalities, Rikishi’s most noteworthy moment may be when he was revealed as the driver of the car that ran over “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in Autumn 1999. After admitting to the dirty deed, the Samoan claimed that taking out Austin allowed his cousin, The Rock, to become the company’s biggest star and win the WWE Championship. Following this, Rikishi battled both his cousin and Austin in memorable brawls.
Fans eventually forgave the big man for his heinous act, and he continued to see success before departing WWE in 2004. But Rikishi wasn’t done leaving his legacy. The proud Anoa’i tradition lives on by way of his sons, The Usos, and his first cousin, Roman Reigns. And now, he will join relatives like Yokozuna, The Wild Samoans and High Chief Peter Maivia by becoming a WWE Hall of Famer
Name: Rikishi
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Finisher: Rikishi Driver and Rump Shaker
WWE Debut: 1992
Championship Accomplishments:
Portland Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion
PPW Heavyweight Champion
UWA World Trios Champion
WWC Caribbean Tag Team Champion
(3x) WCWA World Tag Team Champion
WCWA Texas Tag Team Champion
WWE Tag Team Champion
(2x) WWE World Tag Team Champion
WWF/E Intercontinental Champion
and 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee
All World Wrestling Enteratinment programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of WWE entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. © 2015 World Wrestling Entertainment Action, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
*All material in my videos is intellectual property of its respected corporations and entities. My videos is 100% non-profit
- published: 10 Feb 2015
- views: 27