Reports circulated on Thursday evening claiming that WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa’i Sr. had passed away, following a Facebook post from his son, Samu. Following these reports, Afa’s family have provided an update.
In the post, Samu mentioned that Afa Anoa’i Sr. was embarking on his “final journey home,” prompting several news outlets to report his death. However, Afa’s daughter, Vale Anoa’i, quickly refuted these claims, urging the public to carefully read Samu’s message and rely only on information directly from the Anoa’i family. In his heartfelt post, Samu expressed gratitude for the love and guidance Afa has provided throughout their lives. He wrote:
As we embark on your final journey home, we express our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering love and guidance you have bestowed upon us throughout our lives. We find solace in knowing that you will soon be reunited with the Lord Jesus, your parents, siblings, and friends who have gone before us. We have no doubt that you will establish a Wild Samoan training center in the sky, bringing us all together once again. We believe in the power of your love and legacy, and we will continue to honor it in all that we do.
The sombre tone of the post led to confusion, with notable wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer initially reporting Afa’s death. Shortly after, he corrected himself on X, stating:
Afa has not passed away. He is battling.
Vale Anoa’i emphasised that Samu’s message did not explicitly state that Afa was dead. She urged readers to focus on the wording, saying:
Read [Samu’s] message very carefully. He never said he was gone YET. The word ‘SOON’ is the key word.
When Did Afa Anoa’i Sr. Undergo Surgery?
Afa Anoa’i Sr. recently underwent surgery on May 9th to replace an aortic valve, following the successful surgery Anoa’i was released from the hospital and his family said that he needed to continue with rehabilitation on his back.