WRESTLER PROFILES

[Yokozuna Gallery]	Wrestler: Yokozuna Real Name: Rodney Anoa'i Birthday: October 2, 1966 Hometown: Polynesia Marital Status: Married with Children Height & Weight: 6'4 - 600lbs Trained by: Wild Samoans Debut: 1984 Previous Names: Kokina Maximus (AWA) Great Kokina (NJPWA, CWA, AWA) Wild Samoan Kokina (IWF) Finishing Move: Bonzai Drop Favorite Moves: Sidekick Belly to Belly Suplex Throat Thrust Legdrop Notable Feuds: Bret Hart Lex Luger Hulk Hogan The Undertaker Smoking Gunns Shawn Michaels Diesil Mabel Ahmed Johnson Vader
WWF Royal Rumble Winner last eliminating Randy "Macho Man" Savage (1993); WWF World Heavyweight title defeating Bret "Hitman" Hart (April 4, 1993 - WrestleMania 9); WWF World Heavyweight title defeating "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan (June 13, 1993 - King of the Ring); WWF World Tag Team titles w/Owen Hart defeating The Smoking Gunns (April 2, 1995 - In Your House); WWF World Tag Team titles w/Owen Hart -Awarded- (September 25, 1995);
In The Beginning: Rodney Anoai was a member of one of the most famous wrestlng families, being nephew to Afa & Sika.. 1984: Rodney Anoai began his pro wrestling career in Japan.. Rodney Anoai moved to Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association, where he wrestled as Kokina Maximus.. World Wrestling Federation - Heel: Fall 1992: Vince McMahon and the WWF signed Rodney Anoai, who suddenly became "Japanese" and known as Yokozuna.. ~~~Yokozuna (which is the highest honor one can achieve in sumo wrestling) and given Mr Fuji as a mananger.. ~~~Yokozuna was billed as a Japanese wrestler even though he was legitimately Samoan.. November 1992: Yokozuna had his first match in the World Wrestling Federation.. November 25, 1992 - Survivor Series: Yokozuna defeated Virgil in a squash match (literally).. January 11, 1993---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Koko B. Ware. January 1993 - Royal Rumble: Yokozuna won the Royal Rumble to win a title shot at Wrestlemania 9.. February 1, 1993---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Bobby DeVito. February 15, 1993---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Ross Greenberg. April 4, 1993 - Wrestlemania 9: Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart to win the WWF Heavyweight Title.. ~~~After the match, Mr Fuji issued a challenge to "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan (Hogan came out and defeated Yoko for the title!) June 13, 1993 - King of the Ring: Yokozuna defeated Hulk Hogan to recapture the WWF Heavyweight Title.. July 4, 1993: Mr. Fuji's challenged any athlete to pick up and slam Yokozuna on the deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier in NYC.. ~~~Many Wrestlers and professional athletes respond, including basketball star Alonzo Mourning and Macho Man Randy Savage.. ~~~All seemed lost as Mr. Fuji and Yokozuna prepared to raise the Japanese flag.. ~~~Then out of nowhere, a helicopter landed on the deck and Lex Luger appeared wearing the colours of the USA.. ~~~Lex Luger told the fans he had changed his ways and he'll be damned before he allows this to happen.. ~~~Lex Luger runs across the deck, picks up Yokozuna, and slams him down to thunderous cheers! ~~~The crowd goes wild and Lex Luger, who was a heel, becomes an instant hero.. July 12, 1993---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Crush. August 30, 1993 - Summerslam: Lex Luger defeated Yokozuna by COUNT OUT September 6, 1993--RAW: Yokozuna defeated Barry Horowitz. November 24, 1993--Survivor Series: Lex Luger's Team defeated Yokozuna's Team in a 10-Man Elimination Match.. ~~~Lex Luger & The Undertaker & The Steiners beat Yokozuna & Crush & Jacques Rougeau & Ludvig Borga & Crush.. World Wrestling Federation - Heel II: Soon after this, Yokozuna began a major feud with The Undertaker and Paul Bearer.. January 3, 1994---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Dan Dubiel. Royal Rumble 1994: Yokozuna recruited an army of heel wrestlers to help him defeat the Undertaker in a Casket Match.. February 28, 1994---RAW: Randy Savage defeated Yokozuna by DQ. Wrestlemania X: Yokozuna defeated Lex Luger early in the night, but went on to lose the WWF title to Bret Hart in the main event.. April 4, 1994---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Scott Powers. Yokozuna was briefly teamed with Crush (Brian Adams).. May 16, 1994---RAW: Earthquake defeated Yokozuna in a Sumo match. June 16, 1994 - King of the Ring: The Headshrinkers defeated Yokozuna & Crush to retain the Tag Team titles.. June 20, 1994---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Nick Barbarry. September 19, 1994---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Phil Apollo. October 24, 1994---RAW: Razor