History Main / WildSamoan

[[quoteright:323:[[Wrestling/{{Umaga}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Umaga_8732.jpg]]]]

* The Maori are portrayed this way in ''DeadliestWarrior''.

* ''Wizard'' deckhand Freddy Maughtai on ''DeadliestCatch'' embodies most of the stereotypes: his English is heavily accented(the show actually often captions his lines, though he's not that hard to understand), he will take fish out of the crab pots and begin to eat them raw(scales, bones and all), and most recently, when the ''Wizard'' spotted a walrus carcass(with valuable tusks) and tried to harvest it, they were having trouble getting a rope around it to haul it up. Freddy's solution was to strip down to his sweatpants and jump into the '''Bering Sea in January''', when the water temperature is around 35 degrees Farenheit(about 2 degrees Celsius) to fix the rope around it. Ship captain Keith Colburn and the rest of the crew almost went nuts, and they quickly fished him out. Keith was extremely frightened by Freddy's actions, but Freddy himself seemed to view it as no big deal. Of special note was that being in water that cold for one minute generally results in the beginning stages of hypothermia. Freddy was in the water for ''two'' minutes, and according to Keith, his skin didn't even feel cold. He was back working on deck within minutes, once he'd changed into dry clothes.

** Worse still, in attempting to get rid of the BadassDecay, he headed into Wild Samoan territory, wearing face paint, biting people and carrying a sling blade. Plus his entrance music had the nice addition of "...Samoa, nation of violence". This led to a moronic FaceHeelTurn at the 2009 King of the Mountain match that was regarded as one of the worst turns of all time.

You probably don't need to be told this (what with all the {{Foreign Wrestling Heel}}s running around), but ProfessionalWrestling isn't very culturally sensitive. Nowhere is this more evident than in the character of the Wild Samoan (or Tongan, or Fijian, or Marquesan, [[LongList or...]]). Basically, in wrestling world, if you come from a small South Pacific island, you talk in grunts, groans, and gibberish, you devour raw fish on the way to the ring (not ''prepared'' raw fish like sushi either, just plain, whole, raw fish)... and [[WrestlingMonster you destroy everything in your path in the most brutal manner possible]]. Oh, and your head is hard enough to break concrete.

** When they preform a Haka, [[DiscussedTrope the commentators point out]] that [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R7rTYht55k athletes in Hawaii do that]] even if they aren't Polynesian.

* [[Wrestling/TheShield Roman Reigns]], a third generation wrestler of Samoan descent, averts this, backstage at least. He's eloquent, a bit quiet and soft spoken during promos, but during a match or attack, he's every bit of the Screamin Warrior you expect him to be.

* Maifu and Saifu, the Nigerian Nigthmares, are the Nigerian version of this trope. They are the NWS's resident pair of facepaint-wearing superheavyweights.

** According to UrbanLegend, [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] once got Snuka off of a murder charge, by claiming to the police that he was an illiterate simpleton who spoke no English (it wasn't Vince's doing, it was Snuka himself). Short version is that Snuka's girlfriend died in very questionable circumstances and, while no charges were ever brought, Snuka used his illiterate savage routine in his taped interviews with the cops to avoid saying too much. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Snuka#Homicide_Suspect_in_Girlfriend.27s_Death The Other Wiki]] has the details.

** According to UrbanLegend, [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] once got Snuka off of a murder charge, by claiming to the police that he was an illiterate simpleton who spoke no English (It wasn't Vince's doing, it was Snuka himself). Short version is that Snuka's girlfriend died in very questionable circumstances and, while no charges were ever brought, Snuka used his illiterate savage routine in his taped interviews with the cops to avoid saying too much. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Snuka#Homicide_Suspect_in_Girlfriend.27s_Death The Other Wiki]] has the details.

* The late Wrestling/{{Umaga}} (Samoan for "The End"), who was actually a subversion of this trope before he began to embody it. He portrayed Jamal of Three Minute Warning, basically a gangsta, during his WWE run at the turn of the century. He continued to play Jamal in Japan after getting released. Even as Umaga he was at least portrayed as being highly intelligent(despite being socially inept enough to gnaw on the intercontinental championship) and spoke fluently (albeit, not in English).

[[quoteright:323:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Umaga_8732.jpg]]

Fortunately, this is on its way to becoming a DiscreditedTrope, with the broadening characters for islander wrestlers (such as Wrestling/SamoaJoe, the {{Badass}} submission expert - Rosey, the erstwhile sidekick to wrestling {{Superhero}} The Hurricane - Rikishi, the hip-hop dancing sumo wrestler who rubs his gargantuan, thong-covered ass into his opponents' faces... yes, you read that right) - [[Wrestling/TheShield Roman Reigns]], the cerebral technician who takes advantage of wolfpack tactics to overwhelm his foes - and not least of all [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] would count as well (his mother was Samoan, but his father was black). However, it does have a way of cropping back up from time to time.

