Solo Sikoa will hold WWE World Championship gold in 2025, according to WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi, in a huge claim for the Bloodline’s leader. On his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi shared his bold vision for Sikoa’s future in the coming year.
“I’ve got full confidence in Solo… He’s been out for a minute, perfecting the craft, waiting his turn, waiting for his opportunity. 2025, I see Solo Sikoa will become Undisputed WWE Champion.”
Sikoa has already come close to the Undisputed WWE Championship but failed to win the gold at SummerSlam, thanks in part to the return of Roman Reigns. Sikoa’s most recent title opportunity came last month at a WWE live event in Sheffield, England, where he once again came up short against Cody Rhodes.
2025 is shaping up to be a huge year in WWE, with the impending Netflix move looming, John Cena’s farewell tour, and key events such as the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 41. It remains to be seen what role Sikoa will play over the coming 12 months, but it’s a matter of time before the Tribal Chief has gold around his waist as far as Rikishi is concerned.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi recently reckoned that his son, Solo Sikoa could be the one to dethrone WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes.
Solo Sikoa recently pinned Roman Reigns to earn the victory for his team comprising Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga in the 6-man tag team match at WWE Crown Jewel PLE. It seems that bigger things are in store for his future, given that he pinned ‘OTC.’
On his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi reflected on Solo Sikoa’s massive moment. He believes WWE is pushing him to the next level and he could be the one to defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He said:
“Like I mentioned [on] the last podcast we had, Solo’s a made man. For that to happen, there’s definitely, we see plans within this kid [of] what can be the next level for him. We talked about, does he need a belt? Well, after this [pin] on Roman, I can see maybe Solo being the one to take it off of Cody.”
Rikishi feels now that Solo has defeated the GOAT, he could be considered the GOAT-slayer. He said:
“I talked about maybe Roman will come back and take it off of Cody. But after seeing that, you beat the GOAT. I believe it was two or three spikes, but now, it’s like okay, you beat the GOAT, now you’re considered the GOAT. The GOAT-slayer. So who knows?”
At the upcoming WWE Survivor Series: WarGames, The Original Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos & Sami Zayn) will face The New Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & Jacob Fatu) in a WarGames match.
The WWE Hall of Famer talked about his emotional reaction to his son’s championship victory. Speaking on his ‘Off The Top podcast‘, Rikishi commented on his son’s championship win. He said that he was proud of his son and was as excited as the fans. He said:
“I am so proud, man. So, so proud. Besides Jey’s sons, I’m probably the number one fan of Jey right now. I always been. I’m happy, I’m proud, I’m proud to be his pops. I’m proud that the fans are proud. I don’t know who was more excited, [if] I was or the fans because when I [saw] the reaction of the fans and the reaction of my boy, you think about it. That was a long road.
Being a son of wrestler and being on the road, you see a lot of stuff. You can either go left or go right. So all his career, at the end of the day, the choices that they make are their choices, and he’s made the right choices all the way through, and look it, your new Intercontinental Champion.”
The WWE Hall of Famer further addressed his past comments on Jey Uso’s booking and how he finally teared up seeing him win gold. He said that it was a good feeling to see someone he loves getting successful. Rikishi said:
“It’s emotional. All I was saying months ago when I was talking about giving Jey an opportunity, I kind of got a lot of heat over it from the fans, to let him grow. I’ve always done that. All a father will always do, no matter who tells him what, where, and when, you gonna always give your kids advice. Whether they take it or not, or whether the fans agree or not, that’s what a father does, be it myself or any other father.
You just want the best and want your kids to have a fair opportunity, and that’s it. Seeing my boy winning the title, I teared up, I did, but it wasn’t being sad. I was just so proud, that finally after years and years, of pounding his body, that little frame of his, we don’t know how much broken bones are in there, how long will that body be able to keep moving at the pace that he’s going, but you can just see. He’s in his moment.
When he comes out and starts dancing on the stage, man, I’m dancing with him in the hotel room, just watching the screen. It’s a good feeling to be able to see someone you love be successful.”
Jey had started competing as a singles wrestler in 2020. His initial run was brief when his twin Jimmy Uso was sidelined with a knee injury. His proper singles run started last year when he ended his ties with The Bloodline. Jey soon competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match and the Royal Rumble. At WrestleMania 40, he even faced his twin brother Jimmy Uso.
Jey has been on a roll since he started competing as a singles wrestler in 2020. His initial run commenced when his twin Jimmy Uso was sidelined with a knee injury. However, it was short-lived. His proper singles run started last year when he parted ways with The Bloodline.
