Sarona Moana-Marie Reiher Snuka-Polamalu (born January 10, 1978) is a Fijian-American Professional Wrestler from Vancouver, WA currently signed to WWE as Tamina Snuka. She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. She debuted in 2009 after training at the Wild Samoan Training Center with her first matches taking place on cards held by their World Xtreme Wrestling promotion. She arrived in WWE's developmental program FCW in 2010 and made her WWE TV debut on the May 24, 2010 SmackDown!. Her original role was as the manager for The Usos, as a counter to Natalya in their feud with the Hart Dynasty. She went on to a storyline relationship with Santino Marella and has bounced around the midcard ever since. She has finally won a title in WWE in 2021, capturing WWE Women's Tag Team Championships with Natalya.
"Tropina Snuka":
- Aborted Arc:
- Both her onscreen romances got dropped. Santino was dropped when she was moved to Smackdown and reappeared as a heel. She had another with JTG on NXT Redemption that also got dropped.
- There were signs of tension between her and AJ Lee leading up to WrestleMania 30. During the title match, Tamina seemed to side with AJ and the two never came to blows during the match. The next night Tamina was seemingly still friendly with AJ. Any potential feud between them was dropped when AJ took two months off and then Tamina herself had to have ACL surgery after her match with Paige.
- Her stint as Vickie Guerrero's hired muscle targeting AJ lasted about three weeks when AJ suddenly defeated her in a match, and she didn't reappear until she challenged Kaitlyn for the title months later.
- Alliterative Name: She debuted under the name Sarona Snuka.
- Amazonian Beauty: Downplayed since she's usually portrayed as intimidating. However she ended up attracting Santino and JTG - and still took part in various Diva Fanservice stuff.
- The Artifact: After WWE quietly distanced themselves from Jimmy Snuka after he was put on trial for a historic murder charge in September 2015, Tamina lost her surname from her ring name and the last vestiges of her Wild Samoan gimmick... except the tribal entrance music which somehow persisted until late 2017 before being replaced with "What You Think".
- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Averted after the first women's Money in the Bank match: she showed up on the next Smackdown with a large bruise on her left arm.
- Berserk Button: Never imply that she's a guy or call her one...
- Brawn Hilda: Actually a subversion. Despite not being presented as one of the Fanservice Divas, commentators have never taken this route with her - and she's even had a couple of on-screen romances. It probably helps that she knows she can look damn fine whenever she wants to. Paige did however make one comment about Tamina being in the "wrong division".
- Bridal Carry: Has done this to AJ a few times. Naturally she did it to Santino when they were together.
- The Brute: Since 2012 she does tend to get promoted as this. She's been a bodyguard to Vickie Guerrero, AJ Lee, Naomi and Sasha Banks.
- But Not Too Foreign: Inverted. She's born in Washington but billed from 'The Pacific Islands' to play up the Snuka family gimmick. Part of this is because she was raised on the islands too.
- Canon Name: "Tamina Snuka" was originally simply a
Fan Nickname and initially her Twitter handle. She was just called Tamina at first. But when got a push against Beth Phoenix, they gave her the last name officially. Her surname was dropped again when Jimmy was arrested on historic murder charges and became an Unperson. Time will tell if she gains it back after her return from injury, as he is now undergoing Dead Artists Are Better. - Charles Atlas Superpower: She's able to lift any woman over her shoulders and it's believable because of how big she is.
- Dark Action Girl: Started out as one on the main roster when working alongside the Usos.
- Designated Girl Fight: Her addition to The Usos allowed Natalya someone to fight when the Hart Dynasty feuded with them.
- The Dragon: She was more or less this to A.J. Lee of during their partnership.
- The Dreaded: Initially portrayed as something scary alongside the Usos, until their feud with the Hart Dynasty was done and they went to jobbing. Then she started to become so again after breaking up with Santino, Divas champion Kaitlyn admitted to dreading her defense against Tamina without shame.
- Evil Makeover: In 2012 she sported wavy hair with brown highlights when she returned as Vickie Guerrero's hired muscle.
- Evil Wears Black: She's been heel for most (if not all) of her career on the WWE main card, and if she's ever worn any attire that's not primarily black, the instances have been few and far between. At best, she'll wear either black as her outfit's main color, with non-black designs, or something leopard-printed, in honor of her late father.
