Tag: rikishi

Rikishi stepping away from KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rikishi is stepping away from his wrestling academy.

The former WWE star announced on social media on Sunday that he was taking his leave from the wrestling school and promotion he started back in 2009.

“Love and respect KnokX Pro Entertainment & Academy. As I take my leave, I appreciate your understanding and respect for my decision to rest now. KnokX Pro Entertainment & Academy,” he wrote.

KnokX Pro was a source of controversy last year

KnokX Pro, which at one point was affiliated with the WWE ID program, came under fire last fall following an incident revolving around MMA fighter Raja Jackson and Syko Stu. Jackson, the son of Rampage Jackson, took Stu down during a live show and repeatedly punched him, even after he was rendered unconscious and ignored people who tried to intervene. Stu was hospitalized with serious injuries and Jackson was later arrested on multiple battery charges.

“What was supposed to be a planned and agreed upon wrestling spot, turned into a selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith. This egregious act is reprehensible and never should have occurred. In the 17 years of operation of KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, there has never been anything as heinous take place such as this and we apologize to our patrons and fans,” KnoxPro said in a statement.

The promotion later announced procedure changes in the wake of the incident. Stu was later released from the hospital and appeared at WrestleCon during WrestleMania weekend.

Rikishi says its ‘very difficult’ for fans to buy WWE tickets due to price increases

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rikishi is pointing out just how expensive WWE tickets can be.

On his podcast, the former Intercontinental Champion lamented how hard it is to get comp tickets to events for friends and family. Although he is no longer a WWE star, he’s under a legends contract, but even with that status he’s unable to get tickets.

“You would think that family members and friends, close friends, you still have those comp tickets, but there is no comp tickets,” he said. “I can probably try to get like a [discount] but what’s a discount nowadays, like, $1,000 a ticket? That’s still, for a family of five and a man working 9 to 5 through the whole week, and the whole family loves wrestling, it’s very difficult to be able to take a family to events.”

Rikishi also pointed out how different ticket prices are these days, noting during his own run, tickets sold for a lot less.

“I know back in the day for us, man, you had tickets like $25, $50. I don’t know, front row seat was 75 or something like that. But now, boy, you really got to hit the lottery to even sit up in the nosebleeds, right?” he said.

Rikishi underwent emergency surgery last fall, though it still isn’t clear what led to the surgery. A month later, he said on his podcast that he felt like “a new person” following the procedure.

Rikishi opens up following recent emergency surgery

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rikishi has opened up about his recent emergency surgery.

On his podcast, the former Intercontinental Champion, 60, didn’t share specific details regarding what led him to the hospital, but did say he spent six hours under the knife.

“I’m not gonna go into details about everything about what happened, and so forth,” he said. “It was an emergency type of surgery, and I’m gonna leave it at that. It took about six hours…I woke up feeling great, you know what I mean, I feel like a new person.”

Rikishi recommended people check in with their doctors, saying he was one of those people who didn’t do that. He later explained that his ailment was caught “just in time,” and is enjoying a new perspective in life. 

“I woke up, you know, feeling a different way when I got wheeled back to the room…meaning just grateful,” he said. “There’s so much to life than to be able to be upset at each other…life, to me, is not so bad after all when you give it another chance to live.”

PWInsider reported last month that the former WWE star and father of The Usos & Solo Sikoa had undergone emergency surgery, without any additional details as to what happened. He co-owns the Knokx Pro Wrestling Academy, which recently was the subject of controversy after the Raja Jackson/Syko Stu incident earlier this summer.

Daily Update: Natalya, Kota Ibushi, Rikishi

Posted on by Bryan Rose

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Report: Rikishi undergoes unexpected surgery

Posted on by Ian Carey

Rikishi reportedly underwent an unexpected surgery recently.

According to a report from PWInsider, the 60-year-old’s surgery was in response to a health issue that occurred suddenly. However, no additional details are available regarding the nature of the procedure. Rikishi is expected to make an announcement in the near future and is said to have pulled out of multiple bookings.

Rikishi’s status was addressed on last night’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio by Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez.

“I think that he’s having emergency surgery, so best wishes to him,” Meltzer said on the show.

“Best wishes to him, of course,” Alvarez added.

