Tamina Snuka

Tamina Snuka
Reiher at WrestleMania XXVIII Axxcess
Ring name(s)	Sarona Snuka Tamina[1] Tamina Snuka
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight	150 lb (68 kg)[2]
Born	(1978-01-10) January 10, 1978[2] Vancouver, Washington
Billed from	Islands of Fiji and Samoa Pacific Islands[3]
Debut	2009[3][4]

Sarona Reiher^[3] (born January 10, 1978)^[2] is a professional wrestler^[3] who works for WWE under the ring name Tamina Snuka.^[5] She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and the younger sister of former WWE wrestler Deuce.^[3]

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Reiher first began in wrestling after she received the first Lia Maivia Scholarship to train in professional wrestling career at the Wild Samoan Training Center.^[4]

World Wrestling Entertainment

Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2010)

On December 26, 2009, WXW's official twitter account announced that WWE had signed Reiher to a developmental contract and would report to their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) for further training.^[6] Reiher debuted in FCW on March 19 competing in a six-women tag team match at a house show.^[7] She transitioned to managing The Usos, while remaining a competitor in the women's division, and competed in the tournament to determine the new FCW Divas Champion.

Managing the Usos and Santino Marella (2010–2011)

Tamina in ring with Jimmy and Jey Uso.

On the May 24 episode of Raw, Reiher debuted as a heel under the ring name Tamina along with Jimmy and Jey Uso by attacking the Unified Tag Team Champions, The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd, David Hart Smith, and Natalya).^[1][8] The next week on the May 31 episode of Raw, Tamina and The Usos introduced themselves and stated that The Hart Dynasty was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and brawled and again laid out The Hart Dynasty. On the June 7 episode of Raw, Tamina and The Usos again attempted to attack The Hart Dynasty, but was unsuccessful after The Hart Dynasty getting the upper hand.^[9] Tamina and The Usos made their pay-per-view debut on June 20 at Fatal 4-Way in a six-person mixed tag team match, but were defeated by The Hart Dynasty after Natalya pinned Tamina for the win.^[10] Two weeks later on the June 21 episode of Raw, Tamina made her debut for the brand facing off with Natalya, but ended in a no contest after The Nexus interrupted the match. On the June 28 episode of Raw, Tamina and The Usos were scheduled to face The Hart Dynasty in another six-person mixed tag team match, but instead attacked them during their entrance, leading to Tamina throwing Natalya in the ring and executing the Super Fly Splash and left with the Usos.^[11] On the July 12 episode of Raw, Tamina and The Usos won their first match by defeating The Hart Dynasty in a six-person mixed tag team match.^[12] At the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Tamina accompanied The Usos to a tag team match against The Hart Dynasty in a losing effort. On the July 26 episode of Raw, Tamina along with Jimmy Uso accompanied Jey Uso to a singles match against Randy Orton, but was unsuccessful in defeating Orton.^[13]

On the August 8 episode of Raw, Tamina began flirting with Santino Marella, hinting a face turn. Two weeks later, Tamina accompanied The Usos in a tag team match against Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov in a losing effort, but Tamina would then afterwards stop the Usos from attacking Santino, and blew a kiss to Santino as she left the ring.^[14] On the September 27 episode of Raw, Tamina competed in a #1 contender diva battle royal, which was ultimately won by Natalya.^[15] On the October 11 episode of Raw, Tamina joined Santino Marella after his victory over Zack Ryder and celebrated with him.^[16] A few weeks later on the November 8 episode of Raw, Tamina teamed with Alicia Fox and Maryse in a Diva Cup Match in a losing effort to Eve Torres and The Bella Twins. On the November 15 episode of Raw, Tamina accompanied The Usos to a #1 contender tag team match against Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov in a losing effort.^[17] Tamina made a backstage appearance with Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov on the November 22 episode of Raw when she serenaded and kissed Santino. Two weeks later on the November 29 episode of Raw, Tamina teamed with Alicia Fox and Maryse in a six diva tag team match against Natalya, Gail Kim, and Melina, but was distracted by Santino Marella serenading her, and she left the ring with Santino, turning her character into a face.

