Interview conducted August 30, 2024
by Courtney Goodrum
I had the incredible honor to sit down and listen to the legend and WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi discuss his heritage, wrestling career, how much he loves Dragon Con, oh and Waffle House.
What does it mean to represent your Samoan heritage on a global stage like WWE
“You know, our culture has always started in our, what I like to call our wrestling ring, is the living room. Right. And so, you know, that really helped me personally and the family transcend into the world of entertainment and professional wrestling…Back in the day, nobody really knew who Samoans was until Uncle Alpha Sika and Uncle Peter Maivia came on the scene and wrestling, you know. And so, you know, we just try to do our best and continue, you know, to help pave the way of what they’ve meant for the family.”
What does it mean to come here and be apart of a convention like Dragon Con?
“Conventions like this didn’t always include wrestling, and Dragon Con was one of the first to include wrestling as part of, maybe the first. Man, it’s awesome. You know, I got a chance, first of all, this is my first time working with this amazing crew of Dragon Con, you know. And then when I found out it was in ATL, well, you know, I used to, you know, body drop slam everybody right down the street at Center Stage down here in Peach Street. And so to be able to come back to ATL when I kind of first started my career and be a part of Dragon Con for my first experience, you know, I feel like I’m home, you know. The people here in the South is just, people in the South is a different vibe, you know what I mean? Just so loving, so open. So I feel home, and I want to thank Dragon Con for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a fantastic show, fantastic Comic-Con.”
Please touch on your induction into Dragon Con Wrestling Hall of Fame and participation in the event?
“Oh, man, what an honor. You know, I had no idea. I mean, you know, anytime when I go to different wrestling events, I never, you know, know what’s going to happen. All I know for me personally is just that vibe between me and the fans, because I miss you guys so much, you know. But I don’t miss the ring. I stepped into the ring last night, I started to get goosebumps in there. Like, all right, KC, calm down, calm down. And then when they, you know, presented me with the, you know, DCW Hall of Fame plaque, I was very honored. You know, it’s really something to recognize, you know, what I’ve done for the industry and for the business and so forth. And I love coming to, you know, to see the newcomers of the industry today, you know. When I come, I’m like coming as a fan, so I got a chance to watch, you know, some of them thought they ran a great show, DCW. Hopefully, I heard that there was 22 years and this might be the last one. Hopefully not, you know, because they run a, I feel it’s a good product added on to the comic-con, because it’s kind of like cosplay type of vibe. And so, you know, it’s a fun place to let your stress release out. You just go to a wrestling match and just scream your head off. You’ll be all right before you leave. So yeah, it was great. I was very honored and thank you for the Hall of Fame plaque cosplayers in there, some of the independent wrestlers.”
Do you have a particular hero or villain you would have loved to play in a role or maybe cosplay in the ring throughout your lifetime?
” Um, man, I would have liked almost like, I’m a superhero guy. You know, I’m Superman. You know, I probably would, in my crazy mind of sports entertainment, cosplay, probably wouldn’t want it to be something like a big king from the islands, you know, with blonde dreadlocks and do superpowers. But we’re the kind of culture type of outfits where you’re damn, you know, I was the baddest man in the world. So anything on top of the thong, I think it’s pretty, you know, pretty safe for me. But yeah, it’s always for me presentation to let people know who I am in a way, but at the same time, try to keep it to where they can understand the culture of who I represent. But so I never really, you know, I would hopefully one day, you know, I’m able to get picked up in some type of Marvel movie as some type of Polynesian king, you know what I mean? King Kishi or something like that. And I like to pick characters that can be a fun character for me. But at the same time, it’s a platform statement because there has to be something behind that, that transcends even farther than the ring.”
You have a history with some of the greatest wrestlers of many generations, especially The Undertaker. Do you have a special memory of your time working together?
“Oh, Undertaker is a good friend of mine’s. First, let me start about the man. Very respectful, very respected team leader. As far as business wise, he’s the professor in professional wrestling, a guy that likes to teach the younger generation coming through the industry to be able to pass on knowledge. Straight shooter, no BS whatsoever. Funny guy. We love country music and hip hop. You know, I like to call him one of my brothers, my brother from another mother. And, uh, um, my, probably my favorite match that I’ll always remember with Taker is, uh, uh, in the hell in itself. Uh, long story short, when it was time for me to take that fall from the top, from a choke slam from Taker, he’s known for that. And, uh, when we seen the, the flatbed, we do what is called a walkthrough. So when you see the flatbed during the walkthrough, there was no aluminum railings. It was just a flatbed, but coming from 50 feet to this bed, I’m looking, okay. In my mind, if in case an accident happened, at least if I don’t hit that flatbed directly, I’m able to kind of try to break my fall, at least on the mat, on the floor, cement, whatever. So that’s in my mind while the match is going, waiting for the flatbed. The flatbed comes up, time to go home. The big, the big, the big fall everybody’s waiting for. And this flatbed comes up and it had aluminum railings. So now I’m like, my chances has just shrunk it now. If I don’t hit that mark right on the spot, at 450 pounds, you’re coming out the top. My body’s going, if I don’t hit it right, that aluminum rail is going to pierce right through this body. And while we’re up top, I’m looking. Of course, Taker sees it and says, you don’t have to do this, man. He’s just worried about me. You know, that’s what we do though. When you have 30, 40,000 people yelling, you know, you can hear them, their, their energy. It’s what we do. So he grabbed me and, you ready? I said, tell my family I love them. That was it. When I landed, I was just shaking. You know, God, God took the wheel and planted me where I was supposed to be. And, and yeah, that fall paid off my kid’s house. But yeah, you know, that’s your question. Taker is the man. “
Tell us about your love for Waffle House?
“ Listen, I got to get my Waffle House. For me, it’s Smothered and Covered and a chocolate chip waffle. You gotta have that, you know. And that sweet tea. We can’t forget about the sweet tea.”
