His body, basically his abdomen and legs, are covered with traditional Samoan tattoos symbolic of his High Chief status. Athletic, naturally talented and a quick study, Maivia received his original ring training in New Zealand, under the watchful eye of local wrestler/promoter Steve Rickard (pictured).Both in and out of the ring, Rickard taught the young Samoan a great deal about his new profession, and under his guidance, Maivia developed at an amazing rate.

Ata Maivia was even elected Vice President of the National Wrestling Alliance (the first and only female to ever to hold the lofty position) in the years following Maivia’s death.Meanwhile, as the patriarch of what is perhaps the most prolific and successful of all of wrestling’s dynasty’s — the Samoan wrestling family — High Chief Peter Maivia set the stage for essentially every island wrestler who followed him. Maivia worked briefly in the LaBell’s L.A. territory before settling in Roy Shire’s thriving San Francisco promotion.
Ricky Steamboat July 10, 2020. By the mid seventies, though, Maivia, having spent five years in Shire’s territory, once again made the decision to move on to a new territory.Late in 1974, the Polynesian superstar began competing in Paul Bausch’s thriving Houston promotion, and even captured the Texas Heavyweight championship in November of 1975 by defeating the legendary “Golden Greek” John Tolos. Maivia became the new Australasian champion by defeating Kangaroo Kennedy in Auckland, and he would go on to carry the belt for four consecutive years before finally losing his title to Steve Rickard in 1968.After developing his repertoire and ring skills in New Zealand, Maivia slowly began to branch out and take bookings in other (and oftentimes larger) promotions, with success invariably following the popular islander.On May 22, 1968, Prince Peter Maivia teamed with Jim Hady to win the NWA Hawaiian Tag Team title by defeating the rugged team of King Curtis Iaukea & Ripper Collins in Honolulu. This involved a very painful tattooing process. With the full support of the northern California fanbase behind them, Stevens & Maivia reigned over the region as champions for three months before finally losing the straps to the impressive team of Pat Patterson & Billy Graham in 1971. Maivia, also … Following his lengthy program with Backlund, the now-hated High Chief (who had enlisted the aid of manager “Classy” Fred Blassie) remained a high-profile member of the World Wide Wrestling Federation talent roster.Yet, during the last two years of the decade, Maivia also made frequent tript to New Zealand, where he remained one of the most popular wrestlers that the NWA New Zealand office had ever booked and, for a time, the versatile Maivia simultaneously portrayed a loathesome heel in America and the most noble of heroes when competing “Down Under.” In 1978, the gifted Samoan captured the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title and he held the regional championship until losing to the hated Mr. Fuji in August of 1979. The feuding duos wrestled on a nightly basis throughout the Hawaiian islands, and on June 4, 1968, Iaukea & Collins regained their championship in Honolulu. He was the grandfather of actor and former WWE superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and was also the promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance's promotions in Hawaii. Maivia, born in Samoa in the 1930s, was a "blood brother" of the Anoa'i family. As a result, Maivia held won just a single title, the Hawaiian Heavyweight championship, while he owned the territory, and the legendary Samoan dropped the belt to Hans Schroeder just one week after winning it from Ripper Collins.At the same time he was running the Hawaiian territory, the High Chief also competed for other groups, most notably the NWA’s Los Angeles promotion. When Backlund won the WWE Title from Graham, however, Maivia shocked our fans by turning on his friend and becoming one of the most hated men in the industry.

"High Chief" Peter Maivia, originally from Samoa, wrestled for several years in Asia and the United States. We would love your feedback. Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (April 6, 1937 – June 13, 1982) was a Samoan professional wrestler better known as "High Chief" Peter Maivia. Immediately upon arriving in the territory, the popular and talented Samoan became one of the talent-rich S.F. He also played a vile henchman in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, perhaps foreshadowing a silver screen legacy that would be carried on by The Rock 35 years later.