Jey competed in several high-profile matches including Money in the Bank ladder match and the Royal Rumble. At this year’s WrestleMania 40, he also went up against his twin brother Jimmy Uso. Despite competing in title matches, a singles title had eluded him.
But he finally has gold around his waist. Many believe that the title win was long time coming and even Uso was overwhelmed with the ovation after Raw went off the air. ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso had earned the title opportunity after winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender’s Tournament. During the course, he defeated the likes of Pete Dunne, Ilja Dragunov, and Braun Strowman.
Uso’s win put an end to Bron Breakker’s 51-day reign that began at SummerSlam with a victory over Sami Zayn. Breakker recently retained the title against Zayn on the August 12 edition of WWE Raw in two-out-of-three falls match.
Rikishi remains very active on social media and on Wednesday, the WWE Hall of Famer posted a message that has fans hoping the best for Jimmy Uso.
One of the legends of the Samoan dynasty posted on X asking people to keep Jimmy in their prayers and in turn asked God to give him strength during this time. Included in the post was a video of Jimmy and a voiceover reciting a prayer.
“Dear GOD pray for strength and health to continue #JimmyUso #WWE #Bloodline #Anoai #Fatu. Stay prayed for my boy #JonathanFatu.”
There currently is no further details on the status of Jimmy Uso as he was written off WWE television months ago when Solo Sikoa and the new Bloodline attacked him, effectively kicking him out of the group.
It would be unfair to assume that Rikishi’s post is storyline based, but Jimmy Uso’s past could cause pause for a lot of fans. Back in July of 2019, Uso was charged with a DUI before a jury found him not guilty. Two years to the month after that, Uso was arrested for a misdemeanor DUI after allegedly failing a sobriety test.
Back in a 2023 interview with Ariel Helwani, Jimmy mentioned how he faced the noise with that arrest and continued to remain professional in the WWE work enviroment.
“Everybody has their issues outside of work. Everybody is human and makes mistakes as they go through it. As long as you face the noise, that’s something we always did.”
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi continues to express disappointment with the promotion over the booking of his son Jey Uso. The fan-favorite superstar has remained one of the top “Babyfaces” in the company but has yet to win a singles championship.
Rikishi has previously lashed out at the company for not allowing his son to win Money In The Bank. Uso responded to his father’s comments on the Ringer Wrestling Show podcastand jokingly shared that he told his dad to watch him work and enjoy the show. On his Off The Top podcast, Rikishi called out WWE again for not giving his son the opportunities he deserves.
“…I’m at this point where I just want to call my son, hey go ahead and just take a break because obviously them writers don’t know where to put you or where to write something that’s right for the character of Jey Uso.”
Rikishi thinks Uso should be a World Champion by now due to his fanbase, questions if WWE is paying him fairly, and suggests he should explore opportunities elsewhere.
“…WWE is making money off the Yeet Man (Uso). The Yeet Man is making money himself, but the only difference is the Yeet Man is working for his money.”
Rikishi Suggests Jey Uso Explore Working Elsewhere
Rikishi explained that his son has done well with merchandise, and the company is profiting from Uso’s success but not rewarding him. He also believes that Uso can succeed in All Elite Wrestling and get paid more than working for WWE.
“…The kid is so good. WWE ain’t the only spot. He can probably go to AEW, if he wanted, and write his own ticket. Maybe more than what WWE is making on him.
So you know, at the end of the day, man, this is a wrestler talking. I utilize my platform to each one teach one, but it just so happened that we talking about my boy, the Yeet Man. So hopefully, they turn it around and do the right thing behind the Yeet Man.”
– Rikishi
Jey Uso will compete in a #1 contender’s tournament to decide who will challenge Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker at WWE Bad Blood on October 5.
Prior to announcing his intentions to compete in the tournament, he was teasing being in a tag team with Sami Zayn. However, Zayn is currently out of action and undergoing stem cell therapy.
He has also been teased to be involved with Rhea Ripley as she feuds with Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. Before the breakup between “Mamí” and “Dirty Dom,” Uso showed interest in Ripley, which caused Mysterio to be jealous. In addition, the former WWE Women’s World Champion has continued referencing on social media, as fans believe he will eventually come to her rescue to go against the new power couple. During the Judgement Day’s (Finn Balor, Carlito, JD McDonagh, Mysterio & Morgan) assault on Ripley and Damian Priest on the August 19 WWE Raw, the audience was chanting for Uso to make the save.
