Quick Facts
Biography
Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (April 6, 1937 – June 12, 1982), born Peter Fanene Anderson, was a Samoan professional wrestler better known as Peter Maivia. He is the maternal grandfather of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, part of the famous Anoa'i wrestling family and a promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance in Hawaii.
Personal life
Maivia, also known as the Flying Hawaiian, was of the Alii lineage of Malietoa. Maivia's ancient Samoan 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".
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. His character also fights Bond, is 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.
Death
In 1981, Maivia was diagnosed with cancer. He died on June 12, 1982. Maivia was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame, along with his son-in-law Rocky Johnson, in 2008 by his grandson Dwayne Johnson. The award was accepted on his behalf by his daughter Ata Maivia-Johnson. During his tribute video, WWE chairman Vince McMahon refers to him as a 'tough S.O.B.' and somebody 'you didn't want to mess with' outside the ring, but added he was 'a real wonderful, likable guy'.
On October 19, 2008, Maivia's wife, Lia Maivia, died.
Legacy
In the 2016 Disney animated film, Moana, the character design of Maui was derived from photographs of Peter Maivia, according to interviews with his grandson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Filmography
- You Only Live Twice (1967) - Car Driver
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Stump Puller (Inverted Boston crab)
- Signature moves
- Samoan drop
- Managers
- Freddie Blassie
- Wrestlers trained by Maivia
- Afa Anoa'i
- Rocky Johnson
- Superstar Billy Graham
- Peter Maivia, Jr.
- ^
Championships and accomplishments
- NWA All-Star Pro Wrestling
- NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (2 times)
- 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
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2016
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)
- "PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME MOVING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO TEXAS". PWInsider. November 20, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-20.