In what has been a challenging time for the legendary Anoa’i/Fatu wrestling dynasty, Jey Uso took a moment after WWE SmackDown went off the air to pay tribute to his late uncle, Afa Anoa’i. The wrestling world was rocked by the news that Afa, one half of the iconic Wild Samoans tag team, passed away at 81 years old just hours before the show aired on Fox. This comes less than two months after the loss of Sika Anoa’i, Afa’s brother, and the father of WWE’s “Tribal Chief,” Roman Reigns.
While Jey Uso didn’t appear on the televised broadcast, he competed in a post-show dark match and was given the microphone afterward to address the live crowd. In an emotional moment that a fan in attendance captured, Uso acknowledged the recent losses his family has endured and expressed gratitude to the WWE Universe for their support during such a difficult time.
“Bottom of my heart, though, we had some tough losses in my family,” Uso said, his voice filled with emotion. “Tonight was one of them, you know. This morning, I found out Uncle Afa passed away. But, like, being in the center of this ring…still brings joy to each one of my family members that you saw perform tonight. We needed this night. We needed you guys tonight. So, from my family, thank you, thank you all.”
The Anoa’i/Fatu family has been a cornerstone of professional wrestling for decades, and the presence of Jey Uso, Roman Reigns, and Solo Sikoa on SmackDown underscored the family’s resilience even in the face of such loss. Jacob Fatu, another of Afa’s nephews, also returned to SmackDown for the first time since SummerSlam, helping Sikoa seek revenge on Reigns for his interference in Sikoa’s championship match against Cody Rhodes.
Though Afa wasn’t mentioned on the live broadcast, his legacy was clearly felt, and his passing was honored by his family. Earlier in the day, Roman Reigns took to social media to pay his respects, joining countless fans and fellow wrestlers in remembering a man who left an indelible mark on the wrestling world.
The WWE Universe may not have seen the tribute on TV, but Jey Uso’s heartfelt words after SmackDown reminded everyone that even in the face of sorrow, the show must go on—and the legacy of the Wild Samoans will continue to live on through the next generation.