Lia Maivia

Maivia took over the Polynesian Pro Wrestling (PPW), a territory of the National Wrestling Alliance in Hawaii, following the death of her husband, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, in 1982.[2] She became one of wrestling's first female promoters.[1] In the mid-1980s, her promotion ran a show called Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling on the Financial News Network.[3] Her biggest card, A Hot Summer Night, occurred on 3 August 1985 and had a crowd of 20,000.[1] Her show the following year did not do as well, and the promotion began to decline.[1] Maivia, her booker Lars Anderson, and Ati So'O faced extortion charges from a competing Hawaiian promotion, but were acquitted in November 1989.[1] PPW closed in 1988.[2][4]

Lia Maivia had one daughter, Mataniufeagaimaleata Fitisemanu (Ata Fitisemanu), with her first husband. After she married Peter Maivia he adopted her daughter and changed her name to Ata Fitisemanu Maivia.[1][2] Ata and her ex-husband Rocky Johnson are the parents of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.[2]

Maivia died of a heart attack at her home in Davie, Florida, on 19 October 2008.[2][4] There were conflicting reports of her age, as most outlets reported that she was 81 years old,[1][4] while The Miami Herald reported that she was 77.[2] The Anoa'i family established the "Lia Maivia Scholarship" in her honor.[5]

Bill Apter, a writer and journalist who specializes in wrestling, wrote of Maivia following her death: "When my daughter Hailey, who is now 23, met Lia at a wrestling event in upper New York state, Lia went to a gift shop at a nearby hotel and bought Hailey a stuffed rabbit as a gift. She had never met her before this day, and this shows what a heart she had!"[2] Greg Oliver, another professional wrestling journalist, wrote that Maivia "was considered a strong-willed businesswoman, demanding and challenging of her employees."[1]

• Anoaʻi family