Afa the Wild Samoan and WXW are proud that their Public Service Announcement for "Adopt A Shelter Dog Month" in October has made the Petfinder.com Top Ten Videos of the Year List!
http://www.petfinder.com/blog/2010/12/22/2010-top-10-pet-adoption-videos/

Afa wishes to thank Alex G and Kimberly for their participation, and is very happy to share this quote from the event coordinator, Kathleen Kennedy:

"October was a very successful start to our fiscal year. Nearly 600 animals were adopted, rescued, reunited or relocated to sanctuaries. That is a lot of lives saved. Thank you for making our campaign a success and for your generous and passionate stand for shelter pets in need."

Good news for Eddie V!

Edward Vetrano AKA ” Big Pappa” of Lake Ariel, PA received his daughter Trish’s Kidney on December 9th 2010 @ Gessingers Wyoming Valley.
3 ½ years ago Ed was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease. He thought his life was over, being hooked up to a machine 3 ½ hrs a day 3 days a week was not living for Ed. On the list for 3 yrs and possibly waiting 6 yrs more for a potential donor. His son Eddie Jr. 23 yrs old in July told him he had no choice he was going to be tested, to no avail Eddie Jr, was not a match. Then Trish 26 yrs old stepped up and offered her Kidney. It couldn’t have been a more perfect match. She was just as thick headed as her father and wasn’t taking no for an answer.
The Vetrano family would like to thank everyone at Davita Dialysis in Honesdale, PA for all their compassion and caring help through the past 3 years and most of all Geissinger Transplant Team , Dr.Varma and Dr. Gupta and their amazing staff for going way above and beyond making this experience a “ TRUE MIRACLE “.
JUST THINK- Somebody out there is getting ready for work today, not knowing that by the end of the day they are going to be a donor, and save another life…… Somebody else gets to live.
MARK YOUR CALENDERS- August 20th, 2011 this will be our 2nd Annual BIG DOG DADDY FEST to benefit the National Kidney Foundation and The Gift Of Life Donor Program. Last year was a great success raising over $2,000.00. Hope to make this year and every year after bigger and better.
TAKE 5 MINUETS AND SAVE A LIFE- Save Lives Register On Line. http://www.donatelife-pa.org
SIGN UP TODAY
DON’T TAKE YOUR ORGANS TO HEAVEN…………HEAVEN KNOWS WE NEED THEM ON EARTH

Over an hour after leaving the movie theater, Afa the Wild Samoan was still commenting about how much he liked "Faster". He was proud of the intensity of his nephew's acting, and enjoyed the plot twists and superb tension. Check out the official site, and go see the movie! http://faster-movie.net/site/

**Update! Good News for WXW manager Big bad Eddie V

Don't count Big Bad Eddie V out just yet! Doctors have faith that Eddie's daughter is a match for a kidney donor! If final tests confirm, Eddie V could receive his daughter's kidney by Christmas. Eddie and his family wish to thank everyone for their prayers, well-wishes, and show of support. He continues to raise funds for the Kidney Foundation, and is hosting a Doo Wop Christmas Show with Larry Chance and The Earls on December 18, at Wallenpaupak High School. Anyone interested in tickets can contact Big Eddie V at 570-906-9001.




Big Bad Eddie “V” Vetrano made a name for himself in WXW Wrestling as a manager who protected his wrestler. He didn’t think of his own personal safety when his wrestler needed a helping hand. Eddie “V” always had your back. He brought down the house many times when he managed then-WXW heavyweight champion Afa Jr. People are still talking about the time that Eddie rode into the WXW arena on his custom Harley with a Samoan / Italian flag.

Eddie is a longtime close friend of the Anoa`i family and is known to Afa “The Wild Samoan” as his brother. From the time that they met it was an instant friendship between the two. Their friendship is more than in wrestling, they go back over 15 years.

Afa Anoa`i: “There are many stories and memories that will always make me smile when I think of my brother Eddie V. We have been through a lot together. We traveled around the Tri-state area doing appearances and wrestling shows. It was always a laugh and if we didn’t wind up in jail or in the dog house from our wives then it was a successful weekend! My brother and me could out eat anyone when it comes to oysters! No one could touch us on BBQ’s. Eddie’s friendship means the world to me. When I was down he brought me up and I hope he can say the same of me. Eddie is a loyal friend and a caring person and everyone who is blessed to know him can tell you what a great friend he is. His wife Patti and children are his heart and soul.”

