Sarona Moana Marie Reiher Snuka-Polamalu (born January 10, 1978) is an American
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
. She is currently signed to
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
, where she performs on the
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
brand under the
ring name
A ring name is a type of stage name used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons, or projecting ...
Tamina. She is a one-time
WWE Women's Tag Team Champion
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the only women's tag team championship for WWE's main roster, thus is defended across both ...
and a
nine-time WWE 24/7 Champion. She is a second generation professional wrestler, the daughter of the
Hall of Famer
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...
Jimmy Snuka
James Reiher Snuka (born James Wiley Smith; May 18, 1943 – January 15, 2017) was a Fijian American professional wrestler. He is better known by the ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.
Snuka wrestled for several promotions from the 1970s to 2010 ...
.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2009–2010)
Snuka first became involved in
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
after she received the first
Lia Maivia
Ofelia Maivia (born Ofelia Fuataga; August 6, 1927 – October 19, 2008) was a Samoan professional wrestling promoter. Maivia was the wife of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia and the grandmother of actor and wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, a ...
Scholarship to train at the
Wild Samoan Training Center in
Minneola, Florida
Minneola is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,403 at the 2010 census. As of 2019, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census ...
.
World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE
Various alliances (2010–2011)
![The Usos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/The_Usos.jpg)
On the May 24, 2010, episode of ''
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
'', Snuka debuted as a
villainous character, under the ring name Tamina, along with
Jimmy and Jey Uso by attacking the
Unified Tag Team Champions,
The Hart Dynasty
The Hart Dynasty was a Canadian professional wrestling stable who appeared in World Wrestling Entertainment. The unit consisted of the tag team of Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith, and Natalya as a manager. The group was named due to the connect ...
(
David Hart Smith
Harry Francis Smith (born August 2, 1985) is a Canadian professional wrestler,
best known under the ring name Davey Boy Smith Jr. and his real name Harry Smith. He currently performs for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he was ...
,
Tyson Kidd
Theodore James "TJ" Wilson (born July 11, 1980) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler better known by the ring name Tyson Kidd. He is currently signed to WWE, where he works as a producer.
The final graduate of the Hart Dungeon, Wilson w ...
, and
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
).
The next week on the May 31 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina and The Usos introduced themselves and stated that the Hart Dynasty were in the "wrong place at the wrong time", before again brawling with the trio. On June 20 at
Fatal 4-Way
WWE Fatal 4-Way was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event took place on June 20, 2010, at the ...
, Tamina and the Usos were defeated by the Hart Dynasty in a
six-person mixed tag team match
Much like the Singles match (professional wrestling), singles match, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, Hardcore wrestling, ha ...
, after Natalya pinned Tamina. Two weeks later on the June 21 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina made her singles debut against Natalya, but the match ended in a
no contest
' is a legal term that comes from the Latin phrase for "I do not wish to contend". It is also referred to as a plea of no contest or no defense.
In criminal Trial (law), trials in certain United States jurisdictions, it is a plea where the def ...
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
Superfly Splash
Aerial techniques, also known as "high-flying moves" are maneuvers in professional wrestling using the ring's posts and ropes as aids, in many cases to demonstrate the speed and agility of smaller, nimble and acrobatically inclined wrestlers prefer ...
on her. 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. At the
Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Tamina accompanied The Usos to a tag team match against The Hart Dynasty, which the Usos lost. On the July 26 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina, along with Jimmy Uso accompanied Jey Uso to a singles match against
Randy Orton
Randal Keith Orton (born April 1, 1980) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor who is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand but is currently out of action due to a back injury. H ...
, but Jey was unsuccessful in defeating Orton.
On the August 9 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina began flirting with
Santino Marella
Anthony Carelli (born March 14, 1974) is a Canadian judoka and semi-retired professional wrestler. He is known for his 11-year tenure with WWE where he wrestled under the ring name Santino Marella. He is the founder of and instructor at Battle Art ...
, hinting a
face
The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...
turn. Two weeks later, Tamina accompanied
The Usos
The Usos (born August 22, 1985) are an American professional wrestling tag team composed of twin brothers Joshua Samuel Fatu and Jonathan Solofa Fatu, who are known professionally by their respective ring names Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso. They are ...
in a tag team match against Marella and
Vladimir Kozlov
Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius (russian: Олег Александрович Прудиус; uk, Олег Олександрович Прудіус, ''Oleh Oleksandrovych Prudius''; born April 27, 1979) better known by his ring name Vladimir Koz ...
in a losing effort, but Tamina would then afterwards stop the Usos from attacking Marella, and blew a kiss to him as she left the ring. On the September 27 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina competed in a
Divas
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...
battle royal
Battle royal (; also royale) traditionally refers to a fight involving many combatants that is fought until only one fighter remains standing, usually conducted under either boxing or wrestling rules. In recent times, the term has been used in a ...
to determine the number one contender to the
WWE Divas Championship
The WWE Divas Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship in WWE. The championship was created by WWE in 2008, and was introduced as part of the WWE brand extension via a storyline by then SmackDown General Manager Vickie Gue ...
, which was ultimately won by
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
. On the October 11 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina joined Santino Marella after his victory over
Zack Ryder
Matthew Brett Cardona (born May 14, 1985) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Zack Ryde ...
and celebrated with him. A few weeks later on the November 8 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina teamed with
Alicia Fox
Victoria Crawford (born June 30, 1986) is an American retired professional wrestler and former model known for her time with WWE under the ring name Alicia Fox.
