
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 Somoans
Debut:	1984
Previous Gimmicks:	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 Mable 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 Somoan..

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 1993 - Royal Rumble: Yokozuna won the Royal Rumble to win a title shot at Wrestlemania 9..

April 4, 1993 - Wrestlemania 9: Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart to win the WWF Heavyweight Title..

~~~After the match, Mr Fuji issued a challange 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 even 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..

August 30, 1993 - Summerslam: Lex Luger defeated Yokozuna by COUNT OUT

November 24, 1993 - Survivor Series: Lex Luger/The Undertaker/The Steiners beat Yokozuna/Jacques/Ludvig Borga/Crush..

World Wrestling Federation - Heel II:

Soon after this, Yokozuna began a major feud with The Undertaker and Paul Bearer..

Royal Rumble 1994: Yokozuna recruited an army of heel wrestlers to help him defeat the Undertaker in a Casket Match..

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..

Yokozuna was briefly teamed with Crush (Brian Adams)..

June 16, 1994 - King of the Ring: The Headshrinkers defeated Yokozuna & Crush to retain the Tag Team titles..

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..

May 14, 1995 - In Your House: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated The Smoking Gunns to retain the Tag Team title..

June 25, 1995 - King of the Ring: Savio Vega w/Razor Ramon defeated Yokozuna w/Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette by Count Out..

July 23, 1995 - In Your House: Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated Lex Luger & British Bulldog to retain the Tag Team titles..

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..

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..

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"..

World Wrestling Federation - Babyface:

Yokozuna & Mr Fuji officially turned face..

February 18, 1996 - In Your House: Yokozuna defeated The British Bulldog w/Jim Cornette by DQ..

WrestleMania XII: Owen Hart & British Bulldog & Vader beat Yokozuna & Jake Roberts & Ahmed Johnson..

Yokozuna took the summer off, encouraged by WWF management to lose some weight before he returned..

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..