Joseph Afamasaga (66)

1949-01-02 - 2015-07-09 | New Zealand

Joseph Afamasaga better known as Samoan Joe, was a popular New Zealand wrestler in the 1970s and 1980s. He began his career with All Star-Pro Wrestling in New Zealand, gaining fame through appearances on the On the Mat TV show. He became one of the country's most beloved wrestlers, facing opponents like Bruiser Brody and forming successful tag teams with Lu Leota. He also participated in an international tour in Singapore in 1982 and wrestled in the U.S. with the American Wrestling Association before retiring in 1989. After retirement, he moved to Australia, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and completed a Mormon mission. In 2009, he was named one of New Zealand's Top 10 favorite wrestlers. In the 2010s, his legacy was preserved through the airing of his matches on NZ On Screen. He passed away in 2015, leaving a lasting impact on New Zealand professional wrestling.