Peter Maivia

[Peter Maivia GALLERY]

Title History

NWA Australasian Heavyweight title defeating Kangaroo Kennedy (????, 1964);
New Zealand Heavyweight title defeating Steve Rickard (August 3, 1964);
NWA Australasian Heavyweight title defeating Steve Rickard (????, 1968);
NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Jim Hady defeating Ripper Collins & Curtis Iaukea (May 22, 1968);
NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Billy White Wolf defeating Ripper Collins & Curtis Iaukea (June 26, 1968);
PWF (Japan) United States Heavyweight title defeating The Destroyer (December ??, 1970);
NWA (San Francisco) United States Heavyweight title defeating Paul DeMarco (July 31, 1971);
NWA (Los Angeles) Beat the Champ Television title defeating Fritz Von Goering (October 21, 1972);
NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Sam Steamboat defeating Ed Francis & Ripper Collins (September 26, 1973);
NWA (San Francisco) World Tag Team titles w/Pat Patterson defeating Karl & Kurt Von Brauner (June 22, 1974);
NWA (San Francisco) United States Heavyweight title defeating Moondog Mayne (October 12, 1974);
NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating John Tolos (November ??, 1975);
NWA (New Zealand) British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title defeating Ripper Collins (August 20, 1979);
NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title defeating Ripper Collins (March ??, 1980);
NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Rick Davidson (May ??, 1981);

Career Highlights

In The Beginning:

Peter Maivia was born in Samoa..
Peter Maivia was in the 1967 James Bond Movie; You Only Live Twice
~~~Maivia played a Taxi Driver. He was also the choreographer for some of the stunts and fighting scenes

NWA: New Zealand:

Peter Maivia moved to New Zealand to learn the craft of professional wrestling..
August 3, 1964 – NWA New Zealand: Peter Maivia defeated Steve Rickard to win the New Zealand Heavyweight title in Auckland..
August 8, 1964: Steve Rickard regains the New Zealand Heavyweight title from Peter Maivia in Wellington..
1964: Peter Maivia defeated Kangaroo Kennedy to win the NWA Australasian Heavyweight title in Auckland, New Zealand..
~~~Steve Rickard defeated Peter Maivia for the NWA Australasian title..
1968: Peter Maivia regains the Australasian title from Steve Rickard..

NWA: San Francisco:

November 1969: Peter Maivia replaces Pepper Gomez to become NWA San Francisco Tag Team champion with Ray Stevens..
1971: Pat Patterson & Billy Graham beat Peter Maivia & Ray Stevens for the NWA San Francisco Tag Team titles..
Peter Maivia took Billy Graham under his wing and help mold him into a future World Champion..
Peter Maivia and Billy Graham eventually became close friends..
July 31, 1971: Peter Maivia defeated Don DeMarco to win the NWA San Francisco United States title..
April 28, 1972 – Sydney, Australia: Spiros Arion defeated Peter Maivia to win the Australasian title..
October 21, 1972: Peter Maivia defeated Fritz Von Goering to win the NWA Beat the Champ Television title..
Early 1970s: Peter Maivia & Sam Steamboat captured the NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles..

NWA:

June 22, 1974: Peter Maivia & Pat Patterson defeated Kurt & Karl Von Brauner to win the Tag Team titles..
October 12, 1974: Peter Maivia beat Moondog Lonnie Mayne to win his 2nd NWA United States title..

1975-76:

November 1975 – NWA Texas: Peter Maivia defeated John Tolos to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight title..
November 12, 1976 – AWA: Nick Bockwinkel defeated Peter Maivia to retain the AWA World title in 30 minutes..

World Wide Wrestling Federation:

