Sivi Afi Papaliitele Max Amata Taogaga ( 28 April 1949 ) is a retired Samoan professional wrestler , best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation as Siva Afi . Professional wrestling career . Early career . Taogaga , born in Samoa , raised in New Zealand , where he began amateur wrestling at an early age . After deciding to turn pro he went to Steve Rickard and Peter Maivia who trained him for two years on the nuances of the professional game . In his first match Taogaga defeated one of New Zealand ' s top light heavyweights , Del Adams . New Zealand . For the next four years Taogaga continued to work his way up through the ranks , wrestling the majority of foreign visitors to the country . Finally in 1978 he earned his big break , defeating Big John Da Silva in the final of an elimination tournament to decide the new , New Zealand Heavyweight Champion . Over the next few months , Taogaga successfully defended the title before heading to the U . S . at the end of 1978 . Touring ( 1978 – 1984 ) . For the next seven years Taogaga split his time between the U . S . , New Zealand , Australia and Japan . However , it was in Hawaii that Taogaga would be the most successful . It was here , in 1985 , where he wrestled Ric Flair to a one - hour time limit draw for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in front of 12 , 000 people . World Wrestling Federation ( 1986 – 1990 ) . In 1986 , Taogaga signed with Vince McMahon ' s World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . Taogaga wrestled consistently for two years , against the likes of Bret Hart , Randy Savage , Harley Race and Ted DiBiase as an enhancement talent wrestler . Initially , he was billed as " Superfly " Afi , and deemed to be the cousin of Jimmy Snuka , and as Sivi Afi . In 1988 , after teaming for a short time with Haku as one half of The Islanders , he also wrestled in six man tags with the original Islanders , Haku and Tama . He debuted a new gimmick , that of " High Chief Afi " , a Samoan chieftain . As part of his gimmick , Taogaga had gotten his legs and abdomen heavily tattooed ( ala High Chief Peter Maivia ) . Unfortunately for Taogaga , it was all for naught ; Tama would shortly thereafter depart from the WWF and Haku was repackaged as " King Haku " to replace the injured Harley Race , leaving Taogaga without a team or manager . Taogaga left the WWF and went on to work for Burt Reynolds as a stuntman and bodyguard . Return to New Zealand . Taogaga made his return to New Zealand in 1990 to appear for Steve Rickard ' s " The Main Event " . Taogaga defeated all comers during the short - lived show , becoming the new Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion in the process . After the cancellation of " The Main Event " , Taogaga resumed touring the world appearing in areas as far flung as Palestine , Israel , England and Africa . In 1997 , after over 23 years on the road , Taogaga retired from the business , wrestling his final match in South Africa . Life after wrestling . Since retiring from professional wrestling , Taogaga has converted to Christianity . He studied to become a minister in Marion , Ohio . He has written two books , " Thus Said The Lord to America " and " Dance with Fire " , and is working on a third , entitled " Reign of Fire . " Has a Son Angelo Peter Tanu Taogaga born in St . Petersburg , Fl 12 / 31 / 97 .