On the December 6 episode of Raw, Tamina began an on-screen relationship with Santino Marella, beginning by accompanying him and his partner Vladimir Kozlov in a three elimination tag team match against the teams of The Nexus (Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater) and The Usos in a winning effort, as Tamina walked in the ring and kissed Santino, officially becoming the valet of the team.^[18] On the December 20 episode of Raw, Tamina teamed with her on-screen boyfriend Santino Marella in a mixed tag team match in a winning effort against Maryse and Ted DiBiase Jr. after Tamina executed the Super Fly Splash to Maryse. The next week on the December 27 episode of Raw, Tamina accompanied Santino Marella in a singles match in a winning effort to Ted DiBiase, leading to Tamina and Santino being attacked by both DiBiase and Maryse, after Santino and Tamina made a comeback, they both executed The Cobra on DiBiase and Maryse. On the January 3 episode of Raw, Tamina accompanied Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov in a tag team match against The Usos in a losing effort, and was afterwards confronted by the Usos, who later was headbutted by Kozlov and received a double Cobra from Marella and Tamina.^[19] On the February 2 episode of WWE Superstars, Tamina competed in her first singles match as a fan favorite, losing to Melina.

Various feuds and Injuries (2011-2013)

Tamina at a live SmackDown event in January 2012.

After being drafted to the SmackDown brand as part of the 2011 supplemental draft,^[20] Tamina made her SmackDown debut as a heel on the May 27 episode of SmackDown teaming with Alicia Fox in a diva tag team match defeating The Chickbusters (AJ and Kaitlyn) who were accompanied by their mentor Natalya with Fox pinning Kaitlyn.^[21] A week later on SmackDown, Tamina and Fox again defeated The Chickbusters, with Tamina pinning AJ.^[22] On the June 13 episode of WWE Superstars, Tamina competed in a 6 diva tag team match with Alicia Fox and Rosa Mendes in a losing effort to AJ, Kaitlyn, and Natalya with AJ pinning Fox.^[23] Tamina then began appearing on the fifth season of NXT Redemption, where she continued her feud with Kaitlyn debuting on the October 26 episode of NXT Redemption in a losing effort.^[24] On the November 2 episode of NXT Redemption, Tamina would lose again in a rematch against Kaitlyn, thus ending their feud.^[25] Tamina would then begin an on-screen relationship with JTG, becoming his valet. She accompanied him on the November 9 episode of NXT Redemption in a losing effort against old partner Jimmy Uso, who was also accompanied by Jey Uso.^[26]

On the December 30 episode of SmackDown, Tamina teamed with Natalya in a losing effort to Alicia Fox and Kaitlyn with Fox pinning Natalya, and would afterwards attack Natalya, turning face in the process, and beginning a feud between the two about their respective families.^[27] Over the next two weeks on SmackDown, Tamina would defeat Natalya in singles competition.^[28][29] On the February 10 episode of SmackDown, Tamina saved Alicia Fox from an attack by Divas Champion Beth Phoenix; the two would then have a stare down which resulted in Tamina challenging Phoenix for her title.^[30] Tamina (now billed as Tamina Snuka) received her title shot on February 19 at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, but was defeated by Phoenix.^[5]

Tamina in 2013.

On the April 25 episode of NXT Redemption, Tamina teamed with Kaitlyn in a diva tag team match defeating the team of Maxine and Natalya. On the May 9 episode of NXT Redemption Tamina competed in singles competition against Maxine in losing effort.^[31] On the June 6 episode of NXT Redemption, Tamina competed in singles competition against Natalya in a winning effort.^[32] At the Money In The Bank pay-per-view, Tamina teamed up with Layla and Kaitlyn who later on defeated the team of Beth Phoenix, Natalya and Eve Torres. On the August 20 episode of Raw, Tamina would compete in a diva battle royal to become the #1 contender for the Divas Championship to face Layla at the Night of Champions pay-per-view, but was unsuccessful in winning the match; also during the match, Tamina would suffer a back injury.^[33]

After three months of inactivity, Tamina returned from injury on November 18 at the Survivor Series pay-per-view as a heel, interrupting a segment between AJ Lee and Vickie Guerrero by attacking AJ from behind.^[34] Snuka made her in-ring return on the November 26 episode of Raw, defeating Alicia Fox.^[35] Snuka suffered her first loss since her return on the December 3 episode of Raw, when she was pinned by AJ Lee.^[36] On the January 28, 2013 episode of Raw, Snuka faced Divas Champion Kaitlyn in a non-title lumberjill match, however, the match ended in a no-contest after the Lumberjills interfered.^[37] On February 17 at Elimination Chamber, Snuka unsuccessfully challenged Kaitlyn for the Divas Championship.^[38] On the June 5 episode of NXT, Snuka was defeated by Paige in the first round of the NXT Women's Championship tournament to crown the inaugural champion.^[39]

AJ Lee's bodyguard (2013–present)

Tamina accompanying AJ Lee to the ring in November 2013.

