Rikishi popularized the Stink Face as one of the most notorious and feared moves of the 2000s in WWE. The Samoan star’s unconventional finisher became a defining element of his persona, but the creative path behind it has remained shrouded in mystery—until now. In a recent interview with Ring Rundown in San Antonio, Rikishi opened up about the unexpected origins of the move, offering insight into how a simple moment of improvisation transformed into wrestling lore.
“Well, no. It was not planned. Professional wrestling is all about stumbling upon moves that work, and for me, it was just something fun. At the time, I liked to say I was the baddest man to wear a thong in wrestling. With all that exposure, why not lean into the entertainment? I was thinking, ‘Let’s give the fans something to smile about and remember.’ It’s nothing personal—it’s sports entertainment, and I wanted to emphasize that. I hope I made everyone happy and gave them good times to cherish.”