Yokozuna death

Rodney Anoia (Yokozuna).

He was discovered dead in the Liverpool accommodation on Monday. The cause of demise had not been straight away known, but foul play just isn't suspected, police stated.

"there have been no dubious conditions surrounding the demise, " a Merseyside police spokesman said. Respected wrestling reporter Georgiann Makropoulos of 1Wrestling.com ended up being the first ever to break the story, after getting a call from Afa, of crazy Samoans, telling this lady the sad news. Afa and his sibling Sika are the uncles of Yokozuna, whoever real name's Rodney Anoia. They also taught him for a profession in pro wrestling.

Apparently, Yokozuna passed away of heart failure. Anoia's fight with his fat is public understanding from years and at final word, he had trimmed straight down in order to return to the squared group frequently.

Yokozuna, just who endured 6'6" and weighed 589 pounds, ended up being a two-time WWF World champion. He previously topped the bill of a wrestling tour of Britain labeled as WrestleMania 2000.

"he had been a giant of a man but incredibly gentle outside the band, " journey promoter Brian Dixon stated.

The group was not the main WWF, nevertheless federation's official internet site had a new area Tuesday having to pay tribute into the three-time winner.

"He was a sweetheart of a man. Always jovial and happy and cracking jokes, " WWF celebrity The Rock had written online site. "it is simply a shame to see that he's gone. He's contributed such to our business and the WWF."

Yokozuna first won the WWF subject the very first time at WrestleMania IX in 1993 in Las Vegas, beating Bret 'Hitman' Hart. He lost the subject later on that same night to Hulk Hogan.

Months later, Yokozuna defeated Hogan when it comes to name in Dayton, Ohio at King of Ring with an evil photographer. With this reign, Yokozuna and his supervisor Mr. Fuji issued the Bodyslam Challenge. Six wrestlers tried to slam Yoko regarding the U.S.S. Intreped in July 1993. Rick and Scott Steiner, Tatanka, Bob Backlund, Randy Savage and Crush all did not slam the champ, and some pro athletes like Bill Fralic. However, it had been Lex Luger whom successfully bodyslammed Yokozuna, turning babyface in the process.

Yokozuna would lose the name to Bret Hart in March 1994.

Another Hart, Bret's sibling Owen, formed an effective tag staff with Yokozuna, in addition to duo won a set of WWF label team games.

In a with SLAM! Wrestling, the belated Owen Hart recalled teaming with Yokozuna.

"it absolutely was a special comparison, the big, huge monster additionally the littler high-flyer. And so I won't mind [teaming up], we got along genuine great. He was a pleasant man and a superb, good man to label with, " Hart said.

The very last major appearance for Yokozuna is at October 1999's Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view, in which he looked massively over weight in comparison to their WWF times. During the PPV, Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart and King Kong Bundy faced Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and Yoko. The whole PPV might be well forgotten as a sad reminder of former WWF primary eventers after their particular jobs.