Ofelia Maivia[1] (born Ofelia Fuataga; August 6, 1927 – October 19, 2008)[2] was a Samoan professional wrestlingpromoter. Maivia was the wife of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia and the grandmother of actor and wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock.
Maivia took over the Polynesian Pro Wrestling (PPW), a territory of the National Wrestling Alliance in Hawaii, following the death of her husband, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, in 1982.[3] She became one of wrestling's first female promoters.[1] In the mid-1980s, her promotion ran a show called Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling on the Financial News Network.[4] Her biggest card, A Hot Summer Night, occurred on 3 August 1985 and had a crowd of 20,000.[1] Her show the following year, A Hot Summer Night II, did not do as well, and the promotion began to decline.[1] Maivia, her booker Lars Anderson, and Ati So'O faced extortion charges from a competing Hawaiian promotion, but were acquitted in November 1989.[1] PPW closed in 1988.[3][5]
In 2018, Maivia's grandson, Dwayne Johnson gave an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in which Johnson recounts that his grandfather 'High Chief' Peter Maivia, at the beginning of his career, never told his wife of the choreography of wrestling, leading Maivia to believe it was "real fighting". When Johnson's grandfather was in a match in San Francisco, and was getting beaten by his opponent, Lia Maivia came into the ring, and started beating her husband's opponent with her wooden clog shoe leading Peter Maivia to shout in Samoan to stop beating his opponent up and that the opponent was Maivia's friend.[6]
Personal life
Lia Maivia had one daughter, Mataniufeagaimaleata Fitisemanu (Ata Fitisemanu), with her first husband Sione Papali'i Fitisemanu. After she married Peter Maivia he adopted her daughter and changed her name to Ata Fitisemanu Maivia.[1][3] Ata and her ex-husband Rocky Johnson are the parents of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.[3]
Maivia died of a heart attack at her home in Davie, Florida, on 19 October 2008.[3][5] There were conflicting reports of her age, as most outlets reported that she was 81 years old,[2][5] while The Miami Herald reported that she was 77.[3] The Anoa'i family established the "Lia Maivia Scholarship" in her honor.[7]
Bill Apter, a writer and journalist who specializes in wrestling, wrote of Maivia following her death: "When my daughter Hailey, who is now 23, met Lia at a wrestling event in upper New York state, Lia went to a gift shop at a nearby hotel and bought Hailey a stuffed rabbit as a gift. She had never met her before this day, and this shows what a heart she had!"[3] Greg Oliver, another professional wrestling journalist, wrote that Maivia "was considered a strong-willed businesswoman, demanding and challenging of her employees."[1]
Her life is featured in most episodes of Young Rock, an autobiographical series based on the life of Dwayne Johnson. In the series, she's portrayed by Ana Tuisila.
^ abcdefghOliver, Greg. "Lia Maivia was a pioneering woman promoter". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
^ ab"WWE ANNOUNCES PASSING OF FORMER PROMOTER, GRANDMOTHER OF ROCK LIA MAIVIA". PWInsider. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^ abcdefgBrecher, Elinor J. (25 October 2008). "Grandmother of 'The Rock,' promoter". Miami Herald.
^Oliver, Greg and Steven Johnson (2010). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels. ECW Press. p. 289. ISBN978-1554902842.
^ abc"Leah Maivia passes away". WWE. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
^"Dwayne Johnson's Grandma Was Into Wrestling". YouTube.