Despite the creative direction WWE seems to be taking Uso and being featured as a top “Babyface” superstar on Monday Night Raw, Rikishi is pushing hard for his son to get more opportunities. Like LaVar Ball did for his sons, the wrestling legend continues to be vocal about helping Uso succeed in his career.
The future of the Anoa’i wrestling dynasty appears in good hands as Thamiko Fatu, the son of WWE legend Rikishi has been impressing in the ring. This week, Fatu has been going viral on social media as fans have been seeing just a taste of what the powerhouse can do in the ring.
Fatu’s display of power has quickly led to the young wrestler going viral and fans are already seeing a spot in WWE, and potentially in The Bloodline, in his future.
— The Wrestling Old Head (@Wrestleoldhead) July 15, 2024
Thamiko fatu needs to make his way to wwe I would love to see another son of rikishi in the wwe just imagine having all 4 of the fatu bothers in wwe now that be crazy
— Karins Simanis aka Mimmon???? (@KarinsSimanis) August 21, 2024
Meet Thamiko Fatu
Thamiko Fatu hails from the legendary Anoa’i family, a wrestling dynasty that has produced some of the most iconic figures in sports entertainment, including The Rock, Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Yokozuna, and the Usos. Thamiko is one of the sons of Rikishi, making him a brother of Sikoa and the Usos and a cousin of the Original Tribal Chief.
Thamiko, real name Jeremiah, began his wrestling journey in 2023, and his ring name translates to funerary in Greek. Despite being a relative newcomer to the squared circle, Thamiko has already competed for Oasis Pro where he has dominated the competition.
Thamiko is also on Instagram, where he has already amassed over 5,000 followers. He also has merchandise sold through his father’s website, though his shirt is currently not available. Those interested in booking Fatu can also get in touch through Rikishi’s website.
While it’s clear that Thamiko Fatu is still in the early stages of his career, the impact he’s already made has brought a lot of attention to him. With the Bloodline storyline seeing new members added this year, don’t count out Thamiko Fatu joining his family on WWE programming one day.
Posted August 22nd, 2024 in News. Tagged: Rikishi.
Rikishi saw a lot of money for WWE if they made Jey Uso the men’s Money In The Bank winner, but that briefcase went to Drew McIntyre.
Speaking on his own podcast. Rikishi gave his reaction to Jey not being the one to pull down the briefcase over a week ago in Toronto. The father of Jey and Jimmy admitted that it “kind of hit a nerve” with him. Rikishi understood not giving him the briefcase because of his “bloodline” background, but just knows there’s money to be made with “Main Event” Jey Uso.
“I’m gonna go back to the numbers. The numbers don’t lie with Yeet. The merchandise that the Yeet Man has done so much for the company. The Yeet Man, he doesn’t have a bad track record. The Yeet Man is not a liability. The Yeet Man shows up to work and does what he does.”
Despite not winning the match, WWE clearly does have full confidence in the star power of Uso. Last week on WWE RAW Uso defeated Chad Gable in the opening match before he high-tailed it out of the ring once The Wyatt Sicks appeared. Jey Uso is undoubtedly a top three babyface on RAW alongside the injured CM Punk and Seth Rollins.
Even though there are no concrete plans for Jey as WWE heads towards SummerSlam, he will likely be involved in something major, whether that’s a crossover with The Bloodline or potentially something with the aforementioned Wyatt Sicks.
Hall of Famer Rikishi is proud to see Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa’s arrival in WWE.
The Bloodline storyline has taken a unique turn amid the absence of Roman Reigns. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, who are the sons of Haku, have made their way to the company to join the Bloodline. While speaking on the Rikishi Fatu Off The Toppodcast, the WWE legend showered praise on the duo for their hard work in NJPW before making a move to WWE. He is thrilled that Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are finally home. He said:
“Those two kids, Tama and his brother, Tonga Loa, they’re [related] to the family, as far as with Uncle Haku and so forth. These kids, I couldn’t wait for them to come to WWE. They’ve done so much out there, the hard work and building their brand out there in New Japan, that it was awesome to see them finally come home.”
Ever since Roman Reigns dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, he has been on a hiatus and Solo Sikoa has transformed The Bloodline and the stable has undergone drastic changes. He has ousted Jimmy Uso and brought in Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Rikishi loves the fact that the duo was added to the stable because they are family and he is thrilled with the revamped Bloodline.
