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{{short description|Samoan-American professional wrestler (1937–1982)}}
'''Peter Maivia''' (born [[1935]] - died [[June 13]] [[1982]]) was a [[professional wrestler]] better known as '''High Chief Peter Maivia'''. He was a promoter and head of the famous [[Anoa'i family|Samoan wrestling family]].
{{distinguish|Neff Maiava}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Peter Maivia
|image =File:Chief Maivia - Wrestling Program WWWF n.74 1977.jpg
|birth_name = Fanene Pita Anderson
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|4|6}}
|birth_place = [[Western Samoa]]<ref name=obit />
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1982|6|13|1937|4|6}}
|death_place = [[Hawaii]], U.S.
|death_cause = [[Cancer]]
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Lia Maivia]]|1953}}
|children = 2
|relatives = [[Dwayne Johnson]] (step-grandson/adoptive grandson)<br>[[Nia Jax]] (first cousin once removed) <br> [[Roman Reigns]] (Great Nephew)
|family = [[Anoaʻi family]]
|names = Peter Anderson<br>Peter Maivia
|height = 5 ft 9 in<ref name=hof>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/petermaivia/|title=Hall of Fame: High Chief Peter Maivia|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=2011-03-29}}</ref>
|weight = 275 lb<ref name=hof/>
|billed = "[[Samoa|The Isle of Samoa]]"<ref name=hof/>
|trainer = [[Steve Rickard]]<ref name=hof/>
|debut = 1960
|retired = February 11, 1982
|ring_names = Prince Peter Maivia<br>High Chief Peter Maivia
|website =
|caption=Maivia in 1969}}


'''Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia''' (born '''Fanene Pita Anderson'''; April 6, 1937 – June 13, 1982), better known as '''Peter Maivia''', was a Samoan-American professional wrestler, actor and stunt coordinator.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Peter Maivia profile|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/peter-miavia/|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Maivia was the grandfather of [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] via adoption, and was also part of the famous [[Anoaʻi family]] via blood brother pact. He was also the [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Promoter|promoter]] of the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] member [[Polynesian Pro Wrestling]] in [[Hawaii]].<ref name=hof/>
===Relatives in Wrestling===
*[[Rocky Johnson|"Soulman" Rocky Johnson]] - son-in-law
*[[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] - grandson
*[[The Wild Samoans]] Afa & Sika - nephews (via his "blood brotherhood to their father)
*[[Samula Anoai|Samu]], Afa's son
*[[Rodney Anoa'i|Yokozuna]], nephew to Afa and Sika
*[[Thefffff" Snuka]] - brother-in-law {{fact}}
*[[Jimmy Snuka, Jr.]] - nephew (adopted)


==Professional wrestling career==
==Trivia==
===Early career (1960–1964)===
*Maivia is featured in the film [[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]], in which he dukes it out with Sean Connery's James Bond
Maivia made his debut in 1960 at the age of 23.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Von Slagle|first=Stephen|date=June 4, 2020|title=Peter Maivia|url=https://historyofwrestling.com/peter-maivia/|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=History of Wrestling}}</ref> He worked for [[NWA Hawaii]], and in other places including France, and the United Kingdom.<ref name=":1" />
*Maivia's tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status, and were completed in two weeks
*Maivia purchased the Hawaii wrestling territory from Ed Francis, father of NFL great Russ Francis


===New Zealand and Australia (1964–1968)===
== Profile ==
After spending his first twenty years in American Samoa, Maivia moved to New Zealand.<ref name=":0" /> He began competing, wrestling under the ring name Prince Peter Maivia.<ref name=":1" /> He was trained in [[New Zealand]] by local wrestler and promoter [[Steve Rickard]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*Real Name: Leifi Pita Maivia Fanene
*Hometown: [[Samoa]]
*Marital Status: Married to Lia (Daughter: Ata, who married [[Rocky Johnson]])
*Debut: [[1963]]
*Previous Gimmicks: "High Chief" Peter Fanene Maivia


