WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi said he is “grateful to be alive” after undergoing unexpected surgery.
Rikishi updated fans after news broke that he was forced to undergo an unexpected surgery after an undisclosed health issue suddenly came to light, forcing the former Intercontinental Champion to pull out of numerous planned events.
The Hall of Famer posted on Instagram with the caption:
“God Is Amazing. Grateful to be alive. We share blessings today and forever more.
I’m proud of my boys ( missing few more ) #FatuAnoai
Stay safe and know theres More work to do ..”
Rikishi’s WWE Legacy
Rikishi began his wrestling journey in 1985 and started working for the WWF in 1992 as part of The Headshrinkers until the team disbanded in 1995. He appeared again with his “Make a Difference” gimmick in mid-1995, but it was quickly dropped in April 1996. He returned once again as The Sultan in August 1996 until he was taken off TV in early 1998 and left the company.
He returned in 1999 as Rikishi Fatu, but quickly dropped his last name, and in late 1999, he would join Too Cool, and the group would become famous not for their wrestling matches, but for their post-match dance celebrations. He would briefly turn heel in 2000 after it was revealed that he was the person who ran over “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as part of the infamous storyline that took place on the October 9, 2000, episode of Raw.
He would turn face again on the December 6, 2001 episode of SmackDown by delivering a Stink Face to Vince McMahon and would continue to work for the company until he was released in 2004. He would continue to wrestle on the independent scene as well as in TNA until he retired from in-ring action in 2019. Rikishi was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