“The Bloodline, the WWE is home. To be able to see them come and not just go right into an angle, they’re only put there for the simple fact that they belong there. Nothing else, nothing more. You got Roman that’s out the picture now, Jimmy’s out the picture now. Now here comes Solo and his crew, what they like to call The Bloodline 2.0, the brothers, Tama and Tonga Loa, they’re doing a great job. They both look great, they look fresh. So nice to see fresh faces out of there, being involved in The Bloodline, and family at that.”
It has been announced that Tama Tonga will be locking horns with Randy Orton in the semi-finals of the WWE King Of The Ring tournament on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown. While Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa continue to assert dominance on the blue brand, we recently reported that they won’t be using the Gurilla’s of Destiny team name.
Check out their WWE debuts here:
Solo Sikoa enacts sweeping changes to The Bloodline, kicking out Jimmy Uso whilst adding Tama Tonga:
As Kevin Owens seems to clinch victory with a earth-shattering Brainbuster, Tanga Loa makes his WWE debut in an effort to save Solo Sikoa & Tama Tanga from defeat.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi is thrilled to know that his sons, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso will lock horns at WrestleMania 40 next month.
The sibling rivalry between Main Event Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso has been boiling for months now. It was at WWE SummerSlam last year that Jimmy crossed his brother Jey during the Tribal Combat match against Roman Reigns. It cost Jey the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Jimmy would later explain that he did it to protect his brother. This wasn’t the only time something like this happened.
Most recently Jimmy Uso went on to distract Jey and once again cost his brother the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Gunther during the Febraury 19th Raw. Tired of his brother poking his nose in his business, Jey Uso issued a challenge to his twin brother and Jimmy accepted.
Rikishi is delighted for Jey Uso vs Jimmy Uso
On Rikishi Fatu Off The Top, the legendary WWE superstar was questioned about what has been labeled as a dream match. It seems that Rikishi is excited about the match being booked because of his relation to both the stars and of course, due to the significance it holds for the whole Bloodline. Here is what he said:
“That’s exciting news. Man, I’m excited, to be able to have the boys out there. Another historic…Bloodline, family tree, news, whatever you want to call it, but to have my two sons out there on WrestleMania finally going after it together,
This is a big deal for the whole fans everybody. You’re finally gonna see the dream match, Uso vs. Uso, Yeet vs. No Yeet. It’s gonna be exciting. I’m very happy to be the last to know about it.”
Fans have witnessed plenty of sibling rivalries in the past and this match at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ will certainly script some career-defining moments for them.
Rikishi has teased getting involved with the Bloodline story for long and he could very well play a part in this clash in some way.
WrestleMania 40 takes place on April 6 & 7 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jimmy and Jey Uso appear to be on course to a match at WrestleMania 40, and their father Rikishi is open to being a part of their story.
At WWE SummerSlam 2023, Jimmy betrayed his brother during the Tribal Combat match, costing his brother the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. While Jimmy said he did what he did to protect his brother, Jimmy has since done all he can to interfere with his brother’s plans.
Last week on Raw, Jimmy distracted Jey, costing his brother in his Intercontinental Championship match with GUNTHER. During this week’s show, Jimmy again got involved, costing Jey in the main event match against Drew McIntyre.
Rikishi Getting Involved?
It’s been reported for some time that a match at WrestleMania 40 pitting Jimmy against Jey is in the works. Many fans have argued that their father WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi should have a role in the feud, potentially as the special guest referee. Speaking at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling convention in Manchester, UK, Rikishi teased getting involved when asked about the rumored match.
“I think it’s going to be a good match for WrestleMania. But there’s just a piece missing in that match. What do you guys think? There’s a piece missing. We’ve got Jey Vs. Jimmy. But there’s just that [piece missing.] Is it #WeWantRikishi?”
WWE WrestleMania 40
WWE WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night event, a tradition established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The card for the show as it currently stands is as follows:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
GUNTHER (c) vs. Winner of Next week’s WWE Raw Gauntlet Match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso (EXPECTED)
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The infamous spot involving Rikishi at the WWE Armageddon 2000 pay-per-view almost led to the legend becoming a divorced man, he has revealed.
The spot in question took place during the six-man Armageddon Hell in a Cell match for the WWF Championship held by Kurt Angle at the time. In unquestionably the most memorable spot of the match, The Undertaker threw Rikishi off the top of the cell and onto a truck that Vince McMahon had driven to ringside. Angle would retain his title in the match which also featured The Rock, ‘Stone Cold’ Stever Austin, and Triple H.
