Hikuleo (wrestler)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the professional wrestler. For the Tongan god, see
Hikule'o
.
Hikuleo
Team 3D Academy[2][4]
DebutNovember 12, 2016[2][4]

Tautuiaki Taula Koloamatangi (born February 7, 1991), better known by the

New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a two-time Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion (with El Phantasmo) and is a member of the Guerrillas of Destiny stable.[2][4][7]

Early life

Koloamatangi and his elder brother

Tonga Fifita, who brought them to the United States.[8][9] He was raised in Kissimmee, Florida, attending Osceola High School. He attended Florida's Webber International University, majoring in sport management and playing basketball as a center for the Webber International Warriors. He was named Webber International University's junior varsity men's basketball most valuable player for 2009–2010.[1][3]

Professional wrestling career

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2016–2024)

Bullet Club (2016–2022)

See also: Bullet Club

Koloamatangi was trained to wrestle by

the Tongan god[10]), made his professional wrestling debut on November 12, 2016, in Auckland, New Zealand at NJPW's On the Mat Internet pay-per-view, losing to Henare.[2][11]

Koloamatangi continued his training throughout 2017, serving as a

New Japan Rumble.[15] At The New Beginning in Sapporo later that month, Koloamatangi changed his ring name to "Hikuleo".[5][16] In March 2018, Hikuleo sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.[17]

After recuperating and spending six months training at the

NJPW Resurgence.[23]

Guerillas of Destiny (2022–2024)

See also: Guerrillas of Destiny

Following The

New Japan Rambo match, but failed to last till the final 4.[31]

After the event, Jay White challenged Hikuleo to a "Loser Leaves Japan Match", which took place in February at

Gabe Kidd) to become the new champions and the first wrestler to hold the Strong Openweight and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships.[38]

From November 25 until December 6, Hikuleo and Phantasmo took part in the 2023 World Tag League, where they won their block with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On December 8, Hikuleo and Phantasmo defeated

Shane Haste) in a four corners match, before regaining them on May 11 at Resurgence.[42][43]

Hikuleo wrestled his final match on June 9, 2024 with El Phantasmo at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in a defeat for the IWGP Tag Team and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships. It was reported that Koloamatangi is expected to join the WWE in the future.[44]

All Elite Wrestling (2021, 2022)

Hikuleo appeared in the crowd on Night 2 of

King Haku, lost to Archer.[46] Hikuleo appeared on the August 11, 2021 episode of Dark
, defeating Thad Brown.

Hikuleo returned to AEW on the June 1, 2022 episode of Dynamite teaming with Undisputed Elite members The Young Bucks and reDRagon to defeat the Jurassic Express, Christian Cage, Matt Hardy and Darby Allin in a ten-man tag-team match.[47]

Impact Wrestling (2021–2022)

In the summer of 2021, Hikuleo would begin to make appearances in another NJPW partner promotion in the U.S.,

Impact World Tag Team Championship, but the match ended in a no contest. Therefore, at Bound for Glory, a three-way tag-team match was set up between the two teams and Tag Team Champions, The Good Brothers with the titles on the line. At the event, The Good Brothers retained the championships.[51] At Turning Point in November, Bey and Hikuleo were once again unsuccessful in capturing the Impact World Tag Team Championships from The Good Brothers.[52]

Hikuleo returned to Impact programming in November at Emergence, teaming with Bullet Club stablemates to lose to Honor No More in a 12-man tag-team match.[53]