Crawford debuted on ''SmackDown'' on June 13, 2008, using the Alicia Fox name and th ...
and
Maryse Maryse is a given name. Notable persons with this name include:
*Maryse Alberti, cinematographer
*Maryse Condé, author
*Maryse Dauvray, actress
*Maryse Lassonde, neuropsychologist
*Maryse Liburdi (formerly Maryse Thomas), CEO
*Maryse Marpsat, soci ...
in a "Diva Cup Match" in a losing effort to
Eve Torres
Eve Torres Gracie (born Eve Marie Torres on August 21, 1984) is an American actress, dancer, model, martial arts instructor, and former professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with WWE, where she was the first ever three-time WWE ...
and
The Bella Twins
The Bella Twins were a professional wrestling tag team who performed on WWE and consisted of identical twin sisters Brie Bella and Nikki Bella (real names Brianna and Nicole). Each of the Bella Twins are a former WWE Divas Champion. Brie is the f ...
. On the November 15 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina accompanied The Usos to a number one contender's tag team match against Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov in a losing effort. Tamina made a backstage appearance with Marella and Kozlov on the November 22 episode of ''Raw'', when she serenaded and kissed Marella. 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
Gail Kim-Irvine (born February 20, 1977) is a Canadian-American retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she serves as a producer. In Impact Wrestling she was the inaugural and record setting seven-time Knockou ...
and
Melina, but was distracted by Marella serenading her, and she left the ring with him.
On the December 6 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina began an on-screen relationship with Marella, beginning by accompanying him and his partner Vladimir Kozlov in a three-team
elimination tag team match
Much like the singles match, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, hardcore tag team matches are commonplace. Tag team ladder ma ...
against the teams of The Nexus (
Justin Gabriel
Phillip Paul Lloyd (born 3 March 1981) is a South African-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, under the ring name Justin Gabriel. He is currently wrestling under the ring name P. J. Black.
A second-generation ...
and
Heath Slater
Heath Wallace Miller (born July 15, 1983) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where he performs mononymously as Heath, and is also active on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time in W ...
) and The Usos in a winning effort, as Tamina got into the ring and kissed Marella, officially becoming the valet of the team.
On the December 20 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina teamed with Marella in a mixed tag team match in a winning effort against Maryse and
Ted DiBiase Jr.
Theodore Marvin DiBiase Jr. (born November 8, 1982) is an American former professional wrestler, best known for his time with WWE as an original member of the stable The Legacy, and for his repackaged gimmick of "The DiBiase Posse", where he th ...
The next week on the December 27 episode of ''Raw'', Snuka accompanied Marella to a win against Ted DiBiase. On the January 3 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina accompanied Marella and Vladimir Kozlov in a tag team match against The Usos in a losing effort.
Divas Championship pursuits (2011–2013)
![Tamina Superfly Splash](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Tamina_Superfly_Splash.jpg)
After being drafted to the
SmackDown
''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that as of currently airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Fox Deportes simulc ...
brand
A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...
as part of the
2011 supplemental draft,
Tamina made her ''SmackDown'' debut as a
villain
A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...
on the May 27 episode of ''SmackDown'', teaming with
Alicia Fox
Victoria Crawford (born June 30, 1986) is an American retired professional wrestler and former model known for her time with WWE under the ring name Alicia Fox.
Crawford debuted on ''SmackDown'' on June 13, 2008, using the Alicia Fox name and th ...
to defeat the team of
AJ and
Kaitlyn, who were accompanied by their mentor
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
.
A week later on ''SmackDown'', Tamina and Fox again defeated AJ and Kaitlyn, with Tamina pinning AJ.
On the June 23 episode of ''Superstars'', Tamina competed in a six-Diva tag team match with Alicia Fox and
Rosa Mendes
Milena Leticia Roucka (; born October 25, 1979) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, valet and model. She was known for her time in WWE under the ring name Rosa Mendes. She managed former WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico from 2011 ...
in a losing effort to AJ, Kaitlyn and Natalya. Tamina then began appearing on the fifth season of ''
NXT
NXT may refer to:
Professional wrestling
* ''WWE NXT'', a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that began in 2010
** NXT (WWE brand), WWE's Florida-based brand and former developmental territory
* ''NXT UK'', the British spin- ...
'', debuting on the October 26 episode in a loss to Kaitlyn.
On the November 2 episode of ''NXT Redemption'', Tamina would lose again in a rematch against Kaitlyn.
Tamina would then begin an on-screen relationship with
JTG
Jayson Anthony Paul (born December 10, 1984) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to the National Wrestling Alliance. He is best known for his time in WWE under the ring name JTG.
Paul began his professional wrestling career in ...
, becoming his valet. She accompanied him on the November 9 episode of ''NXT Redemption'' in a losing effort against
Jimmy Uso
The Usos (born August 22, 1985) are an American professional wrestling tag team composed of twin brothers Joshua Samuel Fatu and Jonathan Solofa Fatu, who are known professionally by their respective ring names Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso. They are ...
.
On the December 30 episode of ''SmackDown'', Tamina teamed with Natalya in a losing effort to Kaitlyn and Alicia Fox, and would afterwards attack Natalya, turning face in the process, and beginning a feud between the two about their respective families. Over the next two weeks on ''SmackDown'', Tamina would defeat Natalya in singles competition. On the February 10 episode of ''SmackDown'', Tamina saved Alicia Fox from an attack by the
WWE Divas Champion
The WWE Divas Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship in WWE. The championship was created by WWE in 2008, and was introduced as part of the WWE brand extension via a storyline by then SmackDown General Manager Vickie Gu ...
