Afa "Manu" Anoai On Raw

WWE developmental wrestler Afa Anoa'i, Jr., 23, made his official WWE debut at tonight's Unforgiven pay-per-view. Following the Cryme Tyme vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase tag match, the two teams got into a brawl. Afa ran down ringside to take out Cryme Tyme. He then celebrated in the ring with the World Tag Team Championships. Later in the show, they aired a segment showing DiBiase, Rhodes & Afa celebrating inside a locker room. Randy Orton entered the room and the tag champs introduced the mystery man as "Manu." They acknowledged that he is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Afa. Anoa'i, Jr. is a member of the legendary Anoa'i wrestling family. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Afa and brother of former Headshrinkers member Samu. Umaga's mother is the sister of Afa, so that's how he's related to him. Anoa'i, Jr. has been under contract to WWE since October 2006. In November 2007, Anoa'i made his actual debut on WWE television in a losing effort against "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan on WWE Heat. And as noted several times before, earlier in the year, he attempted to cheat on a WWE drug test with the help of a prosthetic penis. He was caught and as a result, was suspended by WWE for 30 days on March 20, 2008.

* Well the first thing I thought when I saw him was he looks like a clone of Umaga, which i'm sure i'm not alone in thinking.

* I don't think he will be trying to cheat a drugs test again, with the position he now finds himself in.

* There's a lot invested in him becoming a star. You don't just walk in unknown and work alongside Randy Orton, unless management think much of you.

* The bits he's spoken on the mic so far have been well executed. I quite like him early doors.

they've had Umaga all this time and have not let him speak yet--if they have, I've forgotten it--yet this guy gets to talk first thing plus he not only got to talk, he got to go ahead and let everyo0ne know that he also has a father in the Hall of Fame.  I thought they should have waited to do that for a while.  Cody also has a father in the HoF but I don't think he's used that line yet.  Ted Jrs dad will probably be inducted at the upcmoing WrestleMania.  I know Ted Sr. did Sherri Martel's inductiuon but I don't think he's in there yet. He should be inducted, if he's not already, this year as he had a lot of his success in the Texas area.

That's the samoans for ya but yeah he does look like Umaga.

I still think they had him speak too soon.  He gets to speak on his very first appearance on RAW.  There are not many people who get to do that.  They should have built a little mystery to this guy before throwing him in there first thing to declare he's also got a father in the HoF. 

Edited by MariaS - 12/September/2008 at 03:51

sure he would have.  He could do the dirty work while they do the talking and make people anticipate how long he is going to do this for them but yeah, I guess the idea to have him talk to distinguish him from Umaga is a big thing.  He is Rock's and Umaga's cousin afterall.