Rikishi’s Near Divorce
Even over 23 years later, the fall from the Cell is what many think of when they think of Rikishi. When speaking to the Metro newspaper, the WWE Hall of Famer recalled his family being furious that he allowed himself to take the bump.
“I almost got divorced from my family. It was like, you know, they were p***ed off that I did that move, the sacrifice. But, at the time, they didn’t understand that’s just what we do, as performers, as wrestlers.”
Rikishi’s family were right to be concerned about his safety, as the former Intercontinental Champion explained how badly things could have gone.
“This flatbed [truck] had no railings on the side during the walkthrough. But during the show, when this flatbed came out, there was railings. So now, my whole nervous system just went berserk.
“Because if I didn’t hit that target my whole body go right through that aluminum rail. I mean, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you.”
Mid-match, the Undertaker told Rikishi he didn’t have to go through with the spot, but the superheavyweight was determined to do it for the fans. When the spot happened, Rikishi’s body was left in panic mode.
“I didn’t know if I was still alive. Trying to move my move, I was just still – all I could hear was “Holy s**t”. I said, “Okay. My ears work”. But I was just waiting for my body.”
Rikishi added that he received a standing ovation backstage after the match, which meant a lot to him.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has alerted both WWE and AEW that former MLW National Openweight Champion Jacob Fatu is a free agent.
Fatu gained massive recognition for his tenure in Major League Wrestling (MLW) and his association with the faction CONTRA Unit. He is a former MLW World Heavyweight Champion. His in-ring style combines power, agility, and high-flying moves and those traits make him a dynamic performer.
Jacob recently made New Japan Pro Wrestling appearance at the Battle in the Valley where he teamed with Fred Rosser and Shota Umino and defeated Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor.)
As his last name suggests, he belongs to the Anoa’i wrestling family, which includes legends such as Yokozuna, Umaga, and The Rock. Recently, Roman Reigns-led The Bloodline stable has been unstoppable and represents the family in WWE. Well, given Jacob’s free-agent status, his next move is still a mystery. Rikishi has now put both WWE and AEW on notice after Jacob Fatu ended his five-year run with MLW.
Rikishi believes Jacob Fatu is “ready”
Taking to Twitter/X, Rikishi has said that Jacob Fatu “has been the baddest talented Indy worker on the scene” and that “Its TIME.” He then raised the question as to whether AEW or WWE would bag the signing of the Samoan superstar.
Fans and promotions alike have their eyes on Jacob Fatu as a potential future star in major wrestling companies like WWE and AEW with his reputation steadily growing. He possesses the potential to dominate the wrestling world and he remains a compelling figure in the industry.
There is a huge chance that he could make a move to WWE. It is something that he has been vocal about in the past, more specifically about joining The Bloodline could bolster the stable.
We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Jacob Fatu.
It seems more WWE legends will appear on the Raw 30th-anniversary show.
WWE has reached a major milestone with their longest-running TV show, Monday Night Raw reaching 30 years of programming. Although the first episode of Monday Night Raw happened on Jan. 11, 1993, WWE decided to celebrate their milestone on Jan. 23.
The company has advertised several WWE legends, including The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, to appear at the event. However, it seems WWE has at least two unannounced legends to pop in for the 30th anniversary of Monday Night Raw.
Spoiler Warning
The Daily Items’ Francis Scarcella reports former WWE talent Rikishi and Samu will appear at the 30th celebration of Monday Night Raw. In the article, Samu confirmed that he would be at the event on Jan. 23.
“…I want to thank the WWE for everything they have done for myself and my family,” Anoa’i said. “I look forward to next week when I can see a lot of familiar faces and be reunited with a lot of my family members,” said Samu(h/t Francis Scarcella).
Rikishi hasn’t shared if he will be at the event yet. The WWE has yet to advertise either Samu or Rikishi, so it’s possible their potential appearance is to be a surprise. The Bloodline faction led by Roman Reigns is to have a segment on Monday Night Raw listed as the “Acknowledgement Ceremony.” Samu and Rikishi could make an appearance during that segment.
What to Look Out For During the 30th Anniversary of Monday Night Raw?
The 30th anniversary of Monday Night Raw could be an exciting event to watch. While the WWE has advertised several legends, there could be more surprise appearances. WWE has also promoted two championship matches and a steel cage match between Becky Lynch and Bayley.
WWE fans may also be curious if WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will come out on the show. He hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since he unceremoniously retired from WWE following allegations of misconduct with female employees on July 22.
