Rikishi

Biography

Born Solofa Fatu Jr. on October 11, 1965, in San Francisco, California, Rikishi is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), where he entertained fans with his charismatic performances and signature dance moves.

Career History and Evolution

Rikishi began his professional wrestling career in 1985. He worked for several wrestling promotions around the world before signing with WWF in 1992. Initially, he performed under the ring name “Fatu,” portraying a member of the tag team The Headshrinkers. In the late 90s, he evolved into the character Rikishi, a fun-loving, dancing behemoth who became extremely popular with fans.

Titles and Achievements

Over the course of his career, Rikishi won several championships, including the WWF Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship. His performances as a member of the tag team Too Cool, alongside Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay, are especially well-remembered by fans.

Biggest Matches and Rivalries

One of Rikishi’s biggest matches was at the 2000 King of the Ring, where he was involved in a six-man match for the WWF Championship. Rikishi also had notable rivalries with Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock, among others. His infamous “I did it for The Rock” storyline remains one of his most memorable angles.

Tag Team Partners

Besides his memorable tag team with Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay (Too Cool), Rikishi also had success with his real-life cousin Samu as part of The Headshrinkers.

Family Life

Rikishi is a member of the famous Anoa’i wrestling family, which includes names like The Rock, Roman Reigns, and The Usos. He is the father of WWE superstars Jimmy and Jey Uso.

Finishing Move

Rikishi’s finishing move, the “Rikishi Driver,” (a sitout piledriver) and the “Banzai Drop,” (a corner seated senton) were as memorable as his post-match dance routines. Rikishi was also known for his “Stinkface” move, where he would rub his posterior in his opponent’s face, much to the crowd’s delight (and his opponent’s dismay).

Clothing and Entrance Music

Rikishi was famous for his sumo-like appearance, wrestling in a traditional mawashi (sumo thong). His entrance music was often accompanied by his dance routines, and the song “You Look Fly Today,” performed by Slikk The Shocker, became synonymous with his character.
Rikishi was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, a testament to his impact and popularity in professional wrestling. From his early days as a Headshrinker to his time as the dancing Rikishi, he was a staple of WWE programming for many years and continues to be remembered fondly by fans.