Savelina Fanene, professionally known as Nia Jax, is an Australian-born American professional wrestler currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment WWE.
Similarly, Solofa Fatu Jr., best known under the ring name Rikishi, is a professional American wrestler with WWE and has also competed under the New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.
Highlights
- Nia Jax and Rikishi are professional wrestlers who play for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
- Nia Jax is the daughter of Rikishi’s cousin Joseph Fanene, making his her ‘First Cousin Once Removed.’
- Nia Jaz and Rikishi are members of the Anoa’i family, Samoan Island lineage.
Nia made her in-ring debut on May 7, 2015, at an NXT house show under the ring name Zada. Later in August, her name was changed to Nia Jax.
She currently performs on the SmackDown brand, is the current Queen of the Ring, and is the WWE Women’s Champion in her second reign.
On the other hand, 59 years old, Rikishi debuted in the professional wrestling business in 1985 as Prince Alofa.
He made his WWF debut in 1992, left the federation in 1998, and competed on the independent wrestling circuit. He returned to WWE in the 2000s and became famous for his “Stink Face” move.
Nia Jax Is The “First Cousin Once Removed,” Of Rikishi; Both Belongs To The Anoa’i Family
Nia Jax is related to Rikishi through their shared membership in the Anao’i family, a prominent wrestling dynasty.
Rikishi is a cousin to Joseph Fanene, the father of Nia Jax. That makes Nia’s ‘first cousin once removed’ of Rikishi, as she is the daughter of his cousin.
Similarly, they belong to the Anoa’i family lineage, a family of professional wrestlers originating from the Samoan Islands.
Anoa’i family wrestling legacy spans decades and includes renowned names such as The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), Roman Reigns, and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso).
The Fatu and Fanene families connect through their shared ancestry within the broader Anoa’i lineage.
Moreover, Rikishi’s maternal grandparents, Amituana’i Anoa’i Rev, and Tovaleomanaia Leoso Ripley, are key figures in the Anoa’i family.
Their daughter Elevera Anoaʻi, mother of Rikishi, was married into the Fatu family, and other children and descendants married to the Fanene family.
Furthermore, Rikishi’s mother is also Peter Maivia’s sister, the grandfather of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Cousin of Peter was Nia Jax’s father, Joseph.
Similarly, this family branch also extends to relatives who are part of the wrestling dynasty, Yokozuna, and Umaga, brother of Rikishi.
It is known that both families are part of this extended Samoan wrestling dynasty, making Nia Jax and Rikishi cousins in the broader sense.
Moreover, they are related not necessarily through direct sibling connections but through the shared bloodline of the Anoa’i family.
Additional Information
- As of 2024, Nia Jax’s estimated net worth is around $500K, while Rikishi’s total wealth is approximately $2 million.
- Nia Jax has yet to be married but is rumored to be dating Luke Gallows. She was previously in a relationship with Josh Woods.
- Rikishi married Talisua Fuavai-Fatu in 1985. The couple is the parents of eight children: seven sons and one daughter.
