As first announced by her grandson Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, wrestling promoter and matriarch of the Anoa’i family, Lia Maivia will be inducted into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. She joins Paul Heyman–who will be inducted by Roman Reigns–Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express, Muhammad Ali, and Thunderbolt Patterson in this year’s induction ceremony.
She will be inducted by Johnson, who also inducted his father Rocky Johnson, and grandfather “High Chief” Peter Maivia into the hall in 2008.
Maivia took over control of the National Wrestling Alliance territory in Hawaii known as Polynesian Pro Wrestling where she became one of wrestling’s first-ever big-time woman promoters. Within three years, she put together the company’s biggest card, A Hot Summer Night.
The event featured worldwide headliners like Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, “Soulman” Rocky Johnson, Dusty Rhodes, Antonio Inoki, Jimmy Snuka, Bruiser Brody, and many more. The main event saw Flair defend his NWA World Championship against Siva Afi–who later performed as one-half of the Islanders in the WWE, and drew 20,000 fans.
Maivia passed away in 2008 at the age of 77 but has left a lasting and profound impact on the wrestling industry. The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, right after Smackdown.
