In October 2006, Anoa'i received a try-out with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), held at the Deep South Wrestling development territory. Later that month, Anoa'i officially signed with WWE, going under his father's ring name, "Afa". He went on to wrestle for Deep South Wrestling.
In October 2006, Anoa'i underwent a test run with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), held at the Deep South Wrestling developmental facility. Following that, Anoa'i formally joined WWE and took his father's wrestling name, "Afa", before proceeding to wrestle for Deep South Wrestling.