The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa has made an impact on the main roster since arriving at Clash at the Castle. He interfered in the main event to ensure Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre and retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
The former NXT North American Champion has become the enforcer of The Bloodline and has acknowledged Roman Reigns as his Tribal Chief.
Speaking with Peter Rosenberg on Cheap Heat, Solo discussed his brothers The Usos, and his legendary father, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi. Rosenberg noted that he’s seven years younger than Jimmy and Jey and wondered at what point Sikoa decided he was going to be a wrestler.
It’s always there. I feel like it’s always been inside of me. I wanted to give wrestling a try but it’s always been around. It’s in our blood man, you can’t teach this. I feel like no matter what I’ve done growing up, I feel like I always would have come back to wrestling. And look at us now.
Peter noted that Solo’s dad Rikishi was on top of the world around the year 2000 and asked what his earliest memory was of seeing his dad wrestle.
I remember on the night before school, I saw my dad debut with his blonde hair. I remember everybody, you know, my uncles, my aunties, my mom, and my brothers, we were all sitting there.
They were crowding the TV and I’m like ‘man watch out, what is going on?’. And then I see my dad. Not only did I see my dad, I saw him in underwear and with the blonde hair. I’m like ‘I just seen him yesterday and he didn’t look like that’.
I knew from that point on, man. It just took off. I was like ‘wow, that’s dad, that’s crazy’.
Solo spoke about it taking a while for Rikishi to find his spot in WWE but became very recognizable once he did.
It took him a while to find that spot in the WWE. I think when he found himself as Rikishi, he had already been through like five different characters at the time. When Rikishi took off, I knew people were going to recognize him.
He’s a big Samoan guy with blonde hair. There’s not many big Samoans with blonde hair. And we all know he had a big a**. It’s hard to miss a big a** with blonde hair on a big Samoan guy. Everywhere he went, people knew who he was.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Cheap Heat with a H/T to SEScoops for the transcription.
During this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw, one of the most interesting parts of the show was what was happening in the background.
During several segments, a crashed car could be seen in the background of shots, with WWE Superstars, including Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H checking out the damage.
The crashed car wouldn’t come up until the final moments of Raw, when it was revealed that Dexter Lumis had returned to WWE, appearing in the crowd and starting a program with AJ Styles.
Rikishi Denies Involvement
Before Lumis’ return, many speculated as to who was behind the crashed car on Raw, and whether it was part of the broadcast or something had really happened.
When WWE’s official Twitter account shared an image of the car being towed, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi was quick to deny any involvement.
With Rikishi not appearing in WWE since November 2020, it may seem odd that some considered him a suspect in the car crash.
Rikishi’s claim of innocence is a reference to his infamous Attitude Era heel turn, after Stone Cold Steve Austin was run down during Survivor Series 1999.
Austin, who had been dealing with severe injuries, was written off of TV for close to a year, before it was revealed that Rikishi had been the one who ran him down.
What was supposed to be the start of a monster heel turn for Rikishi quickly faltered, as Austin would squash the superheavyweight at the No Mercy 2000 Pay Per View.
WWE re-wrote the story, saying that Rikishi had been the driver, but was doing the bidding of established top-heel Triple H.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has thrown his weight behind The Rock should “The Brahma Bull” ever run for President of the United States.
While best known for his career in the ring and in Hollywood, The Rock has said he is seriously considering a political career, calling it a “real possibility” in 2017.
More recently, “The Great One” has said he has done research into a potential run for President of the United States of America.
Rikishi took to social media recently to call for the “Samoan Bulldozer” Umaga to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Umaga had two different stints in WWE. He first signed with the company in 2001 and debuted as Jamal of 3-Minute Warning along with Rosey. He was released in 2003 but would return to the company in 2005 and was repackaged as Umaga.
I feel it’s long overdue #UmagaHOF class of 2022 .
Umaga was Vince McMahon’s representative in the hair vs hair match at WrestleMania 23. He lost to Bobby Lashley resulting in Vince McMahon having to have his head shaved.
Umaga was also a 2x Intercontinental Champion in WWE. In 2009, WWE released him due to his refusing to go to rehab following a violation of the company’s wellness policy. He would pass away due to a heart attack just 6 months later at the age of 36.
Last year, Jim Ross spent some time on his Grillin Jr. podcast speaking about Umaga.
