In recent years, 81-year-old Afa Anoa’i, best known to wrestling fans for being part of the legendary Wild Samoans tag team, has been dealing with various health issues. And now it has been announced via his son Afa Anoa’i Jr. on Facebook that his long-running World Xtreme Wrestling independent promotion is closing its doors, with their April 13 event set to be their final show.
“Last night at his WXW event he announced that he will be closing WXW and April 13th will be the final WXW event ever! I never thought i would see a day where WXW wasn’t there! This announcement caught me off guard and really I’ve been struggling to process it. WXW has always been more than some indy to me. WXW was always more than the training center. WXW was my safe place, my escape, my home team!”
Afa Anoa’i Jr.For those unaware, World Xtreme Wrestling is predominantly a Florida-based independent wrestling company, although they have run shows internationally. First launched in association with the original Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center under the name the Trans World Wrestling Federation during the 70s, Afa would rename the company to WXW in 1996. Subsequently, over the years, names like Bam Bam Bigelow, Batista, Gene Snitsky, Chris Kanyon, Billy Kidman, The Sandman, Kamala, and Gangrel would all wrestle in a WXW ring. However, the promotion’s biggest claim to fame is likely featuring in the Mickey Rourke movie “The Wrestler.”