Personal life

A second generation professional wrestler, Koloamatangi is the nephew and adopted son of professional wrestler Tonga Fifita (best known as Haku and Meng) and his wife Dorothy Koloamatangi. He has a half-brother, Alipate Leone, who is also a professional wrestler best known under the name Tama Tonga, and is the cousin and adopted brother of fellow professional wrestler Tevita (who is best known under the name Tanga Loa), and Vika Fifita. He is also the adopted cousin of Simi Fale, who is also a professional wrestler best known under the name Bad Luck Fale.[8][9]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c "Taula Koloamatangi - 2012-13 Men's Basketball". WebberAthletics.com. Webber International University. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Hikuleo". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Taula Koloamatangi". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Philip Kreikenbohm. "Leo Tonga". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Robert McCauley (January 27, 2018). "NJPW 'The New Beginning in Sapporo' 1.28.18 preview & predictions". FightBoothPW.com. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Jay Reddick (April 21, 2017). "Guerrillas of Destiny, big in Japan, look for even more success". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  7. ^ Hikuleo - Impact Wrestling.com
  8. ^ a b Tama Tonga (July 2, 2016). "Episode 3: Tanga Loa (part 1)". audioBoom (Podcast). MLW Radio Network. Event occurs at 12:32. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Lucas Wesley Snipes (December 27, 2016). "9 wrestlers you didn't know were adopted and 6 who adopted children of their own". TheSportster.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  10. ISBN 978-1-78076-366-8
    .
  11. ^ Dave Meltzer (November 12, 2016). "Update on availability of New Japan New Zealand iPPV". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  12. ^ Philip Kreikenbohm. "Leo Tonga – Matches – 2017". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  13. ^ Bryan Rose (September 5, 2017). "Kenny Omega injures knee, still set for Kobe Destruction show". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  14. Pro Wrestling Torch
    . Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  15. ^ Ethan Renner (January 3, 2018). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 live results: Okada-Naito, Omega-Jericho". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  16. ^ John Powell (January 28, 2018). "Bullet Club implodes at New Beginning". Canoe.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  17. ^ Bryan Rose (March 8, 2018). "Kitamura, Hikuleo out of New Japan Cup tour due to injuries". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  18. ^ Dinsdale, John (27 June 2019). "Revolution Pro Wrestling's Ungovernable Card". VultureHound. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  19. ^ NJPW. "2020.09.04 FIGHTING SPIRIT UNLEASHED | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  20. ^ "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED – 2021/3/13".
  21. ^ "NJPW Strong Results (4/9): New Japan Cup USA First Round Action | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  22. ^ "NJPW Strong results: New Japan Cup USA 2021 semifinals". Wrestling Observer. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  23. ^ Konuwa, Alfred. "NJPW Resurgence Results: Winners, News And Notes As Will Ospreay Returns, Is Medically Cleared". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  24. ^ "NJPW Strong results: Jay White vs. Hikuleo". Wrestling Observer. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  25. ^ "NJPW Windy City Riot live results: Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay". Wrestling Observer. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  26. ^ Berman, Ross (2022-05-15). "NJPW Capital Collision Results, New IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Crowned (5/14)". Wrestlezone. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  27. ^ "Hiromu Takahashi Off AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  28. ^ Powell, Jason (2022-06-26). "AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Interim AEW World Title, Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Hangman Page vs. Adam Cole for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, Thunder Rosa vs. Toni Storm for the AEW Women's Title, Will Ospreay vs. Orange Cassidy for the IWGP U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  29. ^ NJPW. "2022.09.25 BURNING SPIRIT | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  30. ^ Datta, Soumik (25 September 2022). "Bullet Club member betrays faction leader Jay White and aligns with 12-time champion". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  31. ^ "2023.01.04 WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 in TOKYO DOME | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING".
  32. ^ "NJPW the New Beginning in Osaka live results: Okada vs. Shingo". 11 February 2023.
  33. ^ Gibbons, Aidan (3 May 2023). "Multiple New Champions Crowned At NJPW Wrestling Dontaku". www.cultaholic.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  34. ^ Haulotte, Kellie (21 May 2023). "KENTA Wins The NJPW Strong Openweight Championship". www.wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  35. ^ "NJPW G1 Climax 33 Participants, Blocks & Full Schedule".
  36. ^ "New Japan's G1 Climax 33 quarterfinals are set". 9 August 2023.
  37. ^ "NJPW G1 Climax 33 night 17 live results: Quarterfinals". 10 August 2023.
  38. NJPW
    . Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  39. POSTWrestling
    . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  40. ^ Powell, Jason (January 4, 2024). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 results: Powell's live review of Sanada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Hvt. Championship, Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  41. ^ "2024.02.11 THE NEW BEGINNING in OSAKA | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  42. ^ Renner, Ethan (April 13, 2024). "NJPW Windy City Riot live results: Moxley vs. Naito IWGP title match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  43. Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online
    . Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  44. ^ https://www.tpww.net/2024/06/hikuleo-reportedly-expected-to-join-wwe-following-expiration-of-njpw-contract/
  45. ^ Barnett, Jake (July 21, 2021). "7/21 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Fyter Fest Night Two with Jon Moxley vs. Lance Archer in a Texas DeathMatch for the IWGP U.S. Championship, Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose for the AEW Women's Championship, Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Spears, Orange Cassidy vs. The Blade, Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  46. ^ Powell, Jason (July 28, 2021). "7/28 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Fight For The Fallen with "The Painmaker" Chris Jericho vs. Nick Gage in a No DQ match, Adam Page and Dark Order vs. The Elite in an elimination match, FTR vs. Santana and Ortiz, Lance Archer vs. Hikuleo for the IWPG U.S. Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  47. ^ Elizabeth, Claire (2022-06-01). "AEW Dynamite results, live blog (June 1, 2022): Double or Nothing fallout in L.A." Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  48. ^ Hikuleo - Impact Wrestling.com
  49. ^ "El Phantasmo Coming to IMPACT, Moose's Warning, Eric Young Believes – IMPACT Wrestling". Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  50. ^ "IMPACT Wrestling Presents Victory Road Results Christian Cage vs Ace Austin". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  51. ^ Powell, Jason (2021-10-24). "10/23 Moore's Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory live review: Christian Cage vs. Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mickie James for the Knockouts Title, Steve Maclin vs. Trey Miguel vs. El Phantasmo for the vacant X Division Title, Call Your Shot gauntlet". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  52. ^ "Turning Point 2021 Results – IMPACT Wrestling". Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  53. ^ "Emergence 2022 Full Results – IMPACT Wrestling". Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  54. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2022". profightdb.com. Retrieved December 7, 2022.

External links

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