- Fetishized Abuser: She was still a heel when she began flirting and eventually hooking up with Santino. This was dropped though when his serenading caused her to walk out on two other heels, Maryse and Alicia Fox.
- Finishing Move: The Superfly Splash. Has also sometimes used the superkick and Samoan Drop as finishes.
- Force and Finesse: When paired with A.J. Lee and Naomi, as the brute force powerhouse paired with technicians who relied more on athleticism and speed.
- Gamer Chick: During the Superstar Savepoint on the Up, Up, Down, Down channel. She says that when she was pregnant she went to the arcade and got so frustrated at losing that she went into labor weeks early.
- Gentle Giant: Plays the role very well whenever she's a Face.
- Green-Eyed Monster: To the Funkadactyls for their valeting of Brodus Clay
- Hard Head: Established when she no sold a meeting of the minds with Beth Phoenix. Given that most of her relatives are shown to have this as well, it seems to be genetic.
- Heel–Face Revolving Door: And without any solid reason as to why either. She's more suited to playing a face ringwise and plays it well. But being built the way she is makes it easier to book her as a powerhouse heel, especially after Beth Phoenix left the company. And during the late 2015 period Team BAD would often flip-flop depending on whether they were facing Team Bella or PCB.
- Heel–Face Turn: She has never actually had a proper heel turn despite being heel three times (so far). She has simply disappeared from TV and then reappeared in the new role. But has turned face both times - the first due to falling in love with Santino. And the second due to turning on Natalya and challenging Beth Phoenix.
- Hell-Bent for Leather: After her 2017 return, she regularly sports black leather coats and jackets.
- Hufflepuff House: In comparison to her fellow Team BAD members. Sasha Banks is undefeated and Naomi will still get the odd win here and there. Tamina however is rarely used outside of 6-Diva tags and will usually lose any singles match she's in.
- Kick Chick: Uses a superkick, sometimes as a finisher. Other times just to set up the Superfly Splash.
- Legacy Character:
- Of her father; she even uses the same Finishing Moves, the Superfly Kick and the Superfly Splash.
- When she was AJ Lee's bodyguard she had adopted a new look that is similar to Kevin Nash's as a nod to his run as Shawn Michaels' bodyguard Diesel.
- Lesser Star: Both when she was in The Usos (as she was just their valet) and in Team B.A.D. - as she was the only member to not get any wins. When she's on her own however, she'll get the occasional title shot.
- Mini Dress Of Power: She wore one as part of her ring gear in the 2011-2012 period before switching to long tights.
- Muscles Are Meaningful: Despite being very green when she debuted, she was able to be pushed as a powerhouse against Natalya due to her physique.
- Odd Couple: Her and Santino Marella, though maybe it's just that she has Hidden Depths.
- Older Than They Look: Was already 32 when she debuted on WWE TV. Now 38, she's the oldest active Diva, and considerably older than most WWE divas actually wrestle nowadays (for perspective, she's only two years younger than Trish Stratus and Lita, both of whom have been retired for several years and are associated with a completely different decade of WWE's history.
- Power Stable: Polynesian Power Package with Donny Marlow, Jimmy Uso, Jules Uso, and Brodus Clay after getting signed to WWE's FCW.
- Power Trio: Beautiful And Dangerous with Sasha Banks and Naomi. Also The Welcoming Committee with Carmella and Natalya.
- The Quiet One: She hasn't had much to say since her feud with the Hart Dynasty ended and she broke away from the Usos. She does have plenty to say if Jimmy or Jey do initiate conversation but was pretty quite otherwise, content to let JTG, Santino, or AJ ham it up. Considering the kind of promos her father used to cut, this might be a good thing — but then, given how WWE tightly scripts promos, that whole promo style is clearly a relic, even if that kind of bizarre, rambling promo would be a refreshing change of pace in limited doses and if done by the right person.
- Real Women Don't Wear Dresses: Going hand in hand with Muscles Are Meaningful, she was able to avoid the smark hatred that fell on other Divas such as Kelly Kelly and Bella Twins despite being around the same skill level as them purely by dint of not looking like a supermodel.
