Wrestling Forum banner

Forgotten Legends90: High Chief Peter Maivia

4K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  Ghost Lantern 
#1 ·
A member of Anoa'i wrestling family, Grandfather of The Rock could be the most likely identity one can quickly come up for High Chief Peter Maivia.

But a legend in his own right, initially known as Flying Hawaiian, was a promoter for NWA in Hawaii other than being a high chief and holding 13 titles across NWA.

Shooting to prominence on his feud with Superstar Billy Graham, he trained initially in New Zealand going on to win the New Zealand heavyweight title there. He slowly started elevating himself in the NWA ranks by winning NWA Australasian heavyweight championship before moving to San Francisco territory winning the tag titles there and starting his feud with Billy Graham who had teamed with Pat Patterson. The two went on to become close real life friends and Peter Maivia helped Billy Graham groom into the legend he were to become later. Billy Graham reciprocated later when he was in WWWF by giving Peter Maivia a lot of shots at the title and bringing the best in him out.

In his peak, he pinned Superstar Billy Graham in a non-title match u p. He also teamed with Chief Jay Strongbow being a contender for both the WWWF tag and world title. Before his death, he captured the NWA Americas heavyweight championship.

His legacy was carried on by his students Afa and Sika while Billy Graham credited him for being the most important influence in his life. He opened the doors of wrestling to Samoan/Polynesian wrestlers pioneering the style; a forgotten legend.
 
See less See more
#5 ·
You mad?


I'm just saying, what's the point in entering a thread if you don't know shit about the subject?


And read my post, kid. I gave my opinion on this thread and that was people like you shouldn't come in them, especially when you just construct a post with a half ass sentence to describe the subject and just make an extension of the GOAT.


I would appreciate it if you refrain from entering threads like this, that have nothing to do with the majority of the shit you originally posted. Much appreciated as these classic threads don't get much love anyway and end up with people like you arguing over GOAT.

I asked nicely, please at least contribute to this thread. Further problem, PM me. Let's not take OP's thread any further off track because some people actually care about wrestling history and know a legend for doing more than having a successful grandson.

I'm done.
 
#18 · (Edited)
You mad?


I'm just saying, what's the point in entering a thread if you don't know shit about the subject?


And read my post, kid. I gave my opinion on this thread and that was people like you shouldn't come in them, especially when you just construct a post with a half ass sentence to describe the subject and just make an extension of the GOAT.


I would appreciate it if you refrain from entering threads like this, that have nothing to do with the majority of the shit you originally posted. Much appreciated as these classic threads don't get much love anyway and ecnd up with people like you arguing over GOAT.

I asked nicely, please at least contribute to this thread. Further problem, PM me. Let's not take OP's thread any further off track because some people actually care about wrestling history and know a legend for doing more than having a successful grandson.

I'm done.

Wow, tried to give you props for this but i cant.... apparently i have to spread this around.

I do think Mavia's legacy has more shine because of the Rock. But that should not take away from him having legend status. Heck the guy is a legend and wreslted all over the world.

I thought he was a much better heel.
 
#2 ·
Rock's grandfather-That's how he will be remembered


In 2050,these are the people who will be remembered:

Hulk Hogan
Ric Flair
Bret Hart
Shawn Michaels
Undertaker
Stone Cold
Rock
HHH
John Cena


People like Savage, Warrior,Sting,Foley,Batista,Orton etc would come up in list as forgotten legends
 
#7 · (Edited)
How is that "list" relevant to this subject in any way? Let alone the ridiculous choices in it like putting guys like Cena and HHH above Randy Savage. IIRC, you said in the past that you didn't know an all-time legend like Ric Flair until 2006.

Anyway, Peter Maivia was a pioneer, mega charismatic performer and a true legend in the business who paved the way for generations of wrestlers who came after and because of him. His influence will never be forgotten.
 
#3 ·
See, people like ^ should just stay out of threads like this.


There are many in this world who know him for being more than The Rock's grandfather. Many will remember him as being the first Samoan in the business to gain notoriety. Only people like you feel that he's not important because he was before your time.

I see why threads like this don't get many replies. Not many (like myself) have any legit insight to add and there is always people like ^ who totally disrespect somebody's legacy, whatever it may have been, by just limiting him as Rock's grandfather.

If you know nothing about the man, why even comment on him? Stick to Attitude Era threads and leave threads like this to those who remember and respect the old school.
 
#8 ·
Didn't know Flair until 2006?


That should take away his right to even post in this section, since it's based on shit from 2001.


One thing I find odd about Peter Maivia was the explanation about the artwork he got, something about being a Samoan tradition and nearly dying from the pain. News to me that he actually trained The Wild Samoans. Guess that is when the rich Samoan legacy truly began. Not taking nothing away from High Chief but it just seems like Afa and Sika were the first Samoans to achieve large amounts of success in the WWWF.
 
#10 ·
Yeah, according to Rock, he got his tattoo done in one day which is a crazy time. Rock's tattoo for example which was done by a pro took 3 sessions of 16 hours each. High Chief also almost died from ink poisoning due to the rushing and the unsafe environment back then. The guy was insanely tough to even think of doing it.
 
#11 ·
The story of his tattoo according to Superstar Billy Graham was that he had them done in three days time in an extremely difficult process of using hammer and needle with ink which he found it difficult even to watch. Coming from a "student" of Maivia, it must have been true.

Felt great to hear when Rock went through the same process to honor his heritage, something rare today when the easy way out is preferred.

He along with Bobo Brazil and Mildred Burke will be remembered as pioneers who opened the gates to Samoan/Polynesian, Afro-american and women in pro-wrestling respectively.
 
#16 ·
Internet fans seem to be so disrespectful, I am glad there are still some who respect the wrestlers who paved the way.

Watched a Legends of Wrestling Roundtable the other day and Pat Patterson said how Maivia was a big draw in California and when he was wrestling the Samoans were very rowdy. And just to pose a question, is the Anoa'i family the greatest wrestling family of all time? I know the Maivia line biologically isn't part of it, but they have been put in it.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top