Both in and out of the ring, Rickard taught the young Samoan a great deal about professional wrestling, and under his guidance, Maivia developed at an amazing rate. On 3 August 1964, after less than a year in the business, he won the [[NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship|New Zealand Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name=":0" /> The title victory was impressive, however Maivia's reign was extremely short, and he held the championship for just three days, with the championship returning to Rickard on August 6, 1964.<ref name=":0" /> The point had been made though, and from then onward, Maivia enjoyed main-event status in the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]]'s New Zealand territory.<ref name=":1" />
== Titles ==
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
:*1-Time NWA America's Heavyweight Champion
:*2-time NWA Australasian Heavyweight Champion
:*1-time NWA Beat the Champion Television Champion
:*1-Time NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Champion
:*4-time NWA Hawaii Tag Team Champion (with Jim Hady once and [[Adnan El Kassey|Billy White Wolf]] once and Sam Steamboat twice)
:*2-Time NWA New Zealand British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion
:*1-time NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Champion
:*1-time [[NWA San Francisco Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Champion ''(San Francisco version)'']] (with [[Ray Stevens (wrestler)|Ray Stevens]])
:*2-time [[NWA San Francisco United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Champion ''(San Francisco version)'']]
:*1-time [[WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship|NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion]]
*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated|PWI Rankings]]'''
:*PWI ranked him # '''268''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "[[PWI Years]]" in 2003.


Later in 1964, Maivia followed up his previous success by winning the [[NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name=":1" /> Maivia became the new Australasian champion by defeating [[Kangaroo Kennedy]], and he carried the belt for four years before finally losing it to [[Steve Rickard]] in 1968.<ref name=":0" /> After developing his repertoire and ring skills in New Zealand, Maivia slowly began to branch out and take bookings in larger promotions.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />[[File:Peter Maivia - Action Wrestling Magazine 1975 Cover.jpg|thumb|left|Maivia in 1975]]
[[Category:1935 births|Maivia, Peter]]

[[Category:1982 deaths|Maivia, Peter]]
===Various promotions (1968–1977)===
[[Category:Anoa'i wrestling family|Maivia, Peter]]
Maivia continued working mainly in Hawaii during most of his career. In 1968 he worked for [[International Wrestling Enterprise]] in Japan.<ref name=":0" /> From 1969 to 1975 he worked in [[NWA San Francisco]], [[NWA Hollywood Wrestling|NWA Hollywood]], [[World Class Championship Wrestling|WCCW]], [[Houston Wrestling]], and the [[American Wrestling Association|AWA]] winning many championships in the process.<ref name=":0" />
[[Category:Samoan professional wrestlers|Maivia, Peter]]

[[Category:Samoan Americans|Maivia, Peter]]
===World Wide Wrestling Federation (1977–1981)===
[[Category:Entertainers who died in their 40s|Maivia, Peter]]
[[File:Maivia and Backlund steel cage 1979.png|thumb|Maivia (left) pulls [[Bob Backlund]] (right) by the hair during their steel cage match, circa 1979]]
He joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation in mid-1977.<ref name=":0" /> He was one of the company's biggest stars, working matches with many top wrestlers such as [[Superstar Billy Graham]], [[Ivan Putski]] and [[Bob Backlund]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He turned heel for the first time in his career in 1978 on Backlund in a match against [[Spiros Arion]] and [[Víctor Rivera (professional wrestler)|Victor Rivera]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> During his tenure in the WWWF, he also competed in Hawaii, Japan, Toronto, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New Zealand. He left the WWWF, which had now been renamed to the WWF, in 1981.