“Umaga was the prototype that in a different era would’ve been a perfect NFL nose tackle. He had amazing athleticism for a guy that big. He was a super heavyweight that had light heavyweight feet. Just was so athletic and good-hearted. I just loved being around him – he was just a big kid and a good dude. Like you said, he left us way too early,” Ross said on the show.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast. The former Intercontinental Champion discussed a number of topics during the podcast, including his regrets at not winning a WWE Championship during his time with the company.
“That was one thing that I wished would have happened. I just wanted to have that shot, to become the world champion” Rikishi began. “Just one time. If you’re in this industry and you’re not shooting for the top like that, then you’re in the wrong industry. You need to start getting your priorities straight. Even though, a lot of people may think it’s a work and so forth, but you can tell they put the belt on certain people for a reason.”
“If you’re not fighting to perfect your craft, to really get looked at, to have the company, the bookers, the promoters, be able to have that look on you, then you’re not working hard enough” Rikishi continued. “Then you’re not understanding this industry.”
Rikishi
Rikishi on WrestleMania
Rikishi finished by saying that he wished he had a main event slot at a WrestleMania. The father of The Usos specifically said that he wanted to have a WrestleMania main event match against either The Rock or Stone Cold Steve Austin.
“Had I been able to turn it back around, yeah, I would have loved to have had a match against The Rock or Stone Cold Steve Austin for the title, and beat them. And beat them on the big grand stage of WrestleMania.”
You can watch the full interview in the YouTube player embedded below:
Do you think that Rikishi could’ve ever got to that level in the WWE/WWF? Let us know in the comments
Rapper Bow Wow recently revealed that he is planning to train as a pro-wrestler with Rikishi. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Rikishi spoke about Bow Wow coming to train with him and how he will be treated as a student.
“We have been talking and I’m very happy, let me tell you the story about how I met this kid,” Rikishi said about Bow Wow. “So back in the day, I was actually coming onto a flight in Atlanta and as I was making my way to my seat in first class, there Bow Wow was. I think he was about 9 or 10 years old at the time, but he was already making hit records, and we just kind of kicked off.”
“Me, I was on my way to work and I knew who he was. My father figure kind of kicked in saying I’m very proud of you and continue the hard work, make sure you do good in school and that kind of stuff. Twenty-something years later, I see this tweet come up and I just put a message out to him. I just felt like I knew this kid for a long time and again my passion for the business and for those coming in, I just felt obligated to teach him the right way.”
How Will Bow Wow Be Treated As A Student?
Rikishi also commented on if Bow Wow will receive any special treatment.
“He’s actually based out there in Atlanta but he will be coming down here (to Southern California) sometime this month to get it going. But I’m going to train him like I train all my students. We know his celebrity status, but in order for him to really understand the industry correctly, we got to put that all aside,” Rikishi said.
“If Bow Wow can come into our industry and put asses in seats at WrestleMania, then why not? And everybody should motivate him or help him because him coming in, or anybody coming in from hip hop or the movie industry into our industry, obviously they’re green and they need to be smartened up. So there is no time for jealousy or those who just hate on the poor guy who is just trying to come in to live his dream.”
Rapper Bow Wow has said that he plans to get into pro-wrestling as he winds his music career to a close. Today, he took to Twitter to announce that he has chosen to train with Rikishi.
Rikishi helps run the KnokX Pro Entertainment promotion and academy in Los Angeles, CA.
I have officially decided to train with my boy @TheREALRIKISHI at his gym in California to get ready for the @wwe . LOCKED IN
Bow Wow then sent a message to Damian Priest that he’s got John Morrison’s back and he’s coming for him and Bad Bunny.
Hey @ArcherOfInfamy tell your little pet bad bunny I’ve been watching… and im not impressed. ? ? ? … i got @TheRealMorrison back! Stop hiding from the REAL mr bunny
“A lot of the wrestlers who are coming for me on twitter should be happy im going back and forth. Most have like 70k followers. Im actually helping you become a bigger name (million dollar man laugh) how you on RAW with 50k followers. Something not adding up,” Bow Wow also Tweeted.
When asked who he’d like to face in WWE, Bow Wow had the following to say:
“I want bad bunny. But retribution jumped out on me first. Id love to bring them down 1 by 1”
Posted February 15th, 2021 in WWE, News. Tagged: Rikishi.
Roman Reigns announcing his leukemia diagnosis and relinquishing the Universal Championship in October 2018 was one of the most surprising events of last year.
During a recent interview with WrestlingInc, Rikishi who is the cousin of the Big Dog talked about a number of things such as the Rock becoming a movie star and more.
