Former WWE Tag Champion Samu talks training Batista, what's wrong with wrestlers today
Posted: Apr 12th 2014 By: Vocnation.com
Former WWE Tag Team Champion Samu Anoa'i stepped IN THE ROOM with Brady Hicks this week to talk about his time on the road, being part of one of wrestling's most legendary families, and his WXW C4 promotion in Allentown, PA. Check it out as Samu talks about fighting with kids in school because they called wrestling "fake," what inspired him to be a wrestler, the legend of a Samoan headbutt, and having so many family members in the business, including The Rock.
IN THE ROOM airs Tuesday nights at 9 PM ET live on the VOC Nation Radio Network at vocnation.com. Call in to the show at (855) VOC- RADIO.Brady Hicks is a wrestling journalist best known for his ongoing work with Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
On His Trainee Batista, Then and Now:
He always had the look that you knew. [He was] positive. He had the passion and the desire. He had a little late start, but he was still a fast learner. And he was able to be very marketable for a while ... I don't know what happened, if anything, to discourage him or to change his mind. I know that the business has done a lot for him and his family. And that's something you should never forget, that you always remember. He just got a late start I believe and time catches up to all of us. And especially now they're really pushing the younger generation.
On What's Missing from Wrestlers Today:
There's a lot more on-the-job training now. They're trying to build these kids so fast, and get them ready for Main Event. It's hard to get that timing like back in the day because there [used to be] territories where you were still working 6 or 7 nights a week, and learning that timing that you cannot find here and now. In the indies you're lucky if you get out 2 or 3 times in a weekend. So it's harder to build that timing now and get them ready ... Now guys are [also] afraid to get hurt Guys are afraid they're going to hurt their finger and not be able to go to the gym tomorrow. We didn't care if we were hurt. We knew if we were hurt we'd have to get out there anyway or somebody else would take our job. That's the difference between then and now ... They don't have to pay there dues. Plus they don't have that road to travel on too. They're not out enough. How can you do it?
On The Learning Process:
I was lucky to be able to be in the middle with all the old timers. I was younger, but I was a sponge, and I was sucking up everything. I had my mouth shut and my eyes ears open, and just tried to learn everything I could. I was lucky enough to hang in there, keep my oars in the boat, and make a living off of it and continue on through all the eras. Again it comes back to the schooling that I give those kids now. I'm able to see another change how the business is and hopefully steer them in the right direction.
On What Wrestling is Missing Today:
Back in our days we were always out protecting the business. People were talking bs, saying it was fake, [and] this and that. And [with] my father being in [WWE] and, knowing the injuries he was coming home with, it always kind of pissed me off. It always was a big thing to me to protect the business back then. We don't have that so much anymore. I feel that that should be carried through in the schools today that they have out there nowadays, they need to learn how to act not just in the ring but how to act out of the ring too.
Supplemental Information
Upcoming Events
- UWO · May 2 3:00pm · Noble
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- EPW · May 16 6:00pm · Arcadia
- NAW · May 16 6:30pm · Bunch (Greasy)
- TexPro · May 16 7:00pm · Ardmore
- FIW · May 16 7:00pm · Enid
- UWO · May 22 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- RWE · May 30 6:00pm · Spencer
- WAH · May 31 6:00pm · Tulsa
- BCW · May 2 7:00pm · Guthrie
- BCW · May 3 4:00pm · Guthrie
- EPW · May 16 6:00pm · Arcadia
- FIW · May 16 7:00pm · Enid
- LCW · May 9 11:30am · Bristow
- NAW · May 9 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- NAW · May 16 6:30pm · Bunch (Greasy)
- RDW · May 8 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- RWE · May 30 6:00pm · Spencer
- TexPro · May 16 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWE · May 16 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · May 22 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · May 31 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · May 2 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
There are currently no upcoming appearences.
Spotlight in History
- 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02
- 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
- 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
- 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
- 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
- 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
- 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
- 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
- 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
- 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
- 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
- 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
- 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
- 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
- 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
- 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
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Oklafan Quiz
Bernard Funk and Renegade are former tag team champions with another partner, and they also held a title together as a team in an Oklahoma based fed.