Peter Maivia Class of 2008
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Ring names
Peter Maivia/Prince Maivia "High Chief" Peter Maivia
Height
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Born
April 6, 1937(1937-04-06 )
Died
June 13, 1982 (aged 45)
Billed from
The Isle of Samoa
Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (April 6, 1937 – June 13, 1982 ) was a Samoan professional wrestler better known as "High Chief" Peter Maivia . He was head of the famous Samoan wrestling family . He was the grandfather of actor and former WWE superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and was also the promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance 's promotions in Hawaii .
Personal life [ ]
Maivia, also known as the Flying Hawaiian, was of the Alii lineage of Malietoa. Maivia's tribal tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status. According to Superstar Billy Graham , they were completed in three days. Maivia's grandson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed that they were done with traditional Samoan instrumentation: a small hammer, a needle, and ink.
Maivia disapproved of his daughter's relationship with Rocky Johnson because he was a professional wrestler. The duo married despite Maivia's objections. 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".
In 2008, Maivia was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his grandson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The award was accepted on his behalf by his daughter Ata Maivia-Johnson.
Maivia was considered a "blood brother" by Amituanai Anoa'i, the father of the Wild Samoans (Afa and 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 , where he plays a driver that transports a disguised Bond to Osato headquarters. He's also in a fight with Bond, hit with a sofa, wields a katana, and is put down with a statue. He was the (uncredited) stunt fight co-ordinator for the film. In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with cancer. He died on June 12, 1982. On October 19 , 2008, Maivia's wife, Lia Maivia, died.
In wrestling [ ]
Wrestlers trained by Maivia
Championships and accomplishments [ ]
NWA All-Star Pro Wrestling
NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship (1 time )
NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (4 times ) - with Jim Hady (1), Billy White Wolf (1), and Sam Steamboat (2)
NWA New Zealand
NWA New Zealand British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA San Francisco
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (2 times )
NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Ray Stevens
External links [ ]
WWE Hall of Fame
1993
André the Giant
1994
Arnold Skaaland • Bobo Brazil • Buddy Rogers • Chief Jay Strongbow • Freddie Blassie • Gorilla Monsoon • James Dudley
1995
Antonino Rocca • Ernie Ladd • George Steele • Ivan Putski • The Fabulous Moolah • The Grand Wizard • Pedro Morales
1996
Lou Albano • Jimmy Snuka • Jimmy Valiant • Johnny Rodz • Johnny Valiant • Killer Kowalski • Mikel Scicluna • Pat Patterson • Vince McMahon, Sr.
2004
Big John Studd • Bobby Heenan • Don Muraco • Greg Valentine • Harley Race • Jesse Ventura • Junkyard Dog • Pete Rose • Sgt. Slaughter • Superstar Billy Graham • Tito Santana
2005
Bob Orton, Jr. • Hulk Hogan • Jimmy Hart • Nikolai Volkoff • Paul Orndorff • Roddy Piper • The Iron Sheik
2006
Bret Hart • Blackjack Mulligan • Eddie Guerrero • Gene Okerlund • Jack Lanza • Sherri Martel • Tony Atlas • Verne Gagne • William Perry
2007
Afa • Curt Hennig • Dusty Rhodes • Jerry Lawler • Jim Ross • Mr. Fuji • Nick Bockwinkel • Sika • The Sheik
2008
Eddie Graham • Gerald Brisco • Gordon Solie • Jack Brisco • Mae Young • Peter Maivia • Ric Flair • Rocky Johnson
2009
Bill Watts • Chris Von Erich • David Von Erich • Dory Funk Jr. • Fritz Von Erich • Howard Finkel • Kerry Von Erich • Kevin Von Erich • Koko B. Ware • Mike Von Erich • Ricky Steamboat • Steve Austin • Terry Funk
2010
Antonio Inoki • Bob Uecker • Gorgeous George • Maurice Vachon • Stu Hart • Ted DiBiase • Wendi Richter
2011
Abdullah the Butcher • Bob Armstrong • Drew Carey • Jim Duggan • Legion of Doom • Paul Ellering • Shawn Michaels • Sunny
2012
Edge • Four Horsemen • Mike Tyson • Mil Máscaras • Ron Simmons • Yokozuna
2013
Bob Backlund • Booker T • Bruno Sammartino • Donald Trump • Mick Foley • Trish Stratus
2014
Carlos Colon • Jake Roberts • Lita • Mr. T • Paul Bearer • Scott Hall • Ultimate Warrior
2015
Arnold Schwarzenegger • Connor Michalek • Alundra Blayze • Kevin Nash • Larry Zbyszko • Randy Savage • Rikishi • Tatsumi Fujinami • The Bushwhackers
2016
Art Thomas • Big Bossman • Buddy Roberts • The Godfather • Ed Lewis • Frank Gotch • George Hackenschmidt • Jacqueline • Jimmy Garvin • Joan Lunden • Lou Thesz • Michael P.S. Hayes • Mildred Burke • Pat O'Connor • Snoop Dogg • Stan Hansen • Sting • Terry Gordy
2017
Bearcat Wright • Beth Phoenix • Diamond Dallas Page • Dr. Jerry Graham • Eric LeGrand • Haystacks Calhoun • Judy Grable • June Byers • Kurt Angle • Luther Lindsay • Martin Burns • Rick Rude • Ricky Morton • Rikidozan • Robert Gibson • Theodore Long • Toots Mondt
2018
Alfred Hayes • Boris Malenko • Cora Combs • Dara Singh • Dudley Boyz • El Santo • Goldberg • Hillbilly Jim • Hiro Matsuda • Ivory • Jarrius "JJ" Robertson • Jeff Jarrett • Jim Londos • Kid Rock • Mark Henry • Rufus R. Jones • Sputnik Monroe • Stan Stasiak
2019
Bruiser Brody • Brutus Beefcake • Buddy Rose • D-Generation X • (Shawn Michaels , Triple H , Chyna , Road Dogg , Billy Gunn , X-Pac ) • Harlem Heat (Booker T , Stevie Ray ) • The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart , Jim Neidhart ) • Hisashi Shinma • The Honky Tonk Man • Jim Barnett • Joseph Cohen • Luna Vachon • Primo Carnera • Professor Toru Tanaka • S.D. Jones • Sue Aitchison • Torrie Wilson • Wahoo McDaniel
2020
Baron Michele Leone • The Bella Twins (Nikki Bella , Brie Bella ) • Brickhouse Brown • The British Bulldog • Gary Hart • John "Bradshaw" Layfield • Jushin "Thunder" Liger • New World Order ("Hollywood" Hulk Hogan , Kevin Nash , Scott Hall , Sean Waltman ) • Ray Stevens • Steve Williams • Titus O'Neil • William Shatner
2021
Buzz Sawyer • Dick the Bruiser • Eric Bischoff • Ethel Johnson • The Great Khali • Kane • Molly Holly • Ozzy Osbourne • Paul Boesch • Pez Whatley • Rich Hering • Rob Van Dam
2022
The Undertaker • Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner , Scott Steiner ) • Big Van Vader • Queen Sharmell
2023
Rey Mysterio • The Great Muta • Andy Kaufman • Stacy Keibler • Tim White
2024
Paul Heyman • Bull Nakano • U.S. Express • Muhammad Ali • Thunderbolt Patterson