{{Short description|American-Samoan professional wrestler (1945–2007)}} {{About|the wrestler|the drink|Koko Samoa|the industry|Cocoa production in Samoa}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox professional wrestler | name = Cocoa Samoa | image = Cocoa Samoa.jpg | names = Cocoa Samoa<br />Sabu the Wildman<br />High Chief Onasahi<ref name=cauliflower>{{cite web|url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/memory-lane/cocoa-samoa-remembered/|title=Cocoa Samoa Remembered|author=Pratt, Jason|year=2007|accessdate=2009-06-16|publisher=Cauliflower Alley Club|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527041044/http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/memory-lane/cocoa-samoa-remembered/|archive-date=2009-05-27|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />Tami Samoa<ref name=cauliflower/><br />The Black Ninja<br />Jack Snuka | height = 5 ft 11 in | birth_name = Ulualoaiga Onosai Tuaolo Emelio | weight = 238 lbs | birth_date = {{birth date|1945|3|9}} | birth_place = Pago Pago, American Samoa<ref name=star/> | death_date = {{death date and age|2007|1|9|1945|3|9}} | death_place = Killeen, Texas, United States<ref name=star>{{cite web|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/01/19/news/obits.html|publisher=Star Bulletin|title=Obituaries|accessdate=2009-06-16}}</ref> | resides = | billed = | trainer = | debut = 1976 | retired = 1997 |}}
'''Ulualoaiga Onosai Tuaolo Emelio'''<ref name=star/> (March 9, 1945 – January 9, 2007) was an American Samoan professional wrestler, better known by his ring name '''Cocoa Samoa'''.
== Professional wrestling career == He began his training by studying martial arts in Japan.<ref name=cauliflower/> His had his first matches in Japanese promotions.<ref name=cauliflower/>
On November 15, 1982, as Sabu the Wildman, Cocoa partnered with Jimmy Hart to defeat Jerry Lawler in a handicap match for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. Hart got the pin, but Sabu the Wildman was recognized as champion. He, however, was defeated by Terry Taylor for the title two weeks later.
By the mid-1980s he wrestled in the World Wrestling Council and Championship Wrestling from Florida. By the late 1980s he worked for the NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion under the name Cocoa Samoa. In the summer of 1986, Samoa traded the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship with Rip Oliver, holding it one time. He also held the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship three times between March 1986 and May 1987, with partners Brady Boone, Ricky Santana, and Mike Miller. Also in Northwest, Samoa had a feud with Jimmy Snuka.<ref name=cauliflower/> After 1988, he look a hiatus from wrestling.
In 1994, Samoa returned to wrestling working in Puerto Rico. Later in his career he worked in the independent circuit and All Pro Wrestling in California until retiring in 1997.
== Personal life == Samoa established a janitorial company to provide jobs to homeless people.<ref name=cauliflower/> He also worked for motorcycle companies, offering publicity by making cross-country rides.<ref name=cauliflower/> He spent time in prison after working as a money collector for a drug dealer.<ref name=cauliflower/> After being released from prison, Samoa became a preacher and visited other inmates to preach about Christianity.<ref name=cauliflower/>
He estimated that he had fathered 11 children by nine different women.<ref name=cauliflower/> At the time of his death, however, he was married to a woman named Esperanza and had five known sons and three daughters.<ref name=star/> He had 31 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.<ref name=star/> During his career, he befriended other wrestlers such as Harley Race and Antonio Inoki.<ref name=cauliflower/> He was also close friends with Jimmy Snuka, whom he referred to as his brother.<ref name=cauliflower/>
Samoa died on January 9, 2007.<ref name="star" />
== Championships and accomplishments == *'''Continental Wrestling Association''' **AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''NWA Mid-America''' **NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Pacific Northwest Wrestling''' **NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 times)
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=5014|wrestlingdata=2106|iwd=cocoa-samoa-6987}} {{NWA Mid-America championship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samoa, Cocoa}} Category:1945 births Category:2007 deaths Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:American Samoan male professional wrestlers Category:People from Pago Pago, American Samoa Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni Category:NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champions