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'{{distinguish|Neff Maiava}} {{short description|Samoan-American professional wrestler}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Peter Maivia |image = Chief Maivia - Wrestling Program WWWF n.74 1977.jpg |caption = Maivia in 1977 |birth_name = Fanene Pita Anderson<ref>{{cite web|title=High Chief Peter Maivia|url=http://samoanbios.com/high-chief-peter-maivia/|publisher=Samoan Bios|access-date=24 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525132532/http://samoanbios.com/high-chief-peter-maivia/|archive-date=25 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> |birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|4|6}} |birth_place = [[American Samoa]] |death_date = {{Death date and age|1982|6|12|1937|4|6 |df=yes}} |death_place = [[Hawaii]], U.S. |death_cause = [[Cancer]] |spouse = [[Lia Maivia]] |children = 2 |relatives = [[Dwayne Johnson]] <small>(grandson)</small><br>[[Nia Jax]] <small>(granddaughter)</small><br>[[Rocky Johnson]] <small>(son-in-law)</small> |family = [[Anoa'i family|Anoa'i]] |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 = 1962 |retired = |website = }} '''Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia''' (born '''Fanene Pita Anderson'''; April 6, 1927 – June 12, 1982) was a [[Samoan Americans|Samoan-American]] [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] better known as '''Peter Maivia'''. He is the maternal grandfather of [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]]. He was also part of the famous [[Anoa'i family]] and was a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Promoter|promoter]] for the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] in [[Hawaii]].<ref name=hof/> ==Wrestling Career== ===New Zealand and Australia (1964–68)=== After spending his first twenty years in American Samoa, Maivia moved to New Zealand. He began his wrestling career, wrestling not as The High Chief, but as Prince Peter Maivia. Athletic, naturally talented and a quick study, Maivia received his original ring training in [[New Zealand]], under the watchful eye of local wrestler/promoter [[Steve Rickard]]. Both in and out of the ring, Rickard taught the young Samoan a great deal about his new profession, and under his guidance, Maivia developed at an amazing rate. On August 3, 1964, after less than a year in the business, the popular rookie sensation stunned New Zealand's wrestling fanbase by toppling the rugged, experienced Rickard to win the prestigious New Zealand Heavyweight title in [[Auckland]]. The title victory was impressive, indeed, however Maivia's reign turned out to be extremely short, and he held the coveted New Zealand title for just three days, dropping the championship back to Steve Rickard in [[Wellington]] on August 6, 1964. The point had been made though, and from that period forward, Maivia enjoyed main-event status in the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]]'s New Zealand territory. Later in 1964, Maivia followed up his previous success by winning another very prestigious championship, the [[NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship|NWA Australasian Heavyweight title]]. Maivia became the new Australasian champion by defeating [[Kangaroo Kennedy]] in Auckland, and he would go on to carry the belt for four consecutive years before finally losing his title to [[Steve Rickard]] in 1968. After developing his repertoire and ring skills in New Zealand, Maivia slowly began to branch out and take bookings in other (and often larger) promotions, with success invariably following the popular islander. ===World Wide Wrestling Federation=== During his stay in the then called World Wide Wrestling Federation, he was one of its most prominent stars, making numerous appearances on [[Championship Wrestling]]. He worked matches with many well known wrestlers who would go on to be [[WWE Hall of Fame]]rs, such as [[Superstar Billy Graham]], [[Ivan Putski]] and [[Bob Backlund]]. ==Personal life== Maivia, also known as the Flying 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/><ref>Funk, Terry. ''More Than Just Hardcore'' (p.197)</ref> According to [[Superstar Billy Graham]], they were completed in three days. Maivia's grandson [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] revealed that they were done with traditional Samoan instrumentation: a small hammer, a needle, and ink.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}} His wife Ofelia Fuataga, who became known as [[Lia Maivia]], was regarded as one of the first female wrestling promoters.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/10/22/7164626.html|title=Lia Maivia was a pioneering woman promoter|author=Oliver, Greg|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> He also adopted Lia's daughter Ata.<ref>{{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><ref name=mh>{{cite news|first=Elinor J.|last=Brecher|title=Grandmother of 'The Rock,' promoter|publisher=[[Miami Herald]]|date=25 October 2008}}</ref> Maivia disapproved of his daughter's relationship with [[Rocky Johnson]] because he was a wrestler.