Talking about The Big Dog’s announcement last year, Rikishi who is also a part of The Anoa’i Family revealed that they knew about it beforehand and he claimed that he is proud of the domino effect it created:
“We all knew about it. But it was his timing and as a
family we supported his thoughts and when it was right for him to come out with
it, I can’t tell you how proud I am of him of being able to speak up because
it’s a domino effect in helping other kids diagnosed with leukemia.”
The Hall Of Famer went on to say that Reigns using his meet and greets and charities to bring awareness to the disease is a beautiful thing and it’s bigger than wrestling.
Apart from this, Rikishi discussed Roman Reigns possibly leaving WWE for Hollywood, his wrestling school and what is the first thing he asks the new trainees at his academy.
He also talked about working with Vince McMahon and revealed what Mr McMahon told him before taking the Stinkface maneuver. You can check out his comments on the matter here.
Posted November 4th, 2019 in WWE, News. Tagged: Rikishi.
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has shared details over the time he had to deliver his infamous finishing move, the Stinkface, to Vince McMahon.
Speaking with the WINCLY podcast, Rikishi shared his admiration of Vince McMahon and the product he has created.
“Vince McMahon is a wonderful dude and I don’t have nothing bad to say about the man,” Rikishi stated. “He’s set up his platform for wrestlers in the past, present and future and he’s taken care of a lot of families.”
He continued, “For us to be a part of his family, I’m talking about all the way to his father. My family has been there for 75+ years so it’s a family thing to be a part of the WWE. So, I wanna thank Vince McMahon for continuing to put out entertainment for fans around the world.”
Turning his attention towards the moment he had to Stinkface his boss, he recalled that Vince had a specific request for him.
“Before we went out there he goes, ‘Hey. I hope you washed your ass today.’ I said just because it’s called Stinkface doesn’t mean my ass stinks,” Rikishi joked.
He revealed that he would wrestle in three different thongs. His decision on which thong to wear that night was based on his much he liked his opponent.
“I have the thong I never take out the sandwich bag. I have the mediocre thong that I air out. Then I have the new thongs,” he explained. “So for those you think I don’t like, which thong do you think they get? So I wanted to give Vince McMahon the new thong. Otherwise I probably would have gotten fired the next day.”
The Usos captured the Smackdown tag-team championships on Sunday for a record 4th time. They defeated Shane McMahon and the Miz, ending their reign after just 21 days. WWE Hall of Famer, and father of the Usos, Rikishi, took to Instagram to comment on his sons winning the titles yet again.
Rikishi on the Usos Winning The Smackdown Tag Team Titles
Rikishi quotes his son Jonathan Fatu (Jimmy Uso) in the post.
“You go out there day in and day out and you grind and you bust your ass. As soon as you slip one time you got the world against you, you know?” “It’s hard to go out like that with the mindset thinking everyone out there’s against you. Until you go out there and you show them what you’re really made of. “ – Jonathan Fatu
The Usos WWE Contract Situation
Jimmy and Jey Uso are only under contract to WWE until this April. It was noted on Wrestling Observer radio recently that the brothers had not signed new contracts as of one week ago. Things could have changed since then without it being public knowledge, however.
The Usos are 6x WWE tag-team champions, twice before the brand-split, and then 4x over as the Smackdown tag-team champions. They were awarded the Slammy for WWE Tag Team of the Year in 2014 and 2015.
Last night WWE held its Survivor Series pay-per-view (PPV) event from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The card featured several big match-ups between Monday Night RAW and Smackdown Live’s champions.
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar faced WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, Charlotte Flair of SDL faced RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, and the traditional RAW vs. SDL Elimination Tag Team matches also took place. RAW emerged victorious on the night with a 6-0 clean sweep over SDL. It wasn’t only a big night in the ring, however, as some notable stars were backstage for the show as well.
UFC Hall Of Famer Tito Ortiz and his family were backstage at Survivor Series. Also, WWE Hall Of Famers Mark Henry, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Rikishi, and Ric Flair were at the show. And former WWE stars Sean “X-Pac” Waltman, Darren Young, Candice Michelle, and former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia were all backstage.
Check out some photos of the stars at the event here below:
I promised my boy @ATelagaarta that I’d personally bring him to a wrestling show myself so that night was last night @STAPLESCenter@wwe ‘s #SurvivorSeries. It was an absolute pleasure sitting with you watching my colleagues roll up the sleeves and go to work. ?? ya homie pic.twitter.com/kA5tHZ5ycs
