Biography

Solofa Fatu Jr. is a Samoan American retired professional wrestler best known for his run in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name Rikishi. During his WWE career, he captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship once, the WWE World Tag Team Championship twice, and the WWE Tag Team Championship once. Known for his size, athleticism, and crowd connection, Rikishi became a prominent figure of WWE’s late Attitude Era. Fatu is a member of the renowned Anoaʻi wrestling family. He is the twin brother of Sam Fatu (The Tonga Kid/Tama) and the older brother of the late Eddie Fatu (Umaga/Jamal). His extended family includes legendary tag team The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika Anoaʻi) and numerous cousins who competed professionally, including Yokozuna, Roman Reigns, The Rock, and Rosey. Rikishi is married to Talisua Fuavai-Fatu and is the father of five children. His twin sons Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso have gone on to become major stars in WWE, continuing the family’s generational presence in the industry. Outside of wrestling, Fatu has appeared in numerous video games and media projects, including WWF No Mercy, WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, multiple entries in the WWE 2K series, and films such as Natale a Miami and Sandy Wexler, along with a guest appearance on Nickelodeon’s Victorious. He has also spoken publicly about surviving a drive-by shooting in 1987, an experience that nearly cost him his life and remains a defining moment outside his wrestling career.