<ref>The Rock. ''The Rock Says...'' (p.6-7)</ref> The duo married despite Maivia's objections.<ref name=hof/> His son, Peter Jr., also wrestled in Hawaii and the West Coast after the passing of Peter Sr. sometimes under the name "Prince Peter Maivia". Maivia was considered a "[[blood brother]]" by Amituanai Anoa'i, the father of [[the Wild Samoans]] ([[Afa Anoa'i|Afa]] and [[Sika Anoa'i|Sika]]), thus the [[Anoa'i family]] regard the Maivia line from him on forward as an extension of their own clan. Maivia was also in the fifth [[James Bond]] film, ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'', where he plays 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 the (uncredited) stunt fight co-ordinator for the film. ==Death== In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with [[cancer]].<ref name=hof/> He died on June 12, 1982.<ref name=hof/> Maivia was posthumously inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]], along with his son-in-law [[Rocky Johnson]], in 2008 by his grandson [[Dwayne Johnson]]. The award was accepted on his behalf by his daughter Ata Maivia-Johnson. During his tribute video, WWE chairman [[Vince McMahon]] refers to him as a 'tough S.O.B.' and somebody 'you didn't want to mess with' outside the ring, but added he was 'a real wonderful, likable guy'. On October 19, 2008, Maivia's wife, [[Lia Maivia]], died.<ref>{{cite news |first=Elinor J.|last=Brecher|title=Grandmother of 'The Rock,' promoter |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/wrestling/story/741025.html|work=[[Miami Herald]]|date=2008-10-25 |access-date=2008-11-17}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> == Legacy == 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|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]], who voices Maui in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dwayne-rock-johnson-shed-manly-tears-moana/story?id=43680580|title=Dwayne Johnson Shed 'Manly Tears' Making Disney's 'Moana'|date=2016-11-24|website=ABC News|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref> ==Filmography== *''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' (1967) - Car driver ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''[[50th State Big Time Wrestling]]''' **[[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]]) **[[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) *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] All-Star Pro Wrestling''' **[[NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship#title history|2 times]]) **[[NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship#title history|1 time]]) *'''[[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 | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html | title= NWA Texas Heavyweight Title | access-date=March 30, 2017 | work=Wrestling-Titles}}</ref> *'''[[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]''' **[[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]]) **[[NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship]] ([[NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship#Title history|2 times]]) *'''[[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]]) *'''[[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]]) **[[NWA San Francisco Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(San Francisco version)'']] (1 time)<ref name=hof/> - with [[Ray Stevens (wrestler)|Ray Stevens]] *'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]''' **Class of 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/97943/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-moving-from-upstate-new-york-to-texas.html?p=1|title=PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME MOVING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO TEXAS|date=November 20, 2015|access-date=2015-11-20|work=PWInsider}}</ref> *'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]''' **[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[List of members of the WWE Hall of Fame|Class of 2008]]) *'''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]''''' :*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Washed Up Wrestler|Most Washed Up Wrestler]] (1981) ==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== * {{Find a Grave|10459228}} * {{WWE superstar}} {{Anoa'iFamily}} {{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Salt Lake Wrestling Club version)}} {{NWA World Tag Team Champions (San Francisco version)}} {{WWE Hall of Fame}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Maivia, Peter}} [[Category:1937 births]] [[Category:1982 deaths]] [[Category:Samoan professional wrestlers]] [[Category:American Samoan male professional wrestlers]] [[Category:Deaths from cancer in Hawaii]] [[Category:Samoan emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:American professional wrestlers of Samoan descent]] [[Category:Anoa'i family]] [[Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees]] [[Category:Professional wrestling trainers]] [[Category:Professional wrestling promoters]] [[Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'