Real name Solofa Fatu Jr., Rikishi is the father of eight, including WWE’s Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa. He co-owns the Knokx Pro Wrestling Academy in Los Angeles, which lost its WWE ID certification following the Raja Jackson/Syko Stu incident earlier this summer. Rikishi was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.

Rikishi: Jimmy Uso is ‘doing great,’ hopefully will make WWE return soon

Posted on by Joseph Currier

According to his father Rikishi, Jimmy Uso is “doing great” ahead of a return to WWE action.

The WWE Hall of Famer gave an update on Jimmy’s status on the latest episode of his Rikishi Off the Top podcast, saying he thinks Jimmy is feeling “recharged” after some time away from WWE programming. Jimmy last wrestled this April and has not appeared on television since an angle where he was kicked out of The Bloodline by Solo Sikoa. It was reported at the time that Jimmy was dealing with an injury.

“Jimmy is doing fine. I think at any given moment, hopefully, that Jimmy will be ready to come back to be able to do what he loves. I’m sure he misses the fans, and I’m sure you all miss Jimmy,” Rikishi said.

“He’s doing great. He’s got some time to be able to rest the body, rest the mind, and he’s ready to go. So hopefully we’re able to see Jimmy soon.”

Rikishi said he’s sure that Jimmy is itching to get back in the ring, but Rikishi believes it’s good for both the body and the mind to be able to take some time away from wrestling, the travel, and everything else that comes with it.

Jimmy’s last match before being forced out of action was a loss to his twin brother Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40. Jey said last month that Jimmy will be back on WWE TV soon.

WWE appears to be building up a Bloodline civil war with one side led by Roman Reigns and the other led by Sikoa. Sikoa has brought Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu into his version of the faction.

Jey Uso responds to Rikishi criticizing his WWE booking

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jey Uso just wants his dad to watch the show.

Rikishi has been critical of WWE’s booking of his son in recent months, feeling as though Jey is the most over guy in the company and should have won the MITB match and/or a title.

“Why do you not push or give the most popular babyface, in my eyes be it my son or not, if the Yeet master or the Yeet man is over, what is the problem not giving this guy, you know, some type of title or something?” Rikishi asked on a recent episode of his podcast. “It would only be good for business, wouldn’t it?”

During an episode of The Ringer Wrestling Show, Uso responded to his father’s comments.

“(Rikishi) just said what he said out there about my creative. It’s an opinion, yeah, but I’m like, ‘Dad, just watch the show. It’s okay, let me work. Let me go out and work, enjoy the show, make your rap track.”

“That’s pops, though, that’s my dad so shoutout to my dad,” he continued.

Earlier in the interview, Uso also noted that his brother Jimmy will be back on WWE television “soon.”

Uso’s comments about his father begin around the 15-minute mark of the show:

Filthy Observer Live: Fighting Brutus Creed, AEW, WWE Raw review, more!

Posted on by Mike Sempervive

BODY: With Bryan Alvarez on his way to Everett to tape some On Patrol Live, Filthy Tom Lawlor joins Mike Sempervive to talk about Tom’s fight against Brutus Creed at Bloodsport XI, Rikishi not being happy with Jey Uso’s booking, the Raw review & much more. A fun show as always, so check it out~!

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Rikishi criticizes WWE’s Jey Uso booking: ‘That’s the best those writers got?’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Rikishi is not happy with how WWE is handling Jey Uso.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Rikishi said he was confused as to why WWE hasn’t booked his son to win a championship despite how popular he is.

“Why do you not push or give the most popular babyface, in my eyes be it my son or not, if the Yeet master or the Yeet man is over, what is the problem not giving this guy, you know, some type of title or something?” Rikishi asked on the show. “It would only be good for business, wouldn’t it?”

Rikishi continued to address Uso’s booking and his concerns regarding his son’s storyline heading into SummerSlam.

“I get hot when I’m talking about this because, whether it’s my son or somebody else, this kid worked hard.”

“They conquered the tag team (division), what else is there to do? Now, he breaks off with Yeet. He does his thing here and then it’s not like they’re giving the gas pedal to him.”

He would later add, “SummerSlam, where is Yeet? I don’t know, let’s write him in like he likes Mami. That’s the best that those writers got? Let’s write this guy into a relationship with Mami? What are all y’all trying to do, break his marriage up? You can’t put him in a good storyline so what are you going to do now? God forbid you guys try to tell him or tell her to tongue kiss each other on Raw, that better not happen.”

