WWE History Vol. 10: Bring on the big guys

#6 Yokozuna

Yokozuna

Real Name: Rodney Anoa'i

Active years: 1984-2000

Height and Weight: 6' 2" 480 lbs (Billed at six five and 583 lbs.)

Signature Move: Banzai Drop

Yokozuna is a member of the famous Anoa'i Samoan family who also count The Rock and Roman Reigns among their members.

He wrestled under a variety of gimmicks, such as Kokina Maximus, and Wild Samoan Kokina all over the world, particularly in Japan.

Eventually, he made his way to the WWE in 1992 by a personal invitation from Vince McMahon. He wanted a foreign monster heel to pit against his all American baby faces, and thus rechristened Kokina as Yokozuna.

As Yokozuna, he was billed as being from Japan and wrestled under the Japanese flag. He's the only wrestler in history to have back-to-back pay-per-view victories over Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan. Yokozuna captured the WWE World Championship and was one of the most successful heels of the New Generation era.

Yokozuna also won the tag team titles with Owen Hart. The duo is considered one of the most underrated tag team combinations in WWE history due to their experience and mix of power and speed.

In 1996, Yokozuna was released by the WWE, and he spent the next several years competing on the indie circuit before his death in 2000. Yokozuna was well-loved backstage as a gentle giant, and even today many fans and wrestlers look back fondly upon his reign as champion.