Over the past 20 years, Eddie has been active in raising funds for many charity groups and organizations. Along with Afa, Chuck Wepner and the late Captain Lou Albano, Eddie helped raise thousands of dollars for those in need.

Today, Eddie is facing his toughest opponent in Kidney failure. Sadly Afa and the WXW wrestlers can’t run in and save him but they can have his back by spreading the word about organ donation. Eddie needs the gift of life!

Afa “The Wild Samoan” and WXW Wrestling pray for a miracle. The greatest gift that anyone can give is to become an organ donor. There are over 107,800 people of all ages on a waiting list hoping and praying that they will receive the gift of life. Please consider becoming an organ donor. Anyone can sign up at your local driver’s license center.

Afa “I personally made the choice to become an organ donor and knowing that in my passing I can help give back and save a life is a miracle and blessing. Your generous decision can give a family back their loved one.”

To learn more about organ donation, please visit any of the online resources or talk to your doctor.

From Lloyd Anoa'i a.k.a. L.A. Smooth: There are no other words to say about big Eddie V, but 'Love'. 'Cause that's what came from him was a lot of love. I can still remember the first time when my dad took me to meet Eddie.

When my dad introduced us I got the biggest hug and he looked at me and said 'My brother'..and I just felt the warmth from his heart and the love instantly. There were times when Eddie was our wrestling manager for the WXW shows, and boy oh boy when Eddie got out there in front of all the fans, you can see the excitement and energy bursting out of him, and the fans could see it as well.

Just like my dad was saying about BBQ, we would all get together a lot and throw big BBQ's at Eddie's home with his beautiful family, and I don't think anyone got any sleep at all. We would laugh and joke, and eat all night, such great times we had.

But now the big brother needs help,and I hope and pray that we all can help him by getting the word out to help him enjoy the rest of his life with his family and with all of us.
love you big brother....


Please come out and support the benefit car show, bike show and hot dog eating contest hosted by Big Bad Eddie “V”

Saturday August 21, 2010. 1 PM to 5PM
Big Dog Daddy Fest
BIG DOG DADDYS @ HAMLIN CARR WASH

1126 HAMLIN HWY.
LAKE ARIEL,PA 18436


There will be a special appearance by Chuck Wepner

All proceeds will benefit the Kidney Foundation.

FOR INFORMATION
CALL BIG PAPPA at 570 906-9001

Orange County Animal Services
2769 Conroy Road, Orlando, FL 32839
Contact: Kat Kennedy, 407-947-2759

For Immediate Release

LOCAL CELEBRITIES CHAMPION SHELTER PETS
DURING ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH

ORLANDO, Fla.—Oct. 4, 2010—Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month is gaining momentum in Orange County with some help from VIPs the public knows and loves. A series of PSAs are hitting the airwaves in October encouraging citizens to adopt a shelter pets instead of breeding or buying.

“When you think about dogs suffering in puppy mills or dogs bred over and over again to mass produce for profit while so many wonderful pets are in shelters, it just doesn’t make any sense,” said Katherine Lockett, Division Manager for Orange County Animal Services. “We knew there are great people right here in our community that get it, and we’re thrilled they are lending their voices to promote adopting homeless animals.”

Jim Van Fleet, meteorologist and lead vocalist for country music band “The Reign,” brings the pit bull mix he adopted from Orange County Animal Services into the spotlight in a PSA that will air on Fox35 and My65.

“I can’t say enough about how amazing my adopted dog, Bella, is,” said Van Fleet. “She came on our Friday ‘Pet of the Week’ segment on Fox 35 and it was love at first sight. I went to Animal Services and adopted her that day.”

Morning anchor Jason Guy will star in a WESH Ch. 2 and CW18 PSA asking for the community to help shelter pets, as he does each week hosting CW18’s “Friday Furry Friend” segment.

“Every week I want to take our ‘Friday Furry Friend’ home,” he said. “There are so many incredible pets in shelters, and I am honored to be able to help get the message out.”

In addition, World Xtreme Wresting (WXW) Superstars stepped up bigtime in support of Orange County Animal Services’ efforts to save shelter dogs lives. Legendary WWE Hall of Famer “The Wild Samoan” joins WXW Women’s Champion “Miss Kimberly” and WXW Tag Team Champion “Easy G” in asking citizens to be champions for shelter pets.

“We’re all dog lovers,” said 2007 WWE Hall of Famer Afa “The Wild Samoan” Anoa'i. “It’s heartbreaking that so many of them need our help, and we wanted to do whatever we could. We hope our efforts will make people think twice before they breed or buy and choose to adopt instead.”

