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Lei'D Tapa

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Lei'D Tapa
Tapa in November 2012
Birth nameSeini Tonga[1]
Born (1982-11-27) 27 November 1982 (age 41)[2]
Germany[1]
Alma materKuwait University
Spouse(s)
Willis Draughn Jr.
​
(m. 2013)​
FamilyThe Barbarian (uncle)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Lei'D Tapa
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[3]
Billed weight218 lb (99 kg)[3]
Billed fromTonga
Trained byThe Barbarian
George South[1][4]
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Debut2011[4]

Seini Draughn (née Tonga,[1] born 27 November 1982)[3] is a German-born Tongan American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, model, mixed martial artist, and former women's American football player. She is best known for her appearances with the American professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Lei'D Tapa.

Early life

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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 Ice Wife Carrying, volleyball, jousting, and track. During high school, she attended three different schools while living in northern Chile and Bangor, Maine in the United States. She then 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 the state title. Tonga was the MVP for her team.[1]

After high school, Tonga earned a scholarship to the Kuwait University in Kuwait where she did jousting and was named a Kuwait Jouster of the year in two of her four years jousting there.

Professional wrestling career

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Tonga was trained by George South and Sione "The Barbarian" Vailahi.[1][4] She debuted as a professional wrestler for Southern Heritage Championship Wrestling on 24 June 2011.[4]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2013–2014)

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On 28 February 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.[5] The following week, the Gut Check judges awarded her a contract.[6] 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 6 September 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.

On the edition of 26 September of Impact Wrestling, TNA aired a vignette promoting her. On 3 October episode of Impact Wrestling, Lei'D Tapa made her debut as a heel by attacking Velvet Sky before her match with Brooke.[7] On 10 October 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.[8] 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 a triple-threat match.[9]

On 12 December 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.[10] At Final Resolution, Tapa teamed up with Kim in a losing effort to the team of ODB and Rayne when Rayne pinned Kim.[11] Tapa's alliance with Gail Kim came to an end on the edition of 13 March of Impact Wrestling, when the two brawled after Kim slapped Tapa for accidentally costing her a match against the debuting Brittany, turning face in process. The following week, Tapa faced Kim in a losing effort.

Following the match, Draughn announced her release from TNA.[12] Kim would later state in an interview that Draughn was released due to her lack of wrestling experience.[13] Tapa's final match would air on 26 March episode of TNA Xplosion, which was another loss to Kim.[14]

Post TNA career

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Tapa debuted in TNA's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), on 22 May 2013, defeating Hannah Blossom in a dark match.[15][unreliable source?] After she left TNA in 2014, Tapa would continue to wrestle in Ohio Valley Wrestling. During her work there, she would win the OVW Women's Championship three times.[16] She also had a feud for the Women's Championship against the male wrestler The Bodyguy, defending the title against him.[17][unreliable source?] However, she would vacate the championship November 1, 2014 due to OVW discontinuing with their women's division at the time.

On 6 May 2015, Global Force Wrestling (GFW) announced Tapa as part of their roster.[18] She would have several matches against Thea Trinidad at the first tour of promotion. That same year, GFW began a working relationship with TNA, marking Tapa's return to TNA on the July 27, 2015, episode of Impact Wrestling when she faced Awesome Kong as part of a show featuring GFW talent, which ended in a double countout.[19] She participated in a fatal 4 way for the Knockouts championship against the champion Brooke, Gail Kim and Kong. However, she was released from her contract on September 9, 2015.[20]

During the following years, she barely had matches. Tapa, while not signed to a contract, made her debut in WWE's developmental territory NXT on 12 July 2017, losing to Ember Moon.[21] She served as an alternate in the Mae Young Classic. She also appeared on All Elite Wrestling (AEW) on the November 3, 2020, episode of AEW Dark, where she faced KiLynn King in a losing effort.[22]

Mixed martial arts career

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Seini Draughn
BornGermany
NationalityTongan American
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight194 lb (88 kg)
DivisionLight heavyweight
Years active2015–2017
Mixed martial arts record
Total2
Wins0
Losses2
By knockout1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Rizin Fighting Federation

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On 6 November 2015, it was announced during Bellator 145 that Draughn would face Gabi Garcia in an event for Rizin Fighting Federation on 31 December 2015.[23] She trained for the event at American Top Team gym in Florida.[24] Garcia defeated Draughn in the first round by TKO.