* Currently in WWE are the Uso brothers (who are the sons of Rikishi Fatu), who actually [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this trope by noting in their debut promo that they're not "your stereotypical Samoans."

* The late Umaga (Samoan for "The End"), who was actually a subversion of this trope before he began to embody it. He portrayed Jamal of Three Minute Warning, basically a gangsta, during his WWE run at the turn of the century. He continued to play Jamal in Japan after getting released. Even as Umaga he was at least portrayed as being highly intelligent(despite being socially inept enough to gnaw on the intercontinental championship) and spoke fluently (albeit, not in English).

* Female example - TNA's Lei'D Tapa (Tongan). She overlaps somewhat with TheGiant but still fits the trope. Though her Gut Check video was completely out of character. She ''is'' the niece of the Barbarian, though.

* [[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Haku[=/=]Meng]]

* Female example - TNA's Lei'D Tapa (Tongan). She overlaps somewhat with TheGiant but still fits the trope. Though her Gut Check video was completely out of character.

*** Now they are indeed doing the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-oypxFuj_A&feature=related Siva-Tau]], the Samoan war dance, which is also used by many other Samoan athletes.

* King Konga/The Barbarian/Sione Vailahi was also a wild Tongan.

Fortunately, this is on its way to becoming a DiscreditedTrope, with the broadening characters for islander wrestlers (such as Wrestling/SamoaJoe, the {{Badass}} submission expert - Rosey, the erstwhile sidekick to wrestling [=Superhero=] The Hurricane - Rikishi, the hip-hop dancing sumo wrestler who rubs his gargantuan, thong-covered ass into his opponents' faces... yes, you read that right) - [[Wrestling/TheShield Roman Reigns]], the cerebral technician who takes advantage of wolfpack tactics to overwhelm his foes - and not least of all [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] would count as well (his mother was Samoan, but his father was black). However, it does have a way of cropping back up from time to time.

Fortunately, this is on its way to becoming a DiscreditedTrope, with the broadening characters for islander wrestlers (such as Wrestling/SamoaJoe, the {{Badass}} submission expert - Rosey, the erstwhile sidekick to wrestling SuperHero The Hurricane - Rikishi, the hip-hop dancing sumo wrestler who rubs his gargantuan, thong-covered ass into his opponents' faces... yes, you read that right) - [[Wrestling/TheShield Roman Reigns]], the cerebral technician who takes advantage of wolfpack tactics to overwhelm his foes - and not least of all [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] would count as well (his mother was Samoan, but his father was black). However, it does have a way of cropping back up from time to time.

* Haku(Wrestling/{{WWE}})[=/=]Meng(Wrestling/{{WCW}}), a Wild Tongan

* Sabu The Wildman (1945-2007), real name Ulualoaiga Onosai Tuaolo Emilio and better known as Cocoa Samoa, came long before and had no relation to [[[Wrestling/{{Sabu}} the non-Samoan ECW wrestler of the same name.]]

You probably don't need to be told this (what with all the {{Foreign Wrestling Heel}}s running around), but ProfessionalWrestling isn't very culturally sensitive. Nowhere is this more evident than in the character of the Wild Samoan (or Tongan, or Fijian, or Marquesan, [[TheLongList or...]]). Basically, in wrestling world, if you come from a small South Pacific island, you talk in grunts, groans, and gibberish, you devour raw fish on the way to the ring (not ''prepared'' raw fish like sushi either, just plain, whole, raw fish)... and [[WrestlingMonster you destroy everything in your path in the most brutal manner possible]]. Oh, and your head is hard enough to break concrete.

* Afa and Sika, the original Wild Samoans (incidentally, Afa is the patriarch of the Anoa'i WrestlingFamily, whose members make up most of the other examples)

* The late Umaga (Samoan for "The End"), who was actually a subversion of this trope before he began to embody it. He portrayed Jamal of Three Minute Warning, basically a gangsta, during his WWE run at the turn of the century. He continued to play Jamal in Japan after getting release. Even as Umaga he was at least portrayed as being highly intelligent(despite being socially inept enough to gnaw on the intercontinental championship) and spoke fluently (albeit, not in English).
* Haku(Wrestling/{{WWE}})/Meng(WCW), a Wild Tongan

* Haku had a tag team partner named Tama, who became known as the "Wild Samoan Savage" while wrestling in the NWA.
* Sabu The Wildman, came long before and had no relation the non Samoan ECW wrestler of the same name

* Non-wrestling example (though it's not ''too'' far off): the recent revival of ''AmericanGladiators'' included a Wild Samoan who went by "Toa" (the Samoan word for "warrior").

