Leah Maivia
Encyclopedia
Ofelia "Lia" Maivia also known as Leah Maivia, was a Samoa
n veteran wrestling
promoter. Maivia was the wife of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia
and the grandmother of actor and former wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, who was formerly known as The Rock. Dwayne Johnson is the son of Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia's only daughter, Ata Maivia.
in Aleipata, Western Samoa. (The country is now known as Samoa
).
Maivia took over the Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling in Hawaii
following the death of her husband, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, in 1982. She became one of wrestling's only female promoters and worked closely with the World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) during her career. She continued to run Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling until 1988.
Maivia attended the March 2008 posthumous induction of her husband into the WWE Hall of Fame
in Orlando, Florida
. Peter Maivia was inducted by Dwayne Johnson at the ceremony and the award was accepted by Leah Maivia's daughter, Ata. Maivia's former son-in-law, Rocky Johnson
, was also inducted during the same ceremony.
Maivia died of a heart attack
at her home in Davie, Florida
, on October 19, 2008. There were conflicting reports of her age, as most outlets reported that she was 81 years old, while The Miami Herald reported that she was 77. Bill Apter
, a writer
and journalist
who specializes in wrestling
, wrote of Maivia following her death: When my daughter Hailey, who is now 23, met Lia at a wrestling event in upper New York
state, Lia went to a gift shop
at a nearby hotel and bought Hailey a stuffed bunny
as a gift. She had never met her before this day, and this shows what a heart she had!
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n veteran wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
promoter. Maivia was the wife of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia
Peter Maivia
Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia was a American Samoan professional wrestler better known as "High Chief" Peter Maivia. He was head of the famous Samoan wrestling family...
and the grandmother of actor and former wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, who was formerly known as The Rock. Dwayne Johnson is the son of Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia's only daughter, Ata Maivia.
Biography
Maivia was born Ofelia Fuataga in LalomanuLalomanu
Lalomanu is a village on the east coast of Upolu island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Aleipata Itupa i Luga which is within the larger political district of Atua....
in Aleipata, Western Samoa. (The country is now known as Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
).
Maivia took over the Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
following the death of her husband, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, in 1982. She became one of wrestling's only female promoters and worked closely with the World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) during her career. She continued to run Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling until 1988.
Maivia attended the March 2008 posthumous induction of her husband into the WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Peter Maivia was inducted by Dwayne Johnson at the ceremony and the award was accepted by Leah Maivia's daughter, Ata. Maivia's former son-in-law, Rocky Johnson
Rocky Johnson
Rocky Johnson is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. Quite popular in his own right in the 1970s and 1980s, he is also known for being the father of actor and professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson...
, was also inducted during the same ceremony.
Maivia died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at her home in Davie, Florida
Davie, Florida
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. The town's population was 91,992 at the 2010 census.- History :Davie was founded by Jake Tannebaum and Tamara Toussaint. The original name of the town was Zona. In 1909 R.P. Davie assisted then Governor Broward by draining the swamplands...
, on October 19, 2008. There were conflicting reports of her age, as most outlets reported that she was 81 years old, while The Miami Herald reported that she was 77. Bill Apter
Bill Apter
Bill Apter is a journalist specializing in professional wrestling and best known for the kayfabe or so-called "mark" magazines for which he edited and photographed matches from the 1970s to the present. The magazine he became most prominently known for was Pro Wrestling Illustrated...
, a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who specializes in wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, wrote of Maivia following her death: When my daughter Hailey, who is now 23, met Lia at a wrestling event in upper New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state, Lia went to a gift shop
Gift shop
A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic or theme. The items sold often include coffee mugs, stuffed animals, t-shirts, postcards, handmade collections and other souvenirs....
at a nearby hotel and bought Hailey a stuffed bunny
Bunny
Bunny is a colloquial name for rabbits.Bunny may also refer to:-People:* Allu Arjun , Telugu film star, nicknamed Bunny* Andrew "bunnie" Huang , American hacker* Bunny Ahearne , British ice hockey promoter...
as a gift. She had never met her before this day, and this shows what a heart she had!