Beth Phoenix
Elizabeth Copeland ( Kociański; born November 24, 1980), known professionally as Beth Phoenix, is an American professional wrestler. She is a former WWE Divas Champion and a three-time WWE Women's Champion.
Kociański had a successful amateur ...
. Tamina and Beth would then have a stare down, which resulted in Snuka challenging Phoenix for her title. Tamina, now billed as Tamina Snuka, received her title shot on February 19 at the
Elimination Chamber
The Elimination Chamber is a professional wrestling elimination-based match held in the WWE. The match was founded by Chris Jericho , created and introduced by Eric Bischoff in November 2002. It features a large chain-linked circular steel st ...
pay-per-view, but was defeated by Phoenix.
On the April 25 episode of ''NXT Redemption'', Snuka and Kaitlyn defeated the team of
Maxine and Natalya. On the June 6 episode of ''NXT Redemption'', Snuka defeated Natalya. At the
Money In The Bank pay-per-view, Snuka teamed up with Kaitlyn and
Layla
"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally recorded by Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their only studio album, ''Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs'' (1970). Its contrasting movements were compose ...
, defeating the team of Beth Phoenix, Natalya and
Eve Torres
Eve Torres Gracie (born Eve Marie Torres on August 21, 1984) is an American actress, dancer, model, martial arts instructor, and former professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with WWE, where she was the first ever three-time WWE ...
. Snuka appeared on the re-branded
NXT
NXT may refer to:
Professional wrestling
* ''WWE NXT'', a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that began in 2010
** NXT (WWE brand), WWE's Florida-based brand and former developmental territory
* ''NXT UK'', the British spin- ...
three days later, where she defeated Kaitlyn. On the August 20 episode of ''Raw'', Snuka competed in a number one contender's battle royal, but was unsuccessful in winning the match. Also during the match, Snuka suffered a
legitimate back injury.
After three months of inactivity, Snuka returned from injury on November 18 at the
Survivor Series
Survivor Series is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving, it is the sec ...
pay-per-view as a
heel
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower Human leg, leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive for ...
, interrupting a segment between
AJ Lee
April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an American author and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE under the ring name AJ Lee. She is currently an executive producer and color commentator for WOW – Wom ...
and
Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Lynn Benson (formerly Guerrero, née Lara;Guerrero, Eddie. ''Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story'', p. 53. born April 16, 1968) is an American professional wrestling personality and manager. She is best known for her t ...
by attacking AJ from behind.
Snuka made her in-ring return on the November 26 episode of ''Raw'', defeating Alicia Fox.
On the January 28, 2013 episode of ''Raw'', Snuka faced Divas Champion Kaitlyn in a non-title
lumberjill match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
, however, the match ended in a no-contest after the lumberjills interfered.
On February 17 at
Elimination Chamber
The Elimination Chamber is a professional wrestling elimination-based match held in the WWE. The match was founded by Chris Jericho , created and introduced by Eric Bischoff in November 2002. It features a large chain-linked circular steel st ...
, Snuka unsuccessfully challenged Kaitlyn for the Divas Championship. 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.
AJ Lee's bodyguard (2013–2014)
![AJ Lee and Tamina 2014](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/AJ_Lee_and_Tamina_2014.jpg)
Snuka returned to WWE programming in late September 2013, taking on the role as
Divas Champion
The WWE Divas Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship in WWE. The championship was created by WWE in 2008, and was introduced as part of the WWE brand extension via a storyline by then SmackDown General Manager Vickie Gue ...
AJ Lee
April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an American author and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE under the ring name AJ Lee. She is currently an executive producer and color commentator for WOW – Wom ...
's bodyguard. Snuka helped AJ retain her Divas Championship at
Battleground by attacking challenger
Nikki Bella
Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace (born November 21, 1983), known professionally as Nikki Bella, is an American professional wrestler and television personality. She is currently signed to WWE as an ambassador.
In 2007, Bella signed with WWE an ...
. On the November 13 episode of ''
Main Event
In sports, a card lists the matches taking place in a title match combat-sport event. Cards include a main event match and the undercard listing the rest of the matches. The undercard may be divided into a midcard and a lower card, according to ...
'', AJ retained her title against
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
after Snuka interfered and attacked Natalya. This led to a match between Snuka and Natalya on the November 15 episode of ''
SmackDown
''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that as of currently airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Fox Deportes simulc ...
'', which Snuka lost. AJ went on to captain a team at
Survivor Series
Survivor Series is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving, it is the sec ...
in a seven-on-seven
elimination tag team match
Much like the singles match, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, hardcore tag team matches are commonplace. Tag team ladder ma ...
against the cast of ''
Total Divas
''Total Divas'' is an American reality television series that aired from July 28, 2013, to December 10, 2019, on E!. The series gave viewers an inside look into the lives of female WWE wrestlers from their work within WWE to their persona ...
'', where Snuka was the penultimate eliminated, courtesy of Natalya, and competed on a rematch the next night on the November 25 episode of ''Raw'', where she eliminated
The Funkadactyls
The Funkadactyls were a professional wrestling Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable, tag team consisting of Naomi (wrestler), Naomi and Cameron (wrestler), Cameron. The women initially worked for WWE as the dancers and Manager (profess ...