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Amazing (and appalling) that it isn't discredited yet, as it was subverted as far back as ''{{Moby-Dick}}''. Queequeg is an "islander" from somewhere in the Pacific, and Ishmael initially fears him as a dangerous savage, but he turns out to be a basically civilized and decent fellow with some peculiar cultural mannerisms.
* The plot of the novel ''Bora Bora'' by Spanish author Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa revolves around a crew of Polynesian sailors from the eponymous island tracking down for revenge a crew of savage pirates from Micronesia who had robbed their island some time in the 1660s. The pirates play the trope as good as possible, being at the same time cruel, wild, uncivilised, horribly tattooed, [[RapePillageAndBurn with no respect for laws of humanity]] and [[ImAHumanitarian cannibals]].

[[folder: Film ]]

* Doctor Gonzo from ''FearAndLoathingInLasVegas'' is described as Samoan (though his real name was Oscar Zeta Acosta and he was Chicano). The charade carries over from the books, and was pretty much necessary to keep Acosta from being disbarred.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* [[FatBastard King Hippo]] from the PunchOut series is described as coming from the fictional [[BananaRepublic Hippo Island]], and in his Wii incarnation talks exclusively in grunts and roars.
* Despite hailing from the Dominican Republic, "King" Rasta Mon was ''SaturdayNightSlamMasters''' tribute to this trope.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Heavyweight boxer David Tua certainly qualifies, at least early in his career. And yes, he is Samoan.
** A few kickboxers fit this trope as well: Mark Hunt, Ray Sefo and Mighty Mo (although, considering his [[GlassCannon susceptibility to knockouts]] he may count as a subversion).
* A disproportionate number of AmericanFootball players come from American Samoa. According to a ''Series/SixtyMinutes'' piece on the subject, it helps that they're taller on average than other Americans, [[ProudWarriorRace have a strong warrior-culture influence]], and spend a great part of their day from a young age in hard agricultural labor, as compared to the more sedate lifestyle in the US mainland.
** Averted by Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is of Samoan descent (albeit born and raised in the US) and is every bit the warrior during the game. However, off the field, he is very soft-spoken, laid back and sweet-natured.

[[/folder]]

Fortunately, this is on its way to becoming a DiscreditedTrope, with the broadening characters for islander wrestlers (such as SamoaJoe, the {{Badass}} submission expert - Rosey, the erstwhile sidekick to wrestling SuperHero The Hurricane - Rikishi, the hip-hop dancing sumo wrestler who rubs his gargantuan, thong-covered ass into his opponents' faces... yes, you read that right) - [[Wrestling/TheShield Roman Reigns]], the cerebral technician who takes advantage of wolfpack tactics to overwhelm his foes - and not least of all [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] would count as well (his mother was Samoan, but his father was black). However, it does have a way of cropping back up from time to time.

** And who coincidentally is a cousin of [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]], a decidedly non-Wild Samoan.
* ''ThePriceIsRight'''s Bob Barker was infamously wary of any Samoans (or anyone who looked like one) who got to Contestants Row, given their alleged tendency to pick him up in bear hugs out of jubilation.
* There was some game show on ''BoyMeetsWorld'' where the losers were attacked by Samoans. Even in the home edition.

You probably don't need to be told this (what with all the {{Foreign Wrestling Heel}}s running around), but ProfessionalWrestling isn't very culturally sensitive. Nowhere is this more evident than in the character of the WildSamoan (or Tongan, or Fijian, or Marquesan, [[TheLongList or...]]). Basically, in wrestling world, if you come from a small South Pacific island, you talk in grunts, groans, and gibberish, you devour raw fish on the way to the ring (not ''prepared'' raw fish like sushi either, just plain, whole, raw fish)... and [[WrestlingMonster you destroy everything in your path in the most brutal manner possible]]. Oh, and your head is hard enough to break concrete.

* While [[Wrestling/JimmySnuka "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka]], a Fijian, wasn't the typical WildSamoan {{archetype}}, he did still dress like Tarzan and grunt a lot.

** Worse still, in attempting to get rid of the BadassDecay, he headed into WildSamoan territory, wearing face paint, biting people and carrying a sling blade. Plus his entrance music had the nice addition of "...Samoa, nation of violence". This led to a moronic FaceHeelTurn at the 2009 King of the Mountain match that was regarded as one of the worst turns of all time.

* Non-wrestling example (though it's not ''too'' far off): the recent revival of ''AmericanGladiators'' included a WildSamoan who went by "Toa" (the Samoan word for "warrior").

Fortunately, this is on its way to becoming a DiscreditedTrope, with the broadening characters for islander wrestlers (such as SamoaJoe, the {{Badass}} submission expert, Rosey, the erstwhile sidekick to wrestling SuperHero The Hurricane, and for that matter, [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] would count as well (his mother was Samoan, but his father was black) - not to mention Rikishi, the hip-hop dancing sumo wrestler who rubs his gargantuan, thong-covered ass into his opponents' faces... yes, you read that right). However, it does have a way of cropping back up from time to time.

* Samu and Fatu, the Headshrinkers