Hasbro WWF action figures: Yokozuna

Name: Yokozuna

Series: 8

Year: 1994

Approximate market price: $5 to $40

Accessories: None

Special move: Sumo smash

Description: Black and red tight

Career: Born in October 1966, Rodney Anoa'i portrayed the well-known Yokozuna character in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation. Contrary to what his time in the WWF might suggest, Anoa'i wasn't Japanese and never competed as a sumo wrestler. He was of Samoan origins and comes from a family of professional wrestlers. His uncles Afa and Sika (the Wild Samoans) trained him.

Between 1984 and 1992, he wrestled in Japan, Mexico and the United States (for the AWA).

In October 1992, Yokozuna appeared for the first time in the WWF. He was managed by Mr. Fuji. He won the 1993 Royal Rumble to get a WWF title shot at Wrestlemania IX against Bret "The Hitman" Hart. Yokozuna defeated Hart and won his first WWF championship after Fuji's interference. After the match, a confrontation with Hulk Hogan led to a match that Yokozuna lost. His championship reign is the second shortest in the company's history. Yokozuna took the title back from Hogan at the 1993 King of the Ring event.

After feuds with Lex Luger and The Undertaker, Yokozuna lost his championship to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania X.

At Wrestlemania XI, he was Owen Hart's secret partner. They defeated The Smoking Gunns to win the WWF tag team championship.

He was released in 1998 after he didn't pass a New York State Athletic Commission physical test.

On October 23, 2000, Anoa'i died in his Liverpool hotel room.