(
Cameron and
Naomi
Naomi or Naomie may refer to:
People and biblical figures
* Naomi (given name), a female given name and a list of people with the name
* Naomi (biblical figure), Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth
* Naomi (Romanian singer) (bo ...
) before being
pinned and eliminated by
JoJo
Jojo, JoJo or Jo Jo is a given name, surname, nickname or stage name used by several people and fictional characters, including:
People with the given name, nickname or stage name Musicians
*JoJo (singer) (born 1990), American R&B singer, songwri ...
.
On February 23, 2014, at the
Elimination Chamber
The Elimination Chamber is a professional wrestling elimination-based match held in the WWE. The match was founded by Chris Jericho , created and introduced by Eric Bischoff in November 2002. It features a large chain-linked circular steel st ...
pay-per-view, Snuka accidentally
superkicked AJ during her title match against Cameron, and eventually caused a disqualification when Cameron almost won the match. This signaled tension between the two, which was followed by their back-to-back losses in tag team competition, leading to Snuka shoving AJ to the ground.
On April 6, Snuka made her
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event held annually between mid-March and mid-April by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Since premiering in 1985, 37 editions followed, mos ...
debut, competing at
WrestleMania XXX
WrestleMania XXX was the 30th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and WWE Network events, event produced by WWE. It took place on April 6, 2014, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome ...
in the 14-
Diva
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...
"
Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Lynn Benson (formerly Guerrero, née Lara;Guerrero, Eddie. ''Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story'', p. 53. born April 16, 1968) is an American professional wrestling personality and manager. She is best known for her t ...
Invitational match" for the
WWE Divas Championship
The WWE Divas Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship in WWE. The championship was created by WWE in 2008, and was introduced as part of the WWE brand extension via a storyline by then SmackDown General Manager Vickie Gue ...
, which was won by the defending champion
AJ Lee
April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an American author and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE under the ring name AJ Lee. She is currently an executive producer and color commentator for WOW – Wom ...
. After AJ lost her Divas Championship to
Paige the next night on ''Raw'', and was subsequently granted time off from WWE, Snuka won a
battle royal
Battle royal (; also royale) traditionally refers to a fight involving many combatants that is fought until only one fighter remains standing, usually conducted under either boxing or wrestling rules. In recent times, the term has been used in a ...
to become the number one contender to Paige's Divas Championship. Snuka faced Paige for the title at
Extreme Rules on May 4, but failed to win.
Team B.A.D. (2015–2016)
Eleven months after having undergone surgery following a torn
ACL on June 4, 2014, Snuka, billed simply as Tamina again, returned on the May 4, 2015, episode of ''
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
'', allying herself with
Naomi
Naomi or Naomie may refer to:
People and biblical figures
* Naomi (given name), a female given name and a list of people with the name
* Naomi (biblical figure), Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth
* Naomi (Romanian singer) (bo ...
, as the two attacked
The Bella Twins
The Bella Twins were a professional wrestling tag team who performed on WWE and consisted of identical twin sisters Brie Bella and Nikki Bella (real names Brianna and Nicole). Each of the Bella Twins are a former WWE Divas Champion. Brie is the f ...
. Tamina made her in-ring return on the May 11 episode of ''Raw'' in a winning effort against
Brie Bella
Brianna Monique Danielson (née Garcia-Colace; born November 21, 1983), known professionally as Brie Bella, is an American professional wrestler and TV personality. She is currently signed to WWE working as an ambassador.
She and her twin Ni ...
, with Naomi in her corner. Tamina and Naomi went on to defeat the Bella Twins in a tag team match at
Payback
Payback may refer to:
* Revenge, a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance
Payback may also refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media Fictional entities
* Payback, a member of the fictional comics superhero team Shadow ...
. The following night on ''Raw'', Tamina interfered in Naomi's
Divas Championship
The WWE Divas Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship in WWE. The championship was created by WWE in 2008, and was introduced as part of the WWE brand extension via a storyline by then SmackDown General Manager Vickie Gu ...
match against Nikki Bella, causing a disqualification. After the match,
Paige returned from injury and attacked Tamina, Naomi and Nikki. At
The Beast in the East
The Beast in the East was a professional wrestling live event produced by the American promotion WWE. It took place on July 4, 2015, at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. In addition to its live broadcast on the WWE Network streaming ...
on July 4, Tamina failed to capture the Divas Championship from Nikki Bella in a
triple threat match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or " gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
that also involved Paige.
On the July 13 episode of ''Raw'', after weeks of being outnumbered by Team Bella (The Bella Twins and
Alicia Fox
Victoria Crawford (born June 30, 1986) is an American retired professional wrestler and former model known for her time with WWE under the ring name Alicia Fox.
Crawford debuted on ''SmackDown'' on June 13, 2008, using the Alicia Fox name and th ...
),
Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie McMahon Levesque (born Stephanie Marie McMahon; ; September 24, 1976) is an American businesswoman and retired professional wrestler. She is the current chairwoman and co-chief executive officer (CEO) of WWE, the world's largest profe ...
called for a "revolution" in the Divas division and introduced the debuting
NXT Women's Champion
The NXT Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is defended on the NXT brand division, the promotion's developmental territory. Introduced on April 5, 2013, th ...
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado (born January 26, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sasha Banks.
Banks previously wrestled on ...
as an ally to Tamina and Naomi.
Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...
and
Becky Lynch
Rebecca Quin (born 30 January 1987) is an Irish professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE under the ring name Becky Lynch where she performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand. Lynch is one of WWE's most recognizable and ...
would then debut and ally with Paige, leading to a brawl between the three teams. The trio of Tamina, Naomi and Banks was later dubbed Team B.A.D. (Beautiful and Dangerous). At
Battleground, a triple threat match took place with Banks representing Team B.A.D., against Charlotte of PCB and Brie Bella for Team Bella in a losing effort, while Charlotte picked up victory. The three teams would ultimately face off at
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1988 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer", it is considered WWE's secon ...
in a
three team elimination match, where Team B.A.D. were the first team to be eliminated courtesy of Team Bella when Tamina was pinned by Brie, and PCB would win the match.
On the February 1, 2016, episode of ''Raw'', Tamina and Naomi attacked Banks after the latter announced her departure from team B.A.D. The
feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one part ...
between Tamina and Naomi and Banks would continue throughout February, and would lead to a
tag team match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or " gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
at
Fastlane, where Tamina and Naomi lost to Banks and her partner Becky Lynch. In late March, Tamina and Naomi allied with
Lana
Lana may refer to:
*Lana (given name)
*Francesco Lana de Terzi (1631–1687), Italian Jesuit priest and scientist
*Lana (wrestler), professional wrestler and pro wrestling manager
*''Wild Energy. Lana'', a 2006 Ukrainian fantasy novel
Sciences
*L ...
,
Emma
Emma may refer to:
* Emma (given name)
Film
* Emma (1932 film), ''Emma'' (1932 film), a comedy-drama film by Clarence Brown
* Emma (1996 theatrical film), ''Emma'' (1996 theatrical film), a film starring Gwyneth Paltrow
* Emma (1996 TV film), '' ...
and
Summer Rae
Danielle Louise Moinet (born November 28, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, model, actress, ring announcer, and former American football player. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Summer Ra ...
, leading to a
10-Diva tag team match on the
WrestleMania 32
WrestleMania 32 was the 32nd annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It took place on April 3, 2016, at the AT&T Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, Texas. This was the last Wres ...
pre-show, which Tamina's team lost. In early May, Tamina underwent knee surgery in order to repair torn ligaments, while Naomi also claimed to be injured on May 5, due to a torn ankle tendon, thus disbanding the team. After having been undrafted in the
2016 WWE draft
Sixteen or 16 may refer to:
*16 (number), the natural number following 15 and preceding 17
*one of the years 16 BC, AD 16, 1916, 2016
Films
* '' Pathinaaru'' or ''Sixteen'', a 2010 Tamil film
* ''Sixteen'' (1943 film), a 1943 Argentine film ...
due to her injury, it was reported in December that Tamina was cleared for in-ring competition.
Alliance with Lana (2017–2018)
On February 18, 2017, Snuka made her in-ring return in a tag-team match at a
SmackDown
''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that as of currently airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Fox Deportes simulc ...
live event
A house show or live event is a professional wrestling event produced by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive du ...
, where she and
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
scored a victory over
Alexa Bliss
Alexis Cabrera (née Kaufman; born August 9, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Alexa Bliss. In 2013, Bliss signed a contract with WWE and was ass ...
and
Carmella
Carmella is a female given name. Notable people with the name include:
People
* Carmella DeCesare
Carmella Danielle DeCesare Garcia (born July 1, 1982) is an American model who was ''Playboy'' magazine's Miss April 2003 and Playmate of t ...
. She made her televised return on the April 11 episode of ''SmackDown Live'', where she was established as a member of the SmackDown brand as part of the "
Superstar Shake Up". On the April 25 episode of ''SmackDown'', Tamina interfered in a title match between
Charlotte Flair
Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (born April 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Charlotte Flair. She is currently inactive.
She is a second-generati ...
and
Naomi
Naomi or Naomie may refer to:
People and biblical figures
* Naomi (given name), a female given name and a list of people with the name
* Naomi (biblical figure), Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth
* Naomi (Romanian singer) (bo ...
alongside Natalya and Carmella. On May 21 at
Backlash
Backlash may refer to:
Literature
* '' Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women'', a 1991 book by Susan Faludi
* ''Backlash'' (Star Wars novel), a 2010 novel by Aaron Allston
* Backlash (Marc Slayton), comic book character
* ''Backla ...
, Tamina competed in a six-woman tag team match alongside Carmella and Natalya, where the three emerged victorious over Flair, Naomi, and
Becky Lynch
Rebecca Quin (born 30 January 1987) is an Irish professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE under the ring name Becky Lynch where she performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand. Lynch is one of WWE's most recognizable and ...
. On June 18 at
Money in the Bank, Snuka competed in the inaugural women's
Money in the Bank ladder match
The Money in the Bank ladder match is a multi-person ladder match held by the professional wrestling promotion WWE. First contested at WWE's annual WrestleMania event beginning in 2005, a separate Money in the Bank pay-per-view was established ...
, which was won by Carmella following an interference by
James Ellsworth.
On the June 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', Carmella was stripped from the briefcase by
SmackDown's general manager,
Daniel Bryan, and a rematch took place on the June 27 episode's
main event
In sports, a card lists the matches taking place in a title match combat-sport event. Cards include a main event match and the undercard listing the rest of the matches. The undercard may be divided into a midcard and a lower card, according to ...
, in which Tamina failed again and Carmella was victorious.