Mid-1977: Peter Maivia arrived in the World Wide Wrestling Federation..
May 24, 1977 – TV Taping: Peter Maivia (WWWF Debut) defeated Doug Gilbert..
June 27, 1977 – Madison Square Garden: Peter Maivia (MSG debut) defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna..
July 9, 1977 – The Spectrum: Peter Maivia defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna..
July 11, 1977 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak by disqualification..
July 15, 1977 – Pittsburgh, PA: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak..
August 1, 1977 – Madison Square Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Nikolai Volkoff..
August 13, 1977 – PA Civic Center: Peter Maivia defeated Baron Von Raschke..
August 20, 1977 – Philadelphia Spectrum: Peter Maivia & Haystacks Coulhoun beat Mr. Fuji & Rocky Tamayo in a 2/3 Falls match..
Peter Maivia once again became aligned with “Superstar” Billy Graham..
~~~After Billy Graham won the WWWF title, he granted Peter Maivia several title shots to show his appreciation..
August 21, 1977 – New Haven Coliseum: Peter Maivia defeated WWWF Champion Superstar Billy Graham..
August 22, 1977 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Rocky Tomayo..
August 29, 1977 – Madison Square Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak..
September 2, 1977 – Albany, NY: Peter Maivia defeated WWWF Champion Superstar Billy Graham by Count Out..
September 9, 1977 – Pittsburgh Civic Center: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak by Count Out..
September 12, 1977 – Nassau Coliseum: Peter Maivia wrestled Stan Stasiak to a double disqualification..
September 13, 1977 – Portland, ME: Peter Maivia pinned WWWF Champion Superstar Billy Graham in a Non-Title Match..
September 14, 1977 – Bangor, ME: Peter Maivia defeated Mr. Fuji by disqualification..
September 26, 1977 – MSG: Peter Maivia defeated George Steele..
October 2, 1977 – New Haven Coliseum: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak..
Peter Maivia would occasionally tag team with Chief Jay Strongbow..
Peter Maivia was a top contender to both the WWWF Title and the WWWF Tag Team Titles..
October 10, 1977 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia wrestled Mr. Fuji to a Time Limit Draw..
October 18, 1977 – Championship Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia vs Mikel Scicluna was a No Contest (Graham attacked Maivia)..
October 18, 1977 – Championship Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna & Frank Monroe..
October 19, 1977 – All Star Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow beat Mikel Scicluna & Frank Williams..
October 21, 1977 – Nassau Coliseum: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak in a Texas Death Match..
October 24, 1977 – Madison Square Garden: Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow..
October 26, 1977 – Bangor, ME: Peter Maivia defeated WWWF champion Superstar Billy Graham by disqualification..
November 7, 1977 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Larry Sharpe & Jack Evans..
November 8, 1977 – Championship Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna..
November 8, 1977 – Championship Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia defeated Nikolai Volkoff..
November 8, 1977 – Championship Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Larry Sharpe & Jack Evans..
November 9, 1977 – All Star Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Johnny Rodz & Jose Estrada..
November 9, 1977 – All Star Wrestling TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka by disqualification..
November 14, 1977 – Nassau Coliseum: Peter Maivia defeated Mr. Fuji..
November 16, 1977 – Bangor, ME: WWWF Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Peter Maivia by Count Out..
November 18, 1977 – Pittsburgh Civic Center: WWWF Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Peter Maivia by Count Out..
November 21, 1977 – Madison Square Garden: Peter Maivia defeated “Superstar” Billy Graham by count-out..
December 4, 1977 – New Haven Coliseum: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow vs Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka was a Double disqualification..
December 7, 1977 – Bangor, ME: “Superstar” Billy Graham defeated Peter Maivia to retain the WWWF title..
December 11, 1977 – Maple Leaf Gardens: Peter Maivia defeated Chris Tolos by disqualification..
Peter Maivia was occasionally teaming with Chief Jay Strongbow as well as pursuing a singles career..
December 12, 1977 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka by disqualification..
December 26, 1977 – Nassau Coliseum: Peter Maivia defeated Butcher Vachon..
January 16, 1978 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Jack Evans & Larry Sharpe..
January 23, 1978 – MSG: Bob Backlund & Peter Maivia & Tony Garea & Larry Zbyszko beat Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji & ? & ?..
February 18, 1978 – Philadelphia Spectrum: Peter Maivia defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna..
February 19, 1978 – Maple Leaf Gardens: Angelo Mosca defeated Peter Maivia via referee’s decision..
February 20. 1978 – MSG: Ken Patera defeated Peter Maivia via count-out..
March 20, 1978 – Madison Square Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak..
March 25, 1978 – The Spectrum: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Stan Stasiak & Baron Mikel Scicluna..
March 27, 1978 – Boston Garden: Chief Jay Strongbow & Peter Maivia defeated Seiji Sakaguchi & Wilhelm Ruska..
May 1, 1978 – Boston Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Butcher Vachon..
May 20, 1978 – Philadelphia Spectrum: Peter Maivia fought Stan Stasiak to a draw..
May 22, 1978 – Madison Square Garden: Spiros Arion pinned Peter Maivia..
June 23, 1978 – WWWF/New Japan: Pedro Morales & Peter Maivia defeated Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi..
July 1978 – TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Jay Strongbow & Dominic DeNucci beat Golden Terror & Mikel Scicluna & Nikolai Volkoff..
July 1978 – TV Taping: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Larry Sharpe & Jack Evans..
August 28, 1978 – MSG: Peter Maivia defeated Luke Graham by disqualification after Graham continuously punched Maivia in the throat..
September 19, 1978 – TV Taping: Bob Backlund & Peter Maivia defeated Ernie Ladd & Jerry Blackwell by disqualification..
September 19, 1978 – TV Taping: Bob Backlund & Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak & Baron Mikel Scicluna..
September 20, 1978 – TV Taping: Bob Backlund & Peter Maivia defeated Jose Estrada & Frank Monroe..
September 25, 1978 – Madison Square Garden: Peter Maivia defeated Butcher Vachon..
October 2, 1978 – Boston Garden: The Yukon Lumberjacks defeated Chief Jay Strongbow & Peter Maivia by Count-out..
October 23, 1978 – MSG: Peter Maivia & Chief Jay Strongbow to challenge the Yokun Lumberjacks for the WWWF Tag Team titles..
~~~During the match, PeterMaivia turns on Jay Strongbow after attacking him and walking out on the match!
November 4, 1978 – Boston Garden: The Yukon Lumberjacks defeated Chief Jay Strongbow & Peter Maivia..
Peter Maivia also turned against WWWF Champion Bob Backlund when the pair teamed up against Spiros Arion & Victor Rivera..
Peter Maivia made the full transition to heel when he takes on “Classy” Freddie Blassie as his manager..
November 20, 1978 – MSG: Peter Maivia defeated WWWF Champion Bob Backlund by Count-out..
December 18, 1978 – MSG: Bob Backlund defeated Peter Maivia as a result of a Count-out to retain..
January 22, 1979 – MSG: Bob Backlund defeated Peter Maivia in a Steel Cage match to retain the WWWF title..