Ramon defeated Yokozuna by countout. November 1994 - Survivor Series: The Undertaker returned and defeated Yokozuna in a Casket match for revenge.. World Wrestling Federation - Camp Cornette: WrestleMania XI: Yokozuna appeared as Owen Hart's mystery partner, and defeated the Smoking Gunns for the Tag Team titles.. April 10, 1995---RAW: Bret Hart & 1-2-3 Kid & Bob Holly defeated Owen Hart & Yokozuna & Hakushi. April 17, 1995---RAW: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated 1-2-3 Kid & Bob Holly. May 14, 1995 - In Your House: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated The Smoking Gunns to retain the Tag Team title.. May 15, 1995---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Nick Barberry & Bill Weaver in a handicap match. June 12, 1995---RAW: Yokozuna defeated Lex Luger by DQ. June 25, 1995 - King of the Ring: Savio Vega w/Razor Ramon defeated Yokozuna w/Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette by Count Out.. July 17, 1995---RAW: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated Jim Dimitre & Gus Kantarrakis. July 23, 1995 - In Your House: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated Lex Luger & British Bulldog to retain the Tag Team titles.. July 31, 1995---RAW: Owen Hart & Yokozuna vs Savio Vega & Razor Ramon ended in a No Contest. August 7, 1995---RAW: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated Savio Vega & Razor Ramon. September 18, 1995---RAW: Yokozuna & Owen Hart defeated Men on a Mission (Mabel & Mo). September 24, 1995 - In Your House: Owen & Yokozuna took on Shawn Michaels & Diesel in a match where all 4 titles were on the line.. ~~~Shawn Michaels & Diesel won the tag titles but the decision was reversed the following night on RAW by Gorilla Monsoon.. September 25, 1995---RAW: The Smoking Gunns (Billy & Bart Gunn) defeated Yokozuna & Owen Hart. October 9, 1995---RAW: Yokozuna & Owen Hart & British Bulldog defeated Diesel & Shawn Michaels & The Undertaker. October 22, 1995 - In Your House: Yokozuna vs Mabel went to a double count-out.. November 19, 1995 - Survivor Series: S.Michaels/A.Johnson/Sid/Bulldog beat Yokozuna/Owen/D.Douglas/Razor Ramon.. December 18, 1995---RAW: Razor Ramon defeated Yokozuna by Countout. January 1, 1996---RAW: The Smoking Gunns (Billy & Bart) defeated Razor Ramon & Savio Vega and Sycho Sid & The 1-2-3 Kid and Owen Hart & Yokozuna in a "RAW Bowl" Elimination match. 1995: Yokozuna breifly feuded with Mabel, and then Ahmed Johnson, who managed to slam Yoko in his 1st appearance.. January 1996 - Royal Rumble: Yokozuna & Vader (both Cornette camp wrestlers) clashed during the Royal Rumble match.. ~~~This led to Jim Cornette, Vader, British Bulldog & Owen Hart attacking Yokozuna and "breaking his leg".. January 29, 1996--RAW: Shawn Michaels defeated Yokozuna. February 5, 1996--RAW: Shawn Michaels & Diesel defeated The British Bulldog & Yokozuna by Countout. World Wrestling Federation - Babyface: Yokozuna & Mr Fuji officially turned babyface.. February 18, 1996 - In Your House: Yokozuna defeated The British Bulldog w/Jim Cornette by DQ.. February 26, 1996--RAW: Yokozuna defeated Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith by DQ. March 11, 1996--RAW: Yokozuna & The Undertaker defeated Owen Hart & The British Bulldog by DQ. April 8, 1996--RAW: Vader defeated Yokozuna when the referee deemed Yokozuna unable to continue.. ~~~After the match, medical staff carried Yokozuna out on a forklift because of a "storyline" broken leg.. WrestleMania XII: Owen Hart & British Bulldog & Vader beat Yokozuna & Jake Roberts & Ahmed Johnson.. June 10, 1996--RAW: Owen Hart defeated Yokozuna. Yokozuna took the summer off, encouraged by WWF management to lose some weight before he returned.. World Wrestling Federation - Babyface: SummerSlam 1996: Steve Austin beat Yokozuna in 'Free-for-all' Match.. Yoko went up for the Bonzai drop and the top rope broke! ~~~This sent Yokozuna crashing to the mat, where he was easily pinned by Steve Austin.. Survivor Series 1996: Yokozuna, Jimmy Snuka, Flash Funk & Savio Vega took on Vader, Farooq, Fake Razor & Fake Diesel--DOUBLE DQ.. Yokozuna failed a physical by the New York State Athletic Commission, which revolked his wrestling license in just about every State. Yokozuna was never seen in a WWF ring again.. In The Meantime: Yokozuna was spotted around the independant circuit for the next few years.. October 1999 - Heroes of Wrestling PPV: King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart beat a 700lbs Yokozuna and a 'drunk' Jake Roberts.. 2000: Yokozuna participated in a tour in Australia, then began a tour of Europe.. October 23, 2000: While in Europe, Yokozuna passed away in his sleep due to heart failure -- he was 580lbs at time of death..