===Later career (1981–1982)===
After leaving the WWF, Maivia returned to California and won the [[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name=":0" /> He wrestled in his last match in Hawaii in February 1982, defeating Victor Rivera in a singles match. He retired on February 11, 1982, due to his battle with cancer.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Kreikenbohm|first=Philip|title=Peter Maivia|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1347|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Maivia, also known as the Flyinʻ Hawaiian, was of the [[Ali'i]] lineage of [[Malietoa]].<ref>Ahching, Leiataua Ahching. ''Polynesian Interconnections'' (p.19)</ref> Maivia's [[Pe'a|traditional Samoan tattoos]], which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status.<ref name=hof/> According to [[Superstar Billy Graham]], they were completed in three days. His wife Ofelia Fuataga, more commonly known as [[Lia Maivia]], was one of the first female professional wrestling promoters.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=October 23, 2008|title=Lia Maivia was a pioneering woman promoter|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2008/10/23/lia-maivia-was-a-pioneering-woman-promoter/|access-date=February 24, 2022|website=SLAM! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KUsJAwAAQBAJ&q=peter+maivia+adopt+lia&pg=PA29|title=Historical Dictionary of Wrestling|first=John|last=Grasso|publisher=Scarecrow Press|page=29|date=2014|isbn=9780810879263|access-date=February 3, 2020}}</ref> Maivia adopted Lia's daughter Mataniu Feagaimaleata "Ata" Fitisemanu.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |title=Wrestler and promoter Peter Maivia, 45, dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-jun-16-1982-pete/21722921/ |access-date=29 February 2024 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=16 June 1982 |pages=57}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mochizuki |first1=Koh |title=The Rock Brings His Mom To Tears After Surprising Her With A New Home In Emotional Video |url=https://www.comicsands.com/rock-mom-tears-new-house-2657465475.html |publisher=Comic Sands |access-date=May 12, 2024 |date=June 7, 2022}}</ref>

Maivia was the [[blood brother]] of Amituanai Anoaʻi, the father of [[the Wild Samoans]] ([[Afa Anoaʻi|Afa]] and [[Sika Anoaʻi|Sika]]), and thus the [[Anoaʻi family]] regard the Maivia family as part of their own family.

Maivia was also an actor, appearing in the fifth [[James Bond]] film, ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'', where he played a driver who transports a disguised Bond to Osato headquarters. His character also fights Bond, is hit with a sofa, wields a [[katana]], and is put down when a statue is broken on his head. He was also the film's [[Combat in film|stunt fight co-ordinator]].

===Death===
In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with inoperable [[cancer]], having reportedly ignored symptoms along with his friends and family's
requests to see a doctor.<ref name=":1" /> He died on June 13, 1982.<ref name="hof" />

== Legacy ==
Maivia was posthumously inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]], along with his daughter's ex-husband [[Rocky Johnson]], in 2008 by his grandson [[Dwayne Johnson]], with the award being accepted on his behalf by his daughter Ata Maivia-Johnson.<ref name="hof" />

In the 2016 Disney animated film, ''[[Moana (2016 film)|Moana]]'', the character design of [[Maui (character)|Maui]] was derived from photographs of Peter Maivia, according to interviews with his grandson, Dwayne Johnson, who voices Maui in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Kelly|date=November 21, 2016|title=Dwayne Johnson Shed 'Manly Tears' Making Disney's 'Moana'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dwayne-rock-johnson-shed-manly-tears-moana/story?id=43680580|access-date=November 29, 2016|website=|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref>

==Filmography==
*''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' (1967) - Dodge driver

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[All Japan Pro Wrestling|All Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
**[[PWF United States Heavyweight Championship]] ([[PWF United States Heavyweight Championship|1 time]])
*'''[[50th State Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hawaii Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/hi-h.html|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship#Title history|4 times]]) - with [[Jim Hady]] (1), [[Adnan El Kassey|Billy White Wolf]] (1), and Sam Steamboat (2)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hawaii Tag Team Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/hi-t.html|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] All-Star Pro Wrestling'''
**[[NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship#title history|2 times]])<ref name=":2" />
**[[NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship#title history|1 time]])<ref name=":2" />
*'''[[World Class Championship Wrestling|NWA Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name=TexasBook>{{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=268–269}}</ref><ref name="TexasWeb">{{cite web|title=NWA Texas Heavyweight Title|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html|access-date=March 30, 2017|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=NWA Americas Heavyweight Title|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/hw/ams-h.html|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship]] ([[NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name=":2" />
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] New Zealand'''
**[[NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship (New Zealand version)|NWA New Zealand British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship (New Zealand version)#title history|2 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=British Empire Heavyweight Title (New Zealand)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/allstar/nz-be-h.html|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[NWA San Francisco]]'''
**[[NWA San Francisco United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship ''(San Francisco version)'']] ([[NWA San Francisco United States Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=AWA/NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/n/bigtime/sf-us-h.html|access-date=February 24, 2022|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref>
**[[NWA San Francisco Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(San Francisco version)'']] (1 time) - with [[Ray Stevens (wrestler)|Ray Stevens]]<ref name=hof/>
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2016<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=November 20, 2015|title=PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME MOVING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO TEXAS|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/97943/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-moving-from-upstate-new-york-to-texas.html?p=1|access-date=November 20, 2015|publisher=PWInsider}}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]'''
**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[List of members of the WWE Hall of Fame|Class of 2008]])<ref name="hof" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of premature professional wrestling deaths]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book|author=The Rock and Joe Layden|title=The Rock Says...|publisher=HarperEntertainment|year=2000|isbn=978-0-06-039298-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/rocksaysmostelec00john}}
*{{cite book|author=Ric Flair and Keith Elliot Greenberg|title=Ric Flair: To Be the Man|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7434-5691-3}}
*{{cite book|author=Classy Freddie Blassie and Keith Elliot Greenberg|title=The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|year=2003|isbn=978-0-7434-6316-4}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Find a Grave|10459228}}
* {{WWE superstar}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}