- The Rival:
- To Natalya, due to them both being the daughters of WWE legends.
- To Nia Jax, due to them both being Amazonian Beauty, powerhouse Samoan American wrestlers. They were occasionally pitted against each other on pay-per-views such as Survivor Series and Evolution. Later subverted after they were put together as a Tag Team.
- Romance on the Set: In-Universe with Santino and with JTG.
- Screaming Warrior: Initially.
- Shaking Her Hair Loose: Has sometimes just done it right in front of the opponent. Once also pulled her hair out of its pigtails before hitting the Superfly Splash.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Particularly in her fling with Santino. She appeared sometimes with straightened hair and in dresses, surprising everyone. As any Hall of Fame ceremony picture will tell you, Tamina can look damn fine in a dress whenever she wants to.
- Slasher Smile: Sports one occasionally...as a face.
- Slipknot Ponytail: Since joining up with AJ, she's adopted a trait of doing this in her matches. She can sometimes be seen untying her hair when she's off-camera. Presumably as an Expository Hairstyle Change to show that she really means business now.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: Has shades of it. Isn't often seen with the other Divas and a WWE Exclusive interview has her eating lunch alone in what looks like a warehouse. When the interview starts, Tamina is very terse with her interviewer and spends most of it silent with an expression that says clearly "get that camera out of my face." And yet, she fell for Santino at one point. She later breaks out of it after forming Team BAD.
- Tag Team:
- With her Protectorate A.J. Lee in late 2013 through mid-2014.
- With her cousin-in-law Naomi, starting in May 2015. Their association continued past that, but Sasha Banks came into the equation on July 13th and made it a Power Trio.
- With Nia Jax from late 2017 onward.
- Tame His Anger: Trying to do this in 2020 vs. Bayley. Trying.
- Thicker Than Water: The basis of her alliance with The Usos. Tamina then allied with one of the twins's wives, Naomi, in 2015 because they are family and Naomi needed someone to help her take out the Bella Twins.
- Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: With Santino Marella, in a reprise of Beth Phoenix's original gimmick. This was lampshaded by Beth on Smackdown once.
- Tomboy with a Girly Streak: Despite being pushed as a Brawn Hilda or Tomboy, she has participated in a couple of Fanservice segments and can look damn fine in a dress if she wants to.
- Took a Level in Badass: Went from something of an afterthought in the Divas division to being pushed as a truly dangerous competitor.
- Town Girls: In Team BAD she herself is the Butch, with Sasha Banks as the Femme and Naomi as the Neither.
- Unnecessary Roughness: Since hooking up with AJ, she developed a habit of removing her leather jacket and whipping the opponent with it during matches.
- Villain Team-Up: She returned to WWE after her ACL injury to team with the newly heel Naomi; when Sasha Banks was called up from NXT, they formed a Power Stable called Team B.A.D. (Beautiful and Dangerous). Later she was part of the Welcoming Committee with Natalya Neidhart and Carmella. Then she teamed up with Rusev and Lana, although she did the heavy lifting in the team. Most recently, she and Nia Jax have been working as a heel tag team.
- Warrior Princess: Got this nickname from Booker T.
- The Worf Effect: She's in the position of being green in the ring and thus not getting pushed as a title contender, but still intimidating enough so that defeating her makes another Diva look strong.
- Wrestling Family: Part of the Anoa'i wrestling family. Her father is Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and her maternal grandfather is a sworn brother of Reverend Amituana'i Anoa'i; her brother James wrestled as "Deuce" and "Sim Snuka"; her uncles are the original Wild Samoans and Rikishi; by extension, this means she is cousins with The Usos (twin sons of Rikishi, whom Tamina managed in her early career), Roman Reigns and Rosey (sons of Sika, one of The Wild Samoans). This makes Naomi, who married Jimmy Uso in 2014, Tamina's cousin by marriage. She's also considered as a cousin to The Rock, whose own maternal grandfather is also a sworn brother of Reverend Anoa'i. And this isn't even a comprehensive list of the people that have ever signed contracts with WWE. The Anoa'i family is massive. And with Nia Jax being a blood cousin of The Rock, they consider each other family and naturally teamed up.
- You're Not My Father: Her attitude toward the Usos after they drifted apart.