The wrestling crew donated their time to produce two broadcast and one radio PSA featuring their “Be a Champion for Shelter Pets” message. The PSAs are posted on WXW’s web site http://www.wxwwrestling.com as well as Animal Services’ YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/animalservices.

About Orange County Animal Services
Orange County Animal Services is Central Florida’s largest pet rescue and adoption center. Last year, Animal Services received nearly 24,000 animals at its shelter. For more than 40 years, the agency’s mission has been to protect the citizens and animals of Orange County. Its vision is to give abandoned and neglected pets a second chance to live long, healthy lives in safe, loving homes. For more information, please visit http://www.ocnetpets.com.

It was a very sad moment in my family this morning when I received news that we lost Luna Vachon, who I referred to as "My Angel". I remember when she was just in a young girl at 13, traveling with her family. She was good friends with my kids, they all grew up on the road together. We shared so many good times, and I was so proud of her and her career and accomplishments in this business. We remained close for over three decades, and she was very important in my life as well as in my family's life. She always referred to me as "Papa Samoa", and I was proud to call her my "daughter". Whenever she had problems or would get in trouble, she would always call me to alert me before it hit the Internet. One of the times that I can remember with a smile is when she beat up the tour leader in the Bahamas, and at 2:30 a.m. my phone rang and the first thing she said was "I'm sorry Papa, but...I did something you're not going to like." When I asked what she did, she replied "I beat somebody up. Well I AM part Samoan!" and laughed.

I'm one of the very few people who she listened to, which is why she called me when she'd get in trouble. Although she went through a hard life, she was always able to pull herself together. When things started to fall apart, she would always have me to call on.

My love and prayers go out to Luna's mother and the entire Vachon family, her sons, the wrestling world, and everyone who knew and loved Luna. I will personally miss her, and am so sad that she has left us so soon. But like all the others, I know she has a place up in Heaven.

Have a safe trip, my daughter...

Pops
Afa the Wild Samoan

WXW would like to congratulate the niece and nephews of 2007 Hall of Famers Afa & Sika "The Wild Samoans" for their debut Monday, May 24, 2010 on Monday Night Raw.

Jimmy and Jules Uso are the sons of Afa's nephew Solofa Jr. Fatu a.k.a. Rikishi. Tamina, who was trained at the world-famous Wild Samoan Training Center under the guidance of uncle Afa, is the daughter of Hall of Famer Superfly Jimmy Snuka. She was the first recipient of the prestigious Lia Maivia Scholarship from Usos- The Samoan Family Foundation.

" I was so proud to watch my kids swarm in and attack the Hart Dynasty. This brought back great memories of the Samoans and the Harts/Smiths. It was great to see the family tradition continue with the young generation working together and the Samoan splash! I am especially proud of my niece for being the first female in my family to follow in our footsteps. Go get 'em, Sarona!".- Afa the Wild Samoan

Wild Samoan and his Family Invited to World Premiere of "Letters to God" Movie

The Villages, FL. April 5, 2010

The red carpet world premiere gala of inspirational film "Letters to God" welcomed several high society figures, including WWE Hall of Famer Afa the Wild Samoan, his wife Lynn, and daughter Vale, accompanied by Carol Sennello, and mayor David Yeager. This star-studded event at the beautiful Old Mill Playhouse theater in The Villages was invite-only.

"Letters to God" is a deeply moving, inspiring true story about a young boy's unshakable faith despite the loss of his father, and his own terminal cancer. His bravery changes the lives of everyone he encounters. The Anoa'i family are no strangers to the tragic struggle of a loved one with cancer, and were immensely touched by the hopeful message of the film, and recommend it very highly.

Quote from Afa- "When the movie was over, you have tears in your eyes, but you just feel so good and uplifted, and you feel the doors of your heart open. It makes you want to reach out to touch someone's life and be an inspiration like this boy was. God is good all the time."

Letters to God will be in theaters this Friday April 9, 2010.

To see photos, go to http://www.usosfoundation.org and click on "Usos in the News"

I was very sad to hear the news today that one of my kids, my former student Chris Kanyon, passed away. Chris trained at my Wild Samoan Training Center with his good friend Billy Kidman, and the two of them went on to make me proud. I have wonderful memories of the times that we had barbecues, award banquets, and the time he spent with me at my home in Pensacola, FL. The wrestling world will miss him, and especially me and my family.

Another good one leaves us way too soon, but I know he is being welcomed in Heaven by all of his wrestling peers who have gone before him. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

God bless,

Afa the Wild Samoan