Matthew Tapunu'u Anoaʻi (April 7, 1970 – April 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name Rosey. Anoaʻi was a member of the renowned Anoaʻi wrestling family, the elder brother of Roman Reigns, and the son of WWE Hall of Famer Sika Anoaʻi.
Early Life and Family
Born in San Francisco, California, Matthew Anoaʻi was part of a legendary Samoan-American wrestling dynasty. His father, Sika Anoaʻi, and uncle, Afa Anoaʻi, were known as The Wild Samoans. Many of his relatives have achieved fame in professional wrestling, including his younger brother Leati Joseph Anoaʻi (Roman Reigns), his cousins Rodney Anoaʻi (Yokozuna), Solofa Fatu Jr. (Rikishi), Eddie Fatu (Umaga), and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (through familial association).
Professional Wrestling Career
Early Career (2001-2002)
Anoaʻi began his professional wrestling career in 2001, initially working in various independent promotions. He soon signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) and was assigned to their developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he honed his skills.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Three Minute Warning (2002-2003)
In July 2002, Anoaʻi made his WWE main roster debut as Rosey, forming a powerful tag team with his cousin Ekmo (later known as Umaga), under the name Three Minute Warning. Managed by Rico, the team was introduced as enforcers for then-RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff, whose role was to end matches or segments that had gone on for "three minutes." Their physically imposing style quickly established them as a dominant force in the tag team division. The team disbanded in mid-2003 when Ekmo was released from his contract.
Super Hero In Training (S.H.I.T.) (2004-2006)
Following the departure of Ekmo, Rosey underwent a character change. In 2004, he was paired with The Hurricane (Shane Helms), who adopted him as his "Super Hero In Training" (S.H.I.T.). Rosey began to wear superhero-inspired gear and adopted a more comedic, clumsy, but ultimately well-meaning persona. The duo eventually found success, capturing the World Tag Team Championship on May 1, 2005, by defeating La Résistance. They held the titles for 76 days before losing them to Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch. The team eventually dissolved in late 2005, and Rosey was released from his WWE contract in March 2006.
Independent Circuit (2006-2017)
After his release from WWE, Anoaʻi continued to wrestle on the independent circuit, often under his Rosey persona or a variation of his real name. He competed in various promotions across the United States and internationally, occasionally teaming with other members of the Anoaʻi family.
Personal Life and Death
Matthew Anoaʻi was married to Amanda Vatuvei, and they had three children. On April 17, 2017, Anoaʻi passed away at the age of 47 due to congestive heart failure. He had been hospitalized with heart issues earlier in the year.
Championships and Accomplishments
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Hurricane
- Memphis Championship Wrestling
- MCW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kishi
- World Xtreme Wrestling
- WXW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Afa Jr.