Twin Cities Lions Plan Whale Watch Trip 
Twin Cities Lions Shickshinny/mocanaqua Will Hold A Trip To Provincetown, 
Mass., May 16-17.

2 Killed, 1 Injured In Route 92 Collision

By BOBBI DEMPSEY; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, January 25, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1 





HAZLETON- A beefy, former star of America's wrestling mats and high-voltage
TV shows has moved into the city and wants to know: "Are you ready to
rrrrrumble?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Afa Anoai- better known as "Afa the Wild Samoan"- arrived here a few months
ago after closing his wrestling school in the Allentown area. He brought along
a crew of canvas-thumping cohorts who teach people ring exploits like those
practiced by grapplers in the World Wrestling Federation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We hope to make Hazleton our home," Anoai said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He came to Hazleton to take over the former Back Breakers Training Center
at 324 W. Broad St. The training facility is called the Wild Samoan Training
Camp, with the distinction of being the only training center in the world
sanctioned by the WWF. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Anoai said he wants to give kids and young adults something constructive to
do with their time. "My main thing is keeping them away from drugs and all the
problems on the streets," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After 12 years, Anoai hated to leave his loyal Allentown students, but the
Hazleton space offers a bigger facility. He is assisted by Back Breaker's
manager, Johnny Glitter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The center offers two types of training: a beginner's class designed for
novices who don't know a pile-driver from a screwdriver, and the more advanced
class with intensive training and live Friday night performances. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Anoai's training regimen begins with conditioning. "We do thousands of
squats in here before they even get in the ring." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He preaches a self-defense approach, so students can protect themselves in
and out of the ring. In nice weather, he often leads his pupils to a local
park or field for some football-type training. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Whatever the day's drill may be, the students know one thing: It won't be
easy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Students rarely complain about the hard work, though. They consider it the
dues they must pay to achieve stardom in the pro wrestling arena. "They all
want to be professionals," Anoai said, "but to get there, they have to put
their heart and soul into it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He can quickly determine which Hulk Hogan wannabes have the necessary fire
in their bellies. It's an instinct born of experience, he said. Anoai spent 20
years as a top name in the World Wrestling Federation- the big leagues for
body slammers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Together with his brother, Sika, they made up a three-time champion
tag-team known as The Wild Samoans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 With all that experience under his championship belt, Anoai commands- and
demands- respect. "I'll invite anybody in here, but they're gonna follow my
rules." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's usually not a problem. Besides his considerable size, Anoai might
also be his pupils' best chance at stardom. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm kind of a mini-camp," he said. "When (the WWF) needs new talent, they
give me a call." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Born in Samoa, a Pacific island north of New Zealand, Anoai moved here
about 40 years ago with his family. Anoai's parents, both ministers, started a
Samoan church in San Francisco, the first of its kind in the United States, he
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Anoai is considered one of the forefathers of the wrestling dynasty begun
by his uncle, the High Chief Peter Maivia. Cousin Jimmy "Super Fly" Snuka has
been a WWF fan favorite for decades, and at least three other members of
Anoai's family are top WWF wrestlers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "People wonder why there's so many Samoan wrestlers," he said. "It's a
small island, but luckily we have a big family." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Anoai wants his work to benefit the whole community, and disdains the
tactics being used by some wrestlers, including a current pro who sometimes
enters the ring dressed in women's clothes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm against that. I'm from the old school and I teach the old way. We have
a family show here." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Besides the weekly matches at the center, he spends a lot of time
scheduling his wrestlers for charitable and civic events. A recent show at the
Freeland YMCA was a sellout, and Anoai encourages other groups in need of help
organizing a fund-raiser to contact him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another popular attraction is birthday parties. Kids ages 10 an

School In Session For Future Hulk Hogans 
The World Wrestling Federation's Only Sanctioned Training Facility, The Wild 
Samoan Training Center, Hits Hazleton

School In Session For Future Hulk Hogans The World Wrestling Federation's Only Sanctioned Training Facility, The Wild Samoan Training Center, Hits Hazleton