Lei'D Tapa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lei'D Tapa

November 2012
Birth name Seini Tonga [1]
Ring name(s) Lei'D Tapa
Billed height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Billed weight 218 lb (99 kg; 15.6 st)[2]
Born (1982-11-27) November 27, 1982[3]
Germany[4]
Resides Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Billed from Tonga
Trained by The Barbarian
George South[1][5]
OVW
Debut 2011[5]

Seini Draughn (née Tonga,[1] born November 27, 1982)[2] is a Tongan professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, model and former women's American football player. Draughn is currently working for the American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Lei'D Tapa. She is the niece of professional wrestler Sione "The Barbarian" Vailahi.[5]

Early life

Tonga was born in Germany with her brother and three sisters. Her parents were born in Tonga and her father was stationed in the United States army. In middle school, she played basketball, volleyball, discus, and track. During high school, she attended three different schools while living in Louisiana and West Charlotte, North Carolina. She continued to play in basketball and volleyball who while playing both sports made all-state twice in North Carolina. In her final year in high school, Tonga along with two of her sisters and the rest of their volleyball team won state title. Tonga was the MVP for her team.[1]

After high school, Tonga earned a scholarship to Southwest Missouri State where she played NCAA Division I volleyball with one of her sisters. Tonga would then try out for one of three full-contact, 11-on-11 football leagues for women, the Carolina Queens in the Independent Women’s Football League who is a full-contact women’s American football league. She played tight end and middle linebacker for the Queens. She spent four seasons in the IWFL, before pursuing a professional wrestling career.[1]

Professional wrestling career

Tonga was trained by George South and her uncle, Sione "The Barbarian" Vailahi.[4][5] She debuted as a professional wrestler in 2011.[5]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

On the February 28, 2013 episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact Wrestling television program, Tapa took part in the Gut Check Challenge in an attempt to get a contract with the promotion, facing Ivelisse Vélez in a losing effort.[6] The following week, the Gut Check judges awarded her a contract.[7] In actuality, Tapa was signed to a developmental contract and assigned to TNA's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).

In March 2013, Tapa participated in TNA's One Night Only shows which she would compete in Knockout Knockdown (which aired on September 6, 2013) in which she beat Ivelisse Vélez. After winning her match she competed in a Knockouts Battle Royal to crown Queen of TNA, which was won by Gail Kim. Tapa also competed in TNA World Cup of Wrestling for Team International where she defeated Team UK's Hannah Blossom.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2013–present)

Tapa debuted in TNA's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), on May 22, 2013, defeating Hannah Blossom in a dark match.[8] Tapa made her debut at the June 15 episode of OVW TV, defeating Jessie Belle.[9] On the June 22 episode of OVW TV, Tapa defeated Heidi Lovelace after once again executing her spinning diamond cutter. Tapa faced off against Holly Blossom on the July 3 edition of OVW episode 724, which ended in a no-contest, following Epiphany came to ringside and pulled down the hood on one of the cameramen to reveal Eddie Diamond which Epiphany believed Tapa was his secret girlfriend that would set up a singles match at the Saturday Night Special, winning Tapa the match.

On the August 2 edition of OVW, Tapa competed in an eight-women battle royal to determine the number one contender for the OVW Women's Championship, where she was thrown over by Heidi Lovelace who reversed her powerbomb into a hurricanrana.[10] After that she competed in a contest to crown the next "Miss OVW" with several other female wrestlers on the roster as well as feuding with then-OVW Women's Champion Trina.[11][12] She was scheduled to face Trina for the belt at the September 7 edition of OVW's Saturday Night Special, but Trina had to pull out due to suffering an injury. Later that night, Tapa would compete in a battle royal and emerge victorious, with lastly eliminating Taeler Hendrix. On the September 18 episode of OVW, Tapa competed in a fatal four-way Ladder match for the vacated OVW Women's Championship, which was won by Hannah Blossom.[13] After defeating both twins, Tapa received a shot at the October 5 edition of OVW's Saturday Night Special for the OVW Women's Championship.[14][15] At the event, Tapa defeated Hannah Blossom to win the Women's Championship for the first time. During the finals Queen of OVW competition, Tapa attacked Lovely Lylah when it wad announced that she would receive a shot at the Women's Championship.[16] Tapa would go on to defeat Lylah successfully defending her title on November 2 at OVW's Saturday Night Special On the November 13 episode of OVW, Tapa defeated Taeler Hendrix once again to retain her championship.