NWA: New Zealand:

1978 – NWA New Zealand: Peter Maivia defeated Steve Rickard for the British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title..
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ Peter Maivia later vacated the British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title..
February 1979: Peter Maivia defeated NWA World Champion Harley Race by disqualification..
February 27, 1979: Peter Maivia defeated NWA World Champion Harley Race AGAIN by disqualification..

NWA: Polynesian Pro Wrestling:

1979: Peter Maivia purchases NWA Polynesian Pro Wrestling from Russ Francis..
Peter Maivia received a few more WWWF title matches against Bob Backlund..
Peter Maivia also received NWA World title shot against Dory Funk Jr..
August 20, 1979: Peter Maivia wins his second British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title defeating Ripper Collins..
~~~Mr. Fuji dethrones Peter Maivia for the British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title..
September 17, 1979: Peter Maivia and NWA World Champion Harley Race wrestled to a draw in Auckland..
September 19, 1979 – Honolulu, Hawaii: Peter Maivia defeated NWA World Champion Harley Race by disqualification..
1980: Peter Maivia became the head promoter for NWA Polynesian Wrestling..
March 1980: Peter Maivia defeated Rip Collins to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title..
May 1981 – NWA Los Angeles: Peter Maivia captures the NWA Americas Heavyweight title defeating Rick Davidson..

The Death of Peter Maivia:

June 13, 1982: Peter Maivia passed away after battling cancer and his wife Lia took control of NWA Polynesian Wrestling..
Peter Maivia was credited for training Afa, the Wild Samoan – former two-time WWWF World Tag Team Champion..
Peter Maivia has also been acknowledged by Billy Graham for being an important figure in his wrestling career..
Peter Maivia has paved the way for Samoan and Polynesian wrestlers, and is indeed considered a pioneer in wrestling..
Peter Maivia’s daughter, Ata married Rocky Johnson and they have a son named The Rock..
February 25, 2008–RAW: “High Chief” Peter Maivia will be inducted into the Class of 2008 WWE Hall of Fame!!
March 29, 2008 – WWE Hall of Fame: The Rock inducted Peter Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame in Orlando, Florida..
March 30, 2008 – WrestleMania 24: Howard Finkel introduced the WWE Hall of Fame Inductees Class of 2008 to the audience..

Mike Aldren wrote in his Wrestling Globe Newsletter (December 2, 2010): We were honored to receive a letter from Billy Robinson regarding his altercation with Peter Maivia (Grandfather of The Rock) which we noted in the last newsletter. Billy tells us that the altercation took place in late 1969 during a tour of Japan. This is his first ever public comments on the matter 41 years later. He writes, “Peter Maivia was a great guy. I knew him in England, and got him and George Gordienko booked in Japan for that tour. Peter was a little wild when he had a few drinks. We were in the south of Japan and in an area where not too many people spoke English. Peter got impatient and started to act up which was making things worse and nobody was getting served at the bar. I told him to grow up and shut up so that we could all get served, which he did, but Peter being Peter, it played on his mind. On the way back to the hotel Peter for some reason wanted to fight me and started throwing punches. I grabbed him and held him so he couldn’t move. He then tried to bite me in the neck, so I pulled my jaw down so he couldn’t do any real damage, but he bit through cheek. When I saw the blood I got angry and knocked him out… he was unconscious for 25 minutes. I had to go to hospital to get a shot for the bacteria. The next day I found out that George had instigated the whole episode so I went into both their rooms, locked the door and challenged them. Neither wanted to do anything after that. And a couple of days later we were good friends again, As for the eye story, I had an operation on my right eye when I was 11 years old. Peter did not have the ability as a street fighter to get close to my eyes, and the reason I got bitten was because I didn’t want to hurt him. But as you know over the years stories get exaggerated… Reputations are usually made by people who have never been on the mat, or in a street fight. Like most pro wrestlers/workers they start to believe they know how to wrestle and are really tough. But they never seem to have fought or beat anyone.”

Updated:

Social Media

Twitter:

Trained By

Debut

1961-February 11, 1982

Birthday

1935 - 1982

Hometown

Samoa

Gender

Male

Height

6' 1" (185 cm)

Weight

240 lbs (109 kg)

Finishing Move(s)

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Mighty Ursus,
Fritz Von Ulm,
Jay Strongbow,
Ike Eakins,
Fritz Von Goering,
Stan Stasiak,
"Superstar" Billy Graham,
Bob Backlund,
Steve Rickard,
Mr. Fuji

Status

Deceased