On the July 4 episode of Smackdown, Tamina comforted
Lana
Lana may refer to:
*Lana (given name)
*Francesco Lana de Terzi (1631–1687), Italian Jesuit priest and scientist
*Lana (wrestler), professional wrestler and pro wrestling manager
*''Wild Energy. Lana'', a 2006 Ukrainian fantasy novel
Sciences
*L ...
after her championship loss, teasing an alliance between the two. Lana later became her manager. On July 23 at
Battleground, Snuka unsuccessfully competed in a
five-way elimination match to determine the number one contender for the
SmackDown Women's Championship
The WWE SmackDown Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. It is one of two women's world titles for WWE's main rost ...
after she was eliminated by Becky Lynch. On the September 19 episode of ''SmackDown'', Snuka participated in a
fatal four-way match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or " gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
to determine the number one contender for Natalya's SmackDown Women's Championship against Becky Lynch, Naomi and the returning Charlotte Flair, which was won by Flair. On November 19 at
Survivor Series
Survivor Series is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving, it is the sec ...
, Tamina represented Team SmackDown in a ten-woman elimination tag team match against Team
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
, losing the match but scoring an elimination over
Bayley.
On January 28, 2018, at
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1988 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. It is named after the Royal Rumble match, a modified battle roya ...
, Tamina entered at number 7 during the first
women's Royal Rumble match, in which she was eliminated by
Lita. Shortly thereafter, Tamina would go on hiatus due to a torn
rotator cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the human shoulder and allow for its extensive range of motion. Of the seven scapulohumeral muscles, four make up the rotator cuff. The four muscles are the supraspi ...
and underwent a successful surgery. This ended her partnership with Lana.
Teaming with Nia Jax (2018–2019)
On the October 15, 2018, episode of ''
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
'', after nine months of inactivity due to various injuries, Tamina made a surprising return, working again as a
heel
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower Human leg, leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive for ...
. In her first match back, she teamed with
Dana Brooke
Ashley Mae Sebera (born November 29, 1988) is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder, gymnast, fitness competitor, and model. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dana Brooke and is a fifteen-ti ...
against
Ember Moon
Adrienne Reese (born August 31, 1988) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Athena. She also appears in AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where she is the current ROH Wom ...
and
Nia Jax
Savelina Fanene (born May 29, 1984) is an Australian-born American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Nia Jax from 2014 to 2021 and became a one-time Raw Women's Champion and two- ...
. During the match, it was announced that Tamina will be take part of the women's battle royal set for
WWE Evolution
WWE Evolution was a women's professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and NXT UK brand divisions. The event took place on October 28, 2 ...
.
At the event, which took place on October 28, Tamina was one of the final competitors left but she was eliminated by Moon. Shortly after her return, Tamina started an alliance with Nia Jax, after multiple confrontations between the two.
On the November 12 episode of
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
, Tamina achieved her first singles victory on
Raw
Raw is an adjective usually describing:
* Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made
* Raw food, uncooked food
Raw or RAW may also refer to:
Computing and electronics
* .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...
when she defeated
Ember Moon
Adrienne Reese (born August 31, 1988) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Athena. She also appears in AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where she is the current ROH Wom ...
. At
Survivor Series
Survivor Series is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving, it is the sec ...
, Tamina eliminated
Naomi
Naomi or Naomie may refer to:
People and biblical figures
* Naomi (given name), a female given name and a list of people with the name
* Naomi (biblical figure), Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth
* Naomi (Romanian singer) (bo ...
before she got eliminated by
Carmella
Carmella is a female given name. Notable people with the name include:
People
* Carmella DeCesare
Carmella Danielle DeCesare Garcia (born July 1, 1982) is an American model who was ''Playboy'' magazine's Miss April 2003 and Playmate of t ...
. On the November 19 episode of Raw, Tamina and
Nia Jax
Savelina Fanene (born May 29, 1984) is an Australian-born American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Nia Jax from 2014 to 2021 and became a one-time Raw Women's Champion and two- ...
scored a victory over
Bayley and
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado (born January 26, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sasha Banks.
Banks previously wrestled on ...
and later on that night they confronted
Ronda Rousey
Ronda Jean Rousey (; born February 1, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, actress, former judoka and mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand and is the current SmackDown Women’s ...
.
![Tamina Snuka in May 2019](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Tamina_Snuka_in_May_2019.jpg)
Tamina would participate in the Women's Royal Rumble match at the
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event, produced annually since 1988 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. It is named after the Royal Rumble match, a modified battle roya ...
on January 27, 2019, entering at number 10, eliminating
Mickie James
Mickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) Additional January 6, 2017. is an American professional wrestler and country singer. She is currently signed to Impact Wrestling. She has also had tenures in WWE and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA ...
, before being eliminated by
Charlotte Flair
Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (born April 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Charlotte Flair. She is currently inactive.
She is a second-generati ...
. Tamina and Jax would compete at the
Elimination Chamber
The Elimination Chamber is a professional wrestling elimination-based match held in the WWE. The match was founded by Chris Jericho , created and introduced by Eric Bischoff in November 2002. It features a large chain-linked circular steel st ...
in an elimination chamber match for the
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the only women's tag team championship for WWE's main roster, thus is defended across both ...
, but were eliminated by Bayley, Sasha Banks,
Sonya Deville
Daria Rae Berenato (born September 24, 1993) is an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to WWE where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sonya Deville. She is also a former on-scree ...
