Wednesday November 1, 2006 will mark 20 years that The Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center, Inc. will be in business in the state of Pennsylvania.
The Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center was founded by WWE 3 time Tag Team champion, wrestling legend Afa "The Wild Samoan" with the hopes of offering a safe and secure place for young hopefuls to learn the ropes of the sport and to have the opportunity to gain ring experience. The first training center was in Pensacola, Florida back in the early 1970's. It was then that Afa helped with the careers of his son Samu, the late Junk yard Dog, Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Ordnorff, Michael Hayes, Luna Vachon, Gangrel, Sherri Martel and even Hulk Hogan. After moving up to Connecticut to begin a full time career with the WWE, Afa opened a second school in Hamden. Here he trained Virgil, Yukon Jack, WrestleReunion owner Sal Corrente, Afa's son LA Smooth, nephews the late Yokozuna, Rikishi and The Tonga Kid. In 1986 Afa settled in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he opened his most popular school. Some of the more famous names who have come from the school include Kidman, Snitsky and Batista.
Over the years hundreds of men and women have come through the school and although all have not made it to the big leagues, they have all received solid training and have formed lasting bonds with other students. Graduates of the center begin their careers on the Independent circuits at WXW Wrestling. It is through WXW that many have gone on to get WWE and TNA contracts.
The training center and Afa who is called "POPS" by those close to him, is credited with being in the dream maker opening the first doors for them to begin their career in the sport that is still so popular today. Afa and his trainers were invited to Italy in the summer of 2005 for a five-day clinic to teach the Italian wrestlers the program that is so successful for the training center.
The training center is endorsed personally by Mr. Vince McMahon and for years Afa has been an agent producing talent for the WWE. On August 29th WWE sent Mr. John Laurinaitis and staff to visit the training center to be looked at as a future developmental site and to look at new talents in Afa's stable. The enclosed is from WWE.com:

 

WWE visits the Wild Samoan Training Facility
by Louie Dee
August 29, 2006
V.P. of WWE Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, Manager of WWE Developmental Mike Bucci and Manager of WWE Talent Appearances Mark Carrano visited Afa and the Wild Samoan's training center Tuesday morning in Allentown, Penn. About 30-40 potential talent showed up to workout and be seen by WWE officials.
Afterwards, Laurinaitis told WWE.com that he would like to thank Afa for inviting him to visit the Wild Samoan Training facility. “I was impressed with both the facility and potential talent that participated in today's tryout," Laurinaitis told WWE.com.
“Everybody has a dream to be the next John Cena or Batista; not everyone will make it, but everyone’s here for that reason,” Afa told WWE.com. “I eat, sleep and breathe wrestling; this is all I know how to do. Any time a kid comes to me with a dream, I try to help them out. When they make it, I feel proud and it lets me know I’m doing something good.”
Amongest the WWE Superstars who have trained with Afa are Batista and Snitsky; both were on hand to watch the proceedings, and Snitsky was happy to be back where it all began.
“It’s an honor for me to come back and represent Afa and the Wild Samoan Training Center,” Snitsky said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s cool to come back and see all these guys trying to make it into WWE; hopefully all the blood, sweat and tears will pay off for some of them like it did for me and Batista.”
Snitsky and Batista are just two men who came through Afa’s training to make it to WWE. Everyone in Allentown on Tuesday morning was there hoping to take the first step toward adding their name to that list, but only time will tell who does.
Service Electric TV 2 who airs WXW Rage TV was also on hand filming the try out and interview Mr. Laurinaitis who said
"Afa's relationship and experience with the WWE, obviously you can tell from each and every person out here, how he has contributed to the sport of professional wrestling." "We're in the beginning stages of discussing such an opportunity right now at two systems which is a pretty full-time job for our department, but the bottom line is that we'll be looking to expand not even in the northeast region, but also in the southeast."
He was also quoted as saying " I'd like to thank Afa for inviting my down here. It's very rare that you get me to come down to any system except for my own developmental system which is Deep South, or OVW. The reason being is that I'm busy. To be honest, if it wasn't for what Afa has done for the WWE in the past, and the respect I have for him, and for what he can bring to the business, I wouldn't be here. So first and foremost, I'd like to thank him for inviting me here, and to let everybody know that if you're here training, you're on the right road to coming to the WWE. The bottom line is, the WWE is the only place to go. So in surroundings like this and the knowledge that he has, and the trainers that he has to help you, you will learn and grow to become a talented professional wrestler. But not everybody makes it, and I want to make that clear. You can work your ass of and not make it, but that doesn't mean to give up on your dream. Those who work hard, and keep struggling, and push usually do make it, or get an opportunity at least."

 

To celebrate the great accomplishment of 20 years, wrestling legend Afa the Wild Samoan will be offering 25% off the tuition for this one day only!
More information can be obtained by contacting [email protected]
Class space is limited!