Sachinoshima

Sachinoshima - 幸ノ島 (born September 6, 1958) is a former Tongan professional sumo wrestler from Nukuʻalofa. He made his debut in March 1975 and wrestled for Asahiyama stable. His highest rank was sandanme 36 and he retired in September 1976.

## **Early Life**

Sione Vailahi was born and raised in Tonga. At the age of 16, he was part of a group of six teenagers and young men sent by the King of Tonga to Japan to study Sumo.

## **Career**

Sione Vailahi made his debut two tournaments later than his other Tongan stablemates. He wrestled under the shikona Sachinoshima (幸ノ島). Even though he never suffered a losing record, Sachinoshima was always held back due to injuries. He pulled out of two complete tournaments and as a result could not accelerate pass the sandanme division.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

### **Controversial Dismissal**

Sachinoshima's stablemaster, ex-maegashira Futaseyama, died suddenly in 1975 and he and his Tongan stablemates were caught up in a succession dispute between former maegashira Ryuo and the man who eventually became the new head, former komusubi Wakafutase. They sided with Futaseyama's widow, who preferred Ryuo to take over, and were ultimately dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association. As a result of the controversy sumo officials had to fly to Tonga to explain themselves to the country's king, Taufaʻahau Tupou IV.

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

After migrating to the United States, he trained in professional wrestling under the tutelage of Rolland 'Red' Bastien. In 1980, he made his debut, wrestling Killer Karl Krupp in Modesto, California. He wrestled under the ring names King Konga and Tonga John as both face and heel in multiple different territorial promotions.

He wrestled under the ring name Konga the Barbarian and was a member of the heel stable, Paul Jones' Army, at Jim Crockett's promotion from 1984 to 1986. He later partnered up with the Warlord and shortened his ring name to the Barbarian and wrestled under the tag team name, Powers of Pain. Upon their arrival in World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the Powers of Pain were fan favorites and were initially managed by Tito Santana. He became a single competitor in 1990 and was managed by the legendary Bobby Heenan. He left WWF for a one year stint in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), before returning to WWF in 1994 as one half of the Headshrinkers.

He returned to WCW in 1995 and formed a team known as the Super Assassins with his old tag team partner the Warlord. Later on, he was added into Kevin Sullivan's Dungeon of Doom and was paired with Dungeon teammate Haku (now known as Meng) in a tag team called Faces of Fear. He later joined wrestling stable the First Family in 1999 before WCW terminated Barbarian's contract in April 2000 in an effort of lowering budget costs.

As of 2001, The Barbarian returned to the independent circuit where he wrestled in several notable promotions such as Chikara, ROH (Ring of Honor), and NWA (National Wrestling Alliance).

## **Personal Life**

* Sione has seven children with his wife, Seini Tonga. His youngest son, Peter, is a college football player, who signed with Brigham Young University in February 2005. However, in the early stages of his BYU contract, Peter withdrew in order to play closer to his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Peter signed to attend Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. His son Joey competes in powerlifting and strongman events. Sione's nephew Samu Manoa is an American rugby union player who currently plays second row or back row for Toulon in France. Samu Manoa also plays for the US National Team. Sione's nephew Luke Kaumatule played TE/DE for Stanford University and nephew Canton Kaumatule played DE for Oregon University but transferred to the University of Central Florida to begin playing in the 2018 season. Both Luke and Canton are the younger brothers to Samu Monoa.
* He is the uncle and trainer of Lei'D Tapa, who is a German professional women's wrestler, MMA fighter, and professional boxer.
* In July 2016, Sione was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE. In September 2018, the lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant.. In September 2020, an appeal for the lawsuit dismissed by a federal appeals court.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 34-13-16/47 (10 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 11-3-7/14 (3 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 18-8-9/26 (5 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

## **Gallery**

Sachinoshima joins professional sumo (c. 1975)Sachinoshima (standing up) with his Tongan stablemates (c. 1975)Sachinoshima (c. 1976)Tongan sumo wrestlers protest their new stablemaster (c. 1976)The Tongan rikishi return to Tonga after their dismissal (c. 1976)
## **Sources**

* Sachinoshima Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Sachinoshima English Wikipedia Article
* Sachinoshima Rikishi Information