, and
Mandy Rose
Amanda Rose Saccomanno (born July 18, 1990) is an American professional wrestler, television personality, and fitness and figure competitor. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Mandy Rose.
Rose began ...
. On the final show of Raw before
Fastlane, Tamina defeated
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado (born January 26, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sasha Banks.
Banks previously wrestled on ...
after a distraction from Jax. At Fastlane on March 10, Tamina and Jax unsuccessfully challenged Banks and Bayley for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. Afterwards, Tamina and Jax continued to attack Banks, Bayley, WWE Hall of Famer
Beth Phoenix
Elizabeth Copeland ( Kociański; born November 24, 1980), known professionally as Beth Phoenix, is an American professional wrestler. She is a former WWE Divas Champion and a three-time WWE Women's Champion.
Kociański had a successful amateur ...
, who was performing commentary, and
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
. On the March 25 episode of ''Raw,'' it was announced that Tamina and Jax would compete in a
Fatal 4-Way match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick, gimmick matches" in the Glossary of professional wrestling terms, jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. So ...
at
WrestleMania 35
WrestleMania 35 was the 35th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brand divisions. The event took place on A ...
for the
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the only women's tag team championship for WWE's main roster, thus is defended across both ...
against current champions The Boss 'n' Hug Connection (Bayley and Banks), The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce) and The Divas of Doom (Phoenix and Natalya). At the event on April 7, Tamina and Jax were unsuccessful when Kay pinned Bayley. Afterwards, Tamina and Jax would stop appearing on Raw after Jax underwent surgery for knee injuries.
After wrestling on ''
Main Event
In sports, a card lists the matches taking place in a title match combat-sport event. Cards include a main event match and the undercard listing the rest of the matches. The undercard may be divided into a midcard and a lower card, according to ...
'' several times and later suffering a concussion in July at a live event, Tamina returned at Hell in a Cell (2019), Hell in a Cell, defeating
Carmella
Carmella is a female given name. Notable people with the name include:
People
* Carmella DeCesare
Carmella Danielle DeCesare Garcia (born July 1, 1982) is an American model who was ''Playboy'' magazine's Miss April 2003 and Playmate of t ...
backstage for the WWE 24/7 Championship, 24/7 Championship, the first championship of her wrestling career. She later lost the championship to R-Truth later on in the night. As part of the 2019 WWE Draft, 2019 draft, Tamina was drafted to SmackDown.
Teaming with Natalya (2020–2021)
At the Royal Rumble (2020), Royal Rumble event on January 26, 2020, Tamina competed in the women's Royal Rumble match, entering at number 14, lasting less than a minute before being eliminated by Bianca Belair. On the March 20 episode of ''SmackDown'', Tamina was announced as a participant in a Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches, Fatal 5-Way elimination match for
Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 36. At WrestleMania 36, Tamina was the first woman eliminated after the four other competitors pinned her at once. Tamina demanded a title match against Bayley on the April 10 episode of ''SmackDown'', which Bayley accepted if Tamina could defeat
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado (born January 26, 1992) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sasha Banks.
Banks previously wrestled on ...
the following week, which Tamina did, turning her
face
The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may aff ...
in the process. At the Money in the Bank (2020), Money in the Bank event, Tamina failed to win the title.
On the August 14 episode of ''SmackDown'', Tamina competed in a triple brand battle royal to earn a WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match at SummerSlam (2020), SummerSlam, which was won by Asuka (wrestler), Asuka.
On the October 12 episode of ''Raw'', Tamina competed in another battle royal to earn a match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship, Raw Women's Championship, which was won by Lana.
At the beginning of January 2021, Tamina turned
heel
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower Human leg, leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive for ...
once again, when formed an alliance with Natalya while "putting the women's tag team division on notice". At the Royal Rumble (2021), Royal Rumble event on January 31, 2021, Tamina competed in the women's Royal Rumble match, but was eliminated by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. At WrestleMania 37 night 1, Tamina and Natalya won a tag team turmoil match to earn an opportunity at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, and the following night, they were unsuccessful. The two would continue feuding with Jax and Baszler, defeating them on the May 14 episode of ''SmackDown'' to win the
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the only women's tag team championship for WWE's main roster, thus is defended across both ...
, which they proceeded to lose to Rhea Ripley and Nikki Cross.
At the Money in the Bank (2021), Money in the Bank event, both women entered the Women's
Money in the Bank ladder match
The Money in the Bank ladder match is a multi-person ladder match held by the professional wrestling promotion WWE. First contested at WWE's annual WrestleMania event beginning in 2005, a separate Money in the Bank pay-per-view was established ...
, but would be unsuccessful in winning the briefcase as it was won by Nikki A.S.H.
As part of the 2021 WWE Draft, 2021 Draft, Tamina was drafted to the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand while Natalya remained on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand, ending the team.
24/7 Championship pursuits (2021–2022)
On the January 3 episode of Raw, Tamina failed to win the WWE 24/7 Championship from
Dana Brooke
Ashley Mae Sebera (born November 29, 1988) is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder, gymnast, fitness competitor, and model. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dana Brooke and is a fifteen-ti ...
in a mixed tag team match also involving Reggie (wrestler), Reggie and Akira Tozawa.
Tamina, Tozawa, and R-Truth then spent months trying unsuccessfully to win the title from Reggie and later
Dana Brooke
Ashley Mae Sebera (born November 29, 1988) is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder, gymnast, fitness competitor, and model. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dana Brooke and is a fifteen-ti ...
in various backstage segments. Tamina would however win the title on the April 18 edition of ''Raw'', during a double wedding ceremony, losing it to her partner, Tozawa after. Later that month, due to him being unable to help her win the title, she filed for divorce.
