Yokozuna is the ring name of Akatubu Rodney Anoa’i, born October 2, 1966, an American professional wrestler. Anoai's professional wrestling career began when he grew up in a family full of wrestlers called the Anoa’i Family. His uncles, The Wild Samoans, Afa and Sika trained him in the family business from a young age. He is best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation, where he wrestled under the ring name Yokozuna, representing the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling in Japan.
Although the Yokozuna character is portrayed as a champion sumo wrestler, Anoai does not compete as an actual sumotori. Although he wrestled as a representative of Japan, in real life he was a Samoan American and thus claimed to be from Polynesia. However, he was managed by the Japanese character Mr. Fuji who would follow Anoaʻi to the ring with a wooden bucket of salt while waving a Japanese flag.
Anoa’i took on the name of the "Great Kokina" while wrestling overseas in Japan. He spent some time in Mexico learning the craft and gaining the experience he needed to become a star in the game. He made one appearance for the Jim Crockett promotion on August 12, 1987, facing Ron Simmons at a house show. His first major exposure in the United States came as "Kokina Maximus" in the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He wrestled as a Samoan superstar and was managed by Sheikh Adnan El Ghazi. He was noted as the greatest Samoan wrestler and was credited with breaking Greg Gagne's leg and ending his career.
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