This is not the first time Rikishi has been critical of his son’s booking. He also expressed concern on his podcast back in May when Uso lost to Gunther in the semifinals of the King of the Ring tournament. Earlier this month, he said “it hit a nerve” with him that WWE didn’t book Jey Uso to win the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match in Toronto.

Rikishi’s comments regarding Jey Uso’s booking begin around the 42-minute mark of the below video:

Rikishi & Samu confirmed for WWE Raw 30th anniversary episode

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two members of the Samoan Dynasty have been confirmed for Raw’s 30th anniversary episode.

An article published by The Daily Item in Sunbury, Pennsylvania on Tuesday revealed that Samu Anoa’i and his cousin Rikishi will both be at Raw’s 30th anniversary episode next Monday. There will be an “Acknowledgement Ceremony” for Roman Reigns on the show. The segment will feature every generation of The Bloodline.

“I want to thank the WWE for everything they have done for myself and my family,” Samu told The Daily Item. “I look forward to next week when I can see a lot of familiar faces and be reunited with a lot of my family members.”

“I have not been around the WWE much since I left years ago, but to be able to return is something I wanted for my children and grandchildren,” Samu added. “I am thankful for the support of all my fans especially those that have become family in Sunbury and the Valley.”

Samu & Rikishi were formerly WWF Tag Team Champions as The Headshrinkers.

Rikishi’s sons, Jimmy & Jey Uso, are defending their Raw Tag Team titles against The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio) on the 30th anniversary episode of Raw.

The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, The Bellas, Road Dogg, X-Pac, Ron Simmons, Teddy Long, and Jerry “The King” Lawler are among the legends who will be appearing on the anniversary episode. Tatanka previously announced that he would be on the show but noted on his Facebook page today that he won’t be there because his son’s wrestling team is going to the state championship.

Here’s the updated lineup for the episode:

  • WWE United States Champion Austin Theory defends against Bobby Lashley
  • Raw Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against The Judgment Day (Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio)
  • Steel cage match: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
  • Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
  • WWE legends will appear

Solo Sikoa vignette airs during WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A vignette for Solo Sikoa aired on tonight’s episode of NXT.

Prior to the main event of tonight’s show, a vignette featuring Sikoa aired. He said he was left on his own since he was young and that is why he is called Solo, saying he was the street champion of the island. Sikoa was listed as “coming soon”, with no specific debut date.

Sikoa, real name Sefa Fatu, is the son of Rikishi and brother to both Jimmy and Jey Uso, who are the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions, and cousin of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. WWE announced his signing back in August. He has competed for his father’s Knox Pro Wrestling promotion as well as Future Stars of Wrestling and Game Changer Wrestling. 

Since undergoing a facelift last month with a brand new stage and more colorful look, NXT has been introducing new talent on television. On tonight’s NXT, another vignette aired for a mystery person cloaked in a hood, burying something with a shovel. They said that they would bury the past so they could start again, with the date for Halloween Havoc, October 26, being shown.

WWE announces more names for next week’s Raw Reunion

Posted on by Bryan Rose

More names have been added to next week’s Raw Reunion.

During commercials that aired tonight during Raw, the following names were listed for next week’s show:

  • Mark Henry
  • Mick Foley
  • Pat Patterson
  • Gearld Brisco
  • Lilian Garcia
  • Alundra Blayze
  • Kelly Kelly
  • Rikishi
  • Ron Simmons
  • The Godfather
  • Road Dogg
  • Sid

This is in addition to other names that were announced last night during Extreme Rules, which include Steve Austin, Sgt. Slaughter, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash/Diesel, Scott Hall/Razor Ramon, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Booker T, X-Pac, Eric Bischoff, Santino Marella, D-Von Dudley, Ted DiBiase, Kurt Angle, Jerry Lawler, Christian, The Boogeyman, Jimmy Hart and the Hurricane.

WWE is promoting the show as the biggest reunion in WWE history. It would also mark the first advertised appearance for Eric Bischoff, who is set to start with WWE full time as the executive director of SmackDown starting this week.

Raw Reunion will take place next week, July 22, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.