Umaga was a WWE superstar who had a successful career in the company from 2006 to 2009. He was known for his intimidating presence, his tribal face paint, and his devastating finishing move, the Samoan Spike. He was also part of a legendary wrestling family, the Anoa’i family, which has produced many famous wrestlers over the years. In this article, we will explore who Umaga was related to, and how his family influenced the WWE landscape.
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Umaga’s parents and brothers
Umaga was born Edward Smith Fatu on March 28, 1973, in American Samoa. He was the son of Vera and Solofa Fatu Sr., who were both of Samoan descent. His mother, Vera, was the sister of Afa and Sika Anoa’i, who were known as The Wild Samoans in WWE. They were one of the most dominant tag teams in the 1980s, winning the WWE Tag Team Championship three times. They were also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
Umaga had two older brothers who were also professional wrestlers: Sam and Solofa Jr. Sam wrestled as The Tonga Kid and Tama in WWE and other promotions. He was part of The Islanders tag team with Haku, and also teamed up with his cousin Rikishi as The Samoan Swat Team. Solofa Jr. wrestled as Fatu and Rikishi in WWE. He was a two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a fan favorite for his dance moves and his signature move, the Stink Face. He was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
Umaga’s cousins and nephews
Umaga had many cousins who were also wrestlers, some of whom he teamed up with or faced off against in WWE. One of his most famous cousins was Rodney Anoa’i, who wrestled as Yokozuna in WWE. He was a two-time WWE Champion, a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble match. He was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.
Another cousin of Umaga was Matthew Anoa’i, who wrestled as Rosey in WWE. He was part of the tag team 3-Minute Warning with Umaga (then known as Jamal) in 2002-2003. They were hired by Eric Bischoff as his enforcers, and often attacked other wrestlers on his orders. They also won the World Tag Team Championship once. Rosey later became a superhero-in-training with The Hurricane, and adopted a comedic persona.
Umaga also had two nephews who are currently active wrestlers in WWE: Jonathan and Joshua Fatu, who are known as Jimmy and Jey Uso. They are one of the most successful tag teams in WWE history, having won the WWE Tag Team Championship six times, the SmackDown Tag Team Championship four times, and the Raw Tag Team Championship once. They are also part of The Bloodline stable with their cousin Roman Reigns, who is the current WWE Universal Champion.
Umaga’s extended family
Umaga’s family tree extends beyond his immediate relatives, as he was also related to other wrestlers by blood or marriage. One of his distant cousins was Dwayne Johnson, who is better known as The Rock in WWE. He is one of the most popular and successful wrestlers of all time, having won multiple championships and main evented several WrestleMania events. He is also a Hollywood star, appearing in blockbuster movies such as The Fast and Furious franchise and Jumanji.
Another distant cousin of Umaga was Savelina Fanene, who wrestles as Nia Jax in WWE. She is a former Raw Women’s Champion and a two-time Women’s Tag Team Champion. She is known for her size and strength, and often dominates her opponents in the ring.
Umaga was also related by marriage to Trinity Fatu, who wrestles as Naomi in WWE. She is married to Jimmy Uso, and is a former SmackDown Women’s Champion and a two-time Women’s Tag Team Champion. She is known for her athletic ability and her glowing entrance.
Umaga’s legacy
Umaga passed away on December 4, 2009, at the age of 36, due to a heart attack caused by acute toxicity from multiple drugs. His death shocked and saddened the wrestling world, as he was remembered for his talent and charisma. He left behind a wife and four children.
Umaga’s legacy lives on through his family members who continue to entertain and inspire fans around the world with their wrestling skills and personalities. He was part of a family that has contributed greatly to the history and evolution of WWE, and will always be honored as one of its stars.