Tamina would return on the 27 September episode of SmackDown, accompanying former rival AJ Lee to her match against Cameron, one of The Funkadactyls. She also helped AJ Lee retain her Divas's Championship in WWE Battleground by attacking Nikki Bella, so that Brie Bella would get distracted. AJ Lee pined Brie by Roll Up because of the distraction. On 14 October Raw, Snuka defeated Brie Bella in a singles match, but the following week Bella Twins defeated Tamina and AJ.^[40] Again in a rematch on Raw, Tamina and AJ defeated Nikki and Brie.^[41] On November 4, Tamina, AJ and Aksana lost to Bella Twins and Eva Marie after Eva pinned Tamina with a roll-up.^[42] On 11 November Tamina defeated Nikki Bella on Raw.^[43] On the November 13th edition of Main Event, AJ retained her title against Natalya after Tamina interfere and attacking Natalya.^[44] On the November 15th edition of SmackDown Natalya defeated Tamina with AJ.^[45]

On the November 18 episode of Raw, Tamina and AJ with other 5 divas were announced to fight together in Survivor Series in a seven-on-seven traditional survivor series elimination tag team match against the Total Divas.^[46] On the November 20th episode of Main Event, Snuka defeated Naomi, giving her team some momentum heading into Survivor Series.^[47] Her team lost at Survivor Series. On the December 9th episode of Raw, Tamina lost to Natalya in singles competition. The following week on Raw, Snuka teamed with AJ and Alicia Fox to defeat the Bella Twins and Natalya.

After Kaitlyn's final match against AJ on Main Event, after AJ hugged Kaitlyn, Tamina would superkick her, writing her off television.

Acting

Reiher will make her acting debut in the 2014 film Hercules: The Thracian Wars,^[48] starring her cousin, Dwayne Johnson.^[49]

Personal life

She is divorced from her husband with whom she has two daughters, in 2003.^[50]

In wrestling

Tamina performing the Superfly Splash

• Finishing moves
  • Superfly Splash^[2][51] (Diving splash)^[2][52] – adopted from her father^[11]
  • Superkick^[2][51] – 2013–present
• Signature moves
  • Chinlock^[53]
  • Headbutt^[2][54]
  • Powerbomb^[55]
  • Pumphandle slam^[56]
  • Samoan drop^[2][52][54]
  • Side kick^[57]
  • Snap suplex^[58]
  • Vertical suplex^[59]

• Managers
  • Rosa Mendes^[2][22]
  • Alicia Fox^[2]
  • AJ Lee

• Wrestlers managed
  • The Usos^[2][60]
  • Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov^[2][18]
  • JTG^[26]
  • AJ Lee^[26]

• Entrance themes
  • "Get Up (Instrumental)" by Extreme Music (May 24, 2010 – November 29, 2010; also used with The Usos)^[1][8]
  • "60 Second Man" by Dennis Winslow and Robert J. Walsh (February 2, 2011 – August 8, 2011)^[61]
  • "Anarchy" by Lindsay Jehan and Peter Northcote (August 26, 2011 – January 6, 2012)^[25]
  • "Ag Mangua" by WarnerChappell (January 13, 2012 – January 13, 2012)
  • "Tropical Storm (V1)" by Jim Johnston (January 19, 2012–present)^[5]
  • "Tropical Storm (V2)" by Jim Johnston (January 27, 2012)^[5]
  • "Let's Light It Up" by Kari Kimmel (September 27, 2013–present; used while with AJ Lee)

Championships and accomplishments

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked her #19 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2012^[62]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Worst Worked Match of the Year (2013) with AJ Lee, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Kaitlyn, Rosa Mendes and Summer Rae vs. Brie Bella, Cameron, Eva Marie, Jojo, Naomi, Natalya and Nikki Bella on November 24^[63]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sarona Reiher.

• Sarona Reiher's profile on WWE.com
• Online World of Wrestling profile
• CageMatch profile (German)
• Tamina Snuka at the Internet Movie Database