Goodbye Yokozuna

WWF wrestler "Yoko" found dead on British tour

LONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - An American wrestler who once beat Hulk Hogan to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) world heavyweight title has died while on tour in northwest England, police said. 

Hawaiian-born former Sumo wrestling star Agatpu Rodney Anoei, who weighed 42 stones (267 kg) [587 lbs] and performed under the stage name Yoko Zuna, was found dead in his Liverpool hotel room on Monday. 

"There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death," a Merseyside police spokesman said, but gave no further details. 

The wrestling giant -- who reportedly ate around 1,700 eggs a week to maintain his Sumo physique -- had topped the bill of the "WrestleMania" tour of Britain. 

"He was a giant of man but extremely gentle outside the ring," tour promoter Brian Dixon said. 

Yokozuna's Stats:

• Height: 6'5"
• Weight: 641 lbs
• Birth date:  October 2, 1966
• Real Name:  Agatpu Rodney Anoei

Yokozuna entered the WWF in 1993 and was managed by Mr. Fuji, along with the help of Jim Cornette.  Some of his memorable moments are:

• Being the last man to defeat Hulk Hogan before he left the WWF for WCW.
• Almost withstanding dozens of wrestlers and NFL stars from body slamming him on the deck of the USS Intrepid.  Only Lex Luger could do it.
• Wrestling Earthquake in a Sumo Wrestling Match on Monday Night Raw.
• Won the 1993 Royal Rumble.

Yokozuna was billed as from Japan as a sumo wrestler, but he is actually from Polynesia, and is related to WWF superstar The Rock.

Yokozuna held the WWF Heavyweight Championship on two occasions, defeating Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan.  He has also held the WWF Tag Team Championships one time with Owen Hart by defeating The Smoking Gunns. His last TV appearance in the WWF was at the Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view special in October, 1999.

Yokozuna's most memorable feud was with the Undertaker.  They wrestled several times, including in a casket match at Royal Rumble 1994, where he won, and the Undertaker was out of the Federation for several months.