On the November 20 episode of OVW, Tapa turned face by challenging The Bodyguy to a match after he stated that women can't wrestle.[17] Tapa's reign ended at 63 days on December 7 at OVW's Saturday Night Special, when The Bodyguy reversed her finisher and won the title.[18] Tapa surprisingly returned to OVW on January 4, 2014 at OVW's Saturday Night Special by dressing up as The Assassin, who was set for a match against The Bodyguy for the Women's Championship. Tapa defeated The Bodyguy after interference from The Assassin to win the Women's Championship for a second time.[19] Tapa would also make an appearance in the Nightmare Scramble match on the January 25 episode of OVW and become the first woman to ever compete, but she was attacked by a masked man.[20]

Alliance with Gail Kim (2013–present)

On the September 26 edition of Impact Wrestling, TNA aired a vignette promoting her. On the October 3rd episode of Impact Wrestling, Lei'D Tapa made her debut as a heel by attacking Velvet Sky before her match with Brooke.[21] On the October 10 episode of Impact Wrestling, Tapa attacked the TNA Women's Knockout Champion ODB during her match with Jessie and staked her claim to fight for the TNA Women's Knockout Championship.[22] At the Bound for Glory pay-per-view, Tapa formed an alliance with Gail Kim by helping her defeat ODB and Brooke for the TNA Women's Knockout Championship in triple-treat match.[23]

On the December 12 episode of Impact Wrestling, Tapa and Kim attacked ODB, who was later saved by the returning Madison Rayne, Kim's former partner, establishing Rayne as a face.[24] On the December 19 episode of Impact Wrestling, Tapa teamed up with Kim in a losing effort to the team of ODB and Rayne when Rayne pinned Kim.[25]

Personal life

Tonga is married.[1] She is the niece of fellow professional wrestler Sione "The Barbarian" Vailahi.[5] Her favorite athlete is Michael Jordan and NFL team is the Carolina Panthers.[3]

In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
    • Fireman's carry stunner[8]

Championships and accomplishments

  • AIWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
    • AIWF World Women's Championship (1 time)[27]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "TNA Knockout Lei'D Tapa proud of her academics, ancestry, athletics". Miami Herald. November 27, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Lei'D Tapa – Cagematch". Cagematch. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Seini Draughn". TheCarolinaQueens.com. Retrieved 2013-06-23. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "TNA knockout Lei'D Tapa proud of her academics, athletics, ancestry". Miami Herald. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Lei'd Tapa talks her TNA Gut check". Wrestling Observer. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-23. 
  6. ↑ Johnson, Mike (February 24, 2013). "Former WWE Star heading into TNA Gut Check". PWInsider. Retrieved 2013-02-24. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Caldwell, James (March 7, 2013). "Caldwell's TNA Impact Results 3/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact – final Lockdown PPV hype". Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter. Retrieved 2013-03-09. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Upcoming OVW Spoilers". Diva-Dirt. Retrieved May 29, 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Episode #721". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Retrieved June 15, 2013. 
  10. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 724". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Retrieved July 4, 2013. 
  11. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 725". Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
  12. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 726". Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
  13. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 735". Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
  14. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 736". Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
  15. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 737". Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
  16. ↑ "OVW TV Episode # 738". Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
  17. ↑ http://www.pwinsider.com/article/81732/ovw-tv-taping-live-report.html?p=1
  18. ↑ "OVW Saturday Night Special December 2013 Results". Brian Cannon. 
  19. ↑ "OVW Saturday Night Special January 2014 Results". Brian Cannon. 
  20. ↑ "OVW TV #753: "Did Sharpe Survive?"". Brian Cannon. 
  21. ↑ Boutwell, Josh. "TNA Impact Wrestling Results – 10/3/13 (Hogan decision)". 
  22. ↑ Lei'D Tapa Makes her presence felt to the Knockouts Division – Oct. 10, 2013
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Carapola, Stuart. "NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AND MORE: COMPLETE TNA BOUND FOR GLORY PPV COVERAGE". 
  24. ↑ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 12/12: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of TNA Impact - Feast or Fired, X Title match, more". PWTorch. Retrieved December 12, 2013. 
  25. ↑ Boutwell, Josh. "TNA Impact Wrestling Results - 12/19/13 (New TNA Champion)". Wrestleview. Retrieved December 19, 2013. 
  26. ↑ "Deliver". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Retrieved 2013-11-19. 
  27. ↑ "AIWF 21st Anniversary Weekend". AIWF Mid-Atlantic. January 20, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013. 
  28. ↑ Lynch, Erin (October 6, 2013). "OVW Saturday Night Special Results: Lei’D Tapa vs. Hannah Blossom for the Women’s Title". Diva Dirt. Retrieved October 6, 2013. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lei'D Tapa.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.