^"Scholarships". The Usos Foundation. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
January 11, 2023
maivia, ofelia, maivia, born, ofelia, fuataga, august, 1927, october, 2008, samoan, professional, wrestling, promoter, maivia, wife, samoan, professional, wrestler, peter, maivia, grandmother, actor, wrestler, dwayne, johnson, also, known, rock, bornofelia, fu. Ofelia Maivia 1 born Ofelia Fuataga August 6 1927 October 19 2008 2 was a Samoan professional wrestling promoter Maivia was the wife of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia and the grandmother of actor and wrestler Dwayne Johnson also known as The Rock Lia MaiviaBornOfelia Fuataga6 August 1927Lalomanu Aleipata Western Samoa 1 Died19 October 2008 2008 10 19 aged 81 Davie Florida U S NationalityAmerican SamoanOther namesLeah MaiviaOccupationProfessional wrestling promoterYears active1982 2008Spouse s Sione Papali i Fitisemanu divorced wbr Peter Maivia m 1953 died 1982 wbr Children2RelativesDwayne Johnson grandson Rocky Johnson son in law Contents 1 Professional wrestling career 2 Personal life 3 See also 4 ReferencesProfessional wrestling career EditMaivia took over the Polynesian Pro Wrestling PPW a territory of the National Wrestling Alliance in Hawaii following the death of her husband High Chief Peter Maivia in 1982 3 She became one of wrestling s first female promoters 1 In the mid 1980s her promotion ran a show called Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling on the Financial News Network 4 Her biggest card A Hot Summer Night occurred on 3 August 1985 and had a crowd of 20 000 1 Her show the following year A Hot Summer Night II did not do as well and the promotion began to decline 1 Maivia her booker Lars Anderson and Ati So O faced extortion charges from a competing Hawaiian promotion but were acquitted in November 1989 1 PPW closed in 1988 3 5 In 2018 Maivia s grandson Dwayne Johnson gave an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in which Johnson recounts that his grandfather High Chief Peter Maivia at the beginning of his career never told his wife of the choreography of wrestling leading Maivia to believe it was real fighting When Johnson s grandfather was in a match in San Francisco and was getting beaten by his opponent Lia Maivia came into the ring and started beating her husband s opponent with her wooden clog shoe leading Peter Maivia to shout in Samoan to stop beating his opponent up and that the opponent was Maivia s friend 6 Personal life EditLia Maivia had one daughter Mataniufeagaimaleata Fitisemanu Ata Fitisemanu with her first husband Sione Papali i Fitisemanu After she married Peter Maivia he adopted her daughter and changed her name to Ata Fitisemanu Maivia 1 3 Ata and her ex husband Rocky Johnson are the parents of Dwayne The Rock Johnson 3 Maivia died of a heart attack at her home in Davie Florida on 19 October 2008 3 5 There were conflicting reports of her age as most outlets reported that she was 81 years old 2 5 while The Miami Herald reported that she was 77 3 The Anoa i family established the Lia Maivia Scholarship in her honor 7 Bill Apter a writer and journalist who specializes in wrestling wrote of Maivia following her death When my daughter Hailey who is now 23 met Lia at a wrestling event in upper New York state Lia went to a gift shop at a nearby hotel and bought Hailey a stuffed rabbit as a gift She had never met her before this day and this shows what a heart she had 3 Greg Oliver another professional wrestling journalist wrote that Maivia was considered a strong willed businesswoman demanding and challenging of her employees 1 Her life is featured in most episodes of Young Rock an autobiographical series based on the life of Dwayne Johnson In the series she s portrayed by Ana Tuisila See also EditAnoaʻi familyReferences Edit a b c d e f g h Oliver Greg Lia Maivia was a pioneering woman promoter SLAM Wrestling Retrieved 15 May 2017 a b WWE ANNOUNCES PASSING OF FORMER PROMOTER GRANDMOTHER OF ROCK LIA MAIVIA PWInsider 21 October 2018 Retrieved 8 October 2021 a b c d e f g Brecher Elinor J 25 October 2008 Grandmother of The Rock promoter Miami Herald Oliver Greg and Steven Johnson 2010 The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame The Heels ECW Press p 289 ISBN 978 1554902842 a b c Leah Maivia passes away WWE Retrieved 15 May 2017 Dwayne Johnson s Grandma Was Into Wrestling YouTube Scholarships The Usos Foundation Retrieved 15 May 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lia Maivia amp oldid 1132121568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