{{AnoaʻiFamily}}
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Salt Lake Wrestling Club version)}}
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (San Francisco version)}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame}}
{{50th State Big Time Wrestling}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maivia, Peter}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:50th State Big Time Wrestling]]
[[Category:American people of Samoan descent]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers of Samoan descent]]
[[Category:American Samoan male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Anoaʻi family]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling trainers]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling promoters]]
[[Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]
[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Champions]]
[[Category:NWA Americas Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:PWF United States Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:NWA Texas Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:NWA United States Heavyweight Champions (San Francisco version)]]

Latest revision as of 10:27, 3 December 2024

Not to be confused with Neff Maiava.

Peter Maivia
Maivia in 1969
Birth nameFanene Pita Anderson
Born(1937-04-06)April 6, 1937
Western Samoa[1]
DiedJune 13, 1982(1982-06-13) (aged 45)
Hawaii, U.S.
Cause of deathCancer
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1953)​
Children2
RelativesDwayne Johnson (step-grandson/adoptive grandson)
Nia Jax (first cousin once removed)
Roman Reigns (Great Nephew)
FamilyAnoaʻi family
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Prince Peter Maivia
High Chief Peter Maivia
Billed height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[2]
Billed weight275 lb (125 kg)[2]
Billed from"The Isle of Samoa"[2]
Trained bySteve Rickard[2]
Debut1960
RetiredFebruary 11, 1982

Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (born Fanene Pita Anderson; April 6, 1937 – June 13, 1982), better known as Peter Maivia, was a Samoan-American professional wrestler, actor and stunt coordinator.[3] Maivia was the grandfather of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson via adoption, and was also part of the famous Anoaʻi family via blood brother pact. He was also the promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance member Polynesian Pro Wrestling in Hawaii.[2]

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early career (1960–1964)

[edit]

Maivia made his debut in 1960 at the age of 23.[4] He worked for NWA Hawaii, and in other places including France, and the United Kingdom.[4]

New Zealand and Australia (1964–1968)

[edit]

After spending his first twenty years in American Samoa, Maivia moved to New Zealand.[3] He began competing, wrestling under the ring name Prince Peter Maivia.[4] He was trained in New Zealand by local wrestler and promoter Steve Rickard.[3][4]

Both in and out of the ring, Rickard taught the young Samoan a great deal about professional wrestling, and under his guidance, Maivia developed at an amazing rate. On 3 August 1964, after less than a year in the business, he won the New Zealand Heavyweight Championship.[3] The title victory was impressive, however Maivia's reign was extremely short, and he held the championship for just three days, with the championship returning to Rickard on August 6, 1964.[3] The point had been made though, and from then onward, Maivia enjoyed main-event status in the NWA's New Zealand territory.[4]

Later in 1964, Maivia followed up his previous success by winning the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship.[4] Maivia became the new Australasian champion by defeating Kangaroo Kennedy, and he carried the belt for four years before finally losing it to Steve Rickard in 1968.[3] After developing his repertoire and ring skills in New Zealand, Maivia slowly began to branch out and take bookings in larger promotions.[3][4]