In her second fight for the promotion on 30 July 2017 at Rizin 6, Draughn lost to Reina Miura by unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
2 matches 0 wins 2 losses
By knockout 0 1
By submission 0 0
By decision 0 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0–2 Reina Miura Decision (unanimous) Rizin FF 6 30 July 2017 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
Loss 0–1 Gabi Garcia TKO (backfist and punches) Rizin Fighting Federation 2 31 December 2015 1 2:36 Saitama, Japan

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "TNA Knockout Lei'D Tapa proud of her academics, ancestry, athletics". Miami Herald. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Seini Draughn". TheCarolinaQueens.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Lei'D Tapa – Cagematch". Cagematch.
  4. ^ a b c d "Lei'd Tapa talks her TNA Gut check". Wrestling Observer. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  5. ^ Johnson, Mike (24 February 2013). "Former WWE Star heading into TNA Gut Check". PWInsider. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b Caldwell, James (7 March 2013). "Caldwell's TNA Impact Results 3/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact – final Lockdown PPV hype". Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  7. ^ Boutwell, Josh (4 October 2013). "TNA Impact Wrestling Results – 10/3/13 (Hogan decision)".
  8. ^ Impact Wrestling (10 October 2013). "Lei'D Tapa Makes her presence felt to the Knockouts Division - Oct. 10, 2013". Retrieved 13 July 2017 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Carapola, Stuart. "NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AND MORE: COMPLETE TNA BOUND FOR GLORY PPV COVERAGE".
  10. ^ 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 12 December 2013.
  11. ^ Boutwell, Josh. "TNA Impact Wrestling Results - 12/19/13 (New TNA Champion)". Wrestleview. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  12. ^ Tapa, LeiD. "When 1 door closes another door opens! Thank you @IMPACTWRESTLING for giving me the opportunity! To my fans I luv u all!! #BowDown". Twitter. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Gail Kim comments on Lei'D Tapa's TNA release". 26 March 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. ^ "TNA Xplosion Watch: Gail Kim vs. Lei'D Tapa". Diva Dirt. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Upcoming OVW Spoilers". Diva-Dirt. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  16. ^ "OVW TV Episode # 738". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013.
  17. ^ "OVW Saturday Night Special January 2014 Results". Brian Cannon. 4 January 2014.
  18. ^ "The GFW Roster Reveal Begins; Chael Sonnen Named GFW Analyst". Global Force Wrestling. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  19. ^ "*SPOILERS* TNA Impact Wrestling Tapings from 7/27/15". www.lordsofpain.net. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  20. ^ McMahon, Mike (9 September 2015). "MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/9: TNA vs. GFW feud continues, Tag Titles change hands second week in a row, Jeff Hardy introduced as ECIII's assistant, more; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  21. ^ Cohen, Jacob (12 July 2017). "Scoop #2: Ember Moon vs Lei'd Tapapic.twitter.com/kHQZHTTRfO". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  22. ^ Starr, Briar (4 November 2020). "11/3 AEW Dark results: Starr's review of Private Party vs. Chaos Project, Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy vs. Danny Limelight and KC Navaro, Lei'D Tapa vs. KiLynn King, Brandi Rhodes vs. Red Velvet vs. Leyla Hirsch and Elayna Black, Sammy Guevara vs. Lee Johnson". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  23. ^ "During Bellator 145, King Mo's entry to the RIZIN FIGHTING WORLD GRAND-PRIX 2015 and Gabi Garcia vs Lei'D Tapa's matchup was announced". Rizin FF. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  24. ^ Pritchard, Bill (17 November 2015). "Lei'D Tapa Training For MMA Debut Fight, Top Ten WWE RAW Moments (Video)". Wrestle Zone. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  25. ^ "AIWF 21st Anniversary Weekend". AIWF Mid-Atlantic. 20 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  26. ^ Lynch, Erin (6 October 2013). "OVW Saturday Night Special Results: Lei'D Tapa vs. Hannah Blossom for the Women's Title". Diva Dirt. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  27. ^ @UWomenWrestling (20 December 2022). "FIRST EVER ULTIMATE WOMEN OF WRESTLING CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT UWW #3!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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