Allegiance with Dana Brooke (2022)
After having an ongoing feud with
Dana Brooke
Ashley Mae Sebera (born November 29, 1988) is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder, gymnast, fitness competitor, and model. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dana Brooke and is a fifteen-ti ...
for the WWE 24/7 Championship, the 2 began to team together. On the August 5 episode of Smackdown, a tag team tournament to crown new champions was announced. Tamina and Brooke were announced as a team on the August 8 episode of Raw. Tamina and Dana Brooke lost in the first round against Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai. Due to an injury from Gigi Dolin after her and Jacy Jayne won round 1 against
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
and
Sonya Deville
Daria Rae Berenato (born September 24, 1993) is an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to WWE where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sonya Deville. She is also a former on-scree ...
, it was announced on the August 22 episode of Raw that Tamina and Dana Brooke would be participating in a Second Chance Fatal Four Way to re-enter the Women's Tag Team Tournament on the August 26 episode of Smackdown, in which they lost.
Other media
Snuka has appeared in seven
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
console games. She made her in-game debut in ''WWE 2K15'' and appears in ''WWE 2K16'' ''WWE 2K17'', ''WWE 2K18'', ''WWE 2K19,'' ''WWE 2K20 and ''WWE 2K22''.
Personal life
Snuka is of Samoans, Samoan and Fijians, Fijian descent. She is the second daughter of the late WWE Hall of Famer
Jimmy Snuka
James Reiher Snuka (born James Wiley Smith; May 18, 1943 – January 15, 2017) was a Fijian American professional wrestler. He is better known by the ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.
Snuka wrestled for several promotions from the 1970s to 2010 ...
from his second wife, Sharon Snuka. She has an older sister named Liana and younger maternal half-sister Ata. She also is the sister of former WWE wrestler, Deuce. Snuka has two daughters.
On December 2, 2016, Snuka's father, Jimmy, was reported to be in hospice with a terminal illness. He died on January 15, 2017, in Pompano Beach, Florida, Pompano Beach, Florida at age 73.
Filmography
Championships and accomplishments
* ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''
** Ranked No. 19 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the ''PWI Female 50'' in 2012
** Ranked No. 28 of the top 50 Tag Teams in the ''PWI Tag Team 50'' in 2021 with
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
* ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''
** List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Feud of the Year, Worst Feud of the Year (2015)
Team PCB vs. Team B.A.D. vs. The Bella Twins, Team Bella
** List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Worked Match of the Year, Worst Worked Match of the Year (2013)
with AJ Lee
April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an American author and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE under the ring name AJ Lee. She is currently an executive producer and color commentator for WOW – Wom ...
, Aksana (wrestler), Aksana, Alicia Fox
Victoria Crawford (born June 30, 1986) is an American retired professional wrestler and former model known for her time with WWE under the ring name Alicia Fox.
Crawford debuted on ''SmackDown'' on June 13, 2008, using the Alicia Fox name and th ...
, Kaitlyn, Rosa Mendes
Milena Leticia Roucka (; born October 25, 1979) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, valet and model. She was known for her time in WWE under the ring name Rosa Mendes. She managed former WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico from 2011 ...
, and Summer Rae
Danielle Louise Moinet (born November 28, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, model, actress, ring announcer, and former American football player. She is best known for her time in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Summer Ra ...
vs. Brie Bella
Brianna Monique Danielson (née Garcia-Colace; born November 21, 1983), known professionally as Brie Bella, is an American professional wrestler and TV personality. She is currently signed to WWE working as an ambassador.
She and her twin Ni ...
, Cameron (wrestler), Cameron, Eva Marie, JoJo
Jojo, JoJo or Jo Jo is a given name, surname, nickname or stage name used by several people and fictional characters, including:
People with the given name, nickname or stage name Musicians
*JoJo (singer) (born 1990), American R&B singer, songwri ...
, Naomi
Naomi or Naomie may refer to:
People and biblical figures
* Naomi (given name), a female given name and a list of people with the name
* Naomi (biblical figure), Ruth's mother-in-law in the Old Testament Book of Ruth
* Naomi (Romanian singer) (bo ...
, Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
, and Nikki Bella
Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace (born November 21, 1983), known professionally as Nikki Bella, is an American professional wrestler and television personality. She is currently signed to WWE as an ambassador.
In 2007, Bella signed with WWE an ...
on November 24
*
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
**
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling women's tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. It is the only women's tag team championship for WWE's main roster, thus is defended across both ...
(List of WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, 1 time) – with
Natalya Natalya (russian: Наталья) is the Russian form of the female given name Natalia.
The name Natasha (russian: link=no, Наташа), being originally a diminutive form of Natalya, became an independent name outside the Russian-speaking state ...
** WWE 24/7 Championship (WWE Women's Tag Team Championship#Reigns, 9 times)
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Snuka, Tamina
1978 births
American people of Samoan descent
American people of Fijian descent
American female professional wrestlers
American professional wrestlers of Samoan descent
Actresses of Samoan descent
Living people
Professional wrestlers from Washington (state)
Professional wrestling managers and valets
Sportspeople from Vancouver, Washington
WWE 24/7 Champions
21st-century American women
21st-century professional wrestlers