Maivia in 1975

Various promotions (1968–1977)

[edit]

Maivia continued working mainly in Hawaii during most of his career. In 1968 he worked for International Wrestling Enterprise in Japan.[3] From 1969 to 1975 he worked in NWA San Francisco, NWA Hollywood, WCCW, Houston Wrestling, and the AWA winning many championships in the process.[3]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1977–1981)

[edit]
Maivia (left) pulls Bob Backlund (right) by the hair during their steel cage match, circa 1979

He joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation in mid-1977.[3] He was one of the company's biggest stars, working matches with many top wrestlers such as Superstar Billy Graham, Ivan Putski and Bob Backlund.[3][4] He turned heel for the first time in his career in 1978 on Backlund in a match against Spiros Arion and Victor Rivera.[3][4] During his tenure in the WWWF, he also competed in Hawaii, Japan, Toronto, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New Zealand. He left the WWWF, which had now been renamed to the WWF, in 1981.

Later career (1981–1982)

[edit]

After leaving the WWF, Maivia returned to California and won the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship.[3] He wrestled in his last match in Hawaii in February 1982, defeating Victor Rivera in a singles match. He retired on February 11, 1982, due to his battle with cancer.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Maivia, also known as the Flyinʻ Hawaiian, was of the Ali'i lineage of Malietoa.[6] Maivia's traditional Samoan tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status.[2] According to Superstar Billy Graham, they were completed in three days. His wife Ofelia Fuataga, more commonly known as Lia Maivia, was one of the first female professional wrestling promoters.[7][8] Maivia adopted Lia's daughter Mataniu Feagaimaleata "Ata" Fitisemanu.[1][9]

Maivia was the blood brother of Amituanai Anoaʻi, the father of the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika), and thus the Anoaʻi family regard the Maivia family as part of their own family.

Maivia was also an actor, appearing in the fifth James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, where he played a driver who transports a disguised Bond to Osato headquarters. His character also fights Bond, is hit with a sofa, wields a katana, and is put down when a statue is broken on his head. He was also the film's stunt fight co-ordinator.

Death

[edit]

In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, having reportedly ignored symptoms along with his friends and family's requests to see a doctor.[4] He died on June 13, 1982.[2]

Legacy

[edit]

Maivia was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, along with his daughter's ex-husband Rocky Johnson, in 2008 by his grandson Dwayne Johnson, with the award being accepted on his behalf by his daughter Ata Maivia-Johnson.[2]

In the 2016 Disney animated film, Moana, the character design of Maui was derived from photographs of Peter Maivia, according to interviews with his grandson, Dwayne Johnson, who voices Maui in the film.[10]

Filmography

[edit]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Wrestler and promoter Peter Maivia, 45, dies". The Honolulu Advertiser. June 16, 1982. p. 57. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Hall of Fame: High Chief Peter Maivia". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Peter Maivia profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Von Slagle, Stephen (June 4, 2020). "Peter Maivia". History of Wrestling. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Peter Maivia". Cagematch. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Ahching, Leiataua Ahching. Polynesian Interconnections (p.19)
  7. ^ Oliver, Greg (October 23, 2008). "Lia Maivia was a pioneering woman promoter". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Grasso, John (2014). Historical Dictionary of Wrestling. Scarecrow Press. p. 29. ISBN 9780810879263. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Mochizuki, Koh (June 7, 2022). "The Rock Brings His Mom To Tears After Surprising Her With A New Home In Emotional Video". Comic Sands. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  10. ^ McCarthy, Kelly (November 21, 2016). "Dwayne Johnson Shed 'Manly Tears' Making Disney's 'Moana'". ABC News. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  11. ^ "Hawaii Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hawaii Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  13. ^ Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. ^ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "NWA Americas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "British Empire Heavyweight Title (New Zealand)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "AWA/NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Johnson, Mike (November 20, 2015). "PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME MOVING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO TEXAS". PWInsider. Retrieved November 20, 2015.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peter Maivia.
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