Toa Liona
{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1991)}}
{{Distinguish|Téa Leoni}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Toa Liona
| image = Toa Liona at All In 2024 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Toa Liona in August 2024
| birth_name = Bruce Orlando Leaupepe{{cite web |title=Bruce Orlando Leaupepe, Born 1/30/1991 in California |url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/bruce_orlando_leaupepe_born_1991_20758371 |website=CaliforniaBirthIndex.org |access-date=November 6, 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|30|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = San Jose, California, U.S.
| alma_mater = San Diego State University
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| family =
| website =
| ring_names = Toa Liona
| height = 6 ft 4 in
| weight = 301 lb
| billed = Samoa
| trainer = Rikishi
| debut = 2020
}}
Bruce Orlando Leaupepe (born January 30, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Toa Liona and is one-half of the tag team Gates of Agony. He also wrestles for AEW's sister promotion, Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former two-time ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion.
Early life
Leaupepe was born in San Jose, California. He attended Oak Grove High School, where he played football and basketball. After graduating in 2009, he attended the City College of San Francisco and De Anza College. In 2011, he enrolled in San Diego State University, majoring in criminal justice. He played football for the San Diego State Aztecs until being forced to quit after suffering a popped disc in his lower back. He worked as a personal trainer before deciding to become a professional wrestler.
Professional wrestling career
= Early career (2020–2021) =
Liona was trained to wrestle by Rikishi. He began wrestling on the independent circuit in 2020, wrestling primarily for promotions in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. In early-2021, he formed a tag team with Juicy Finau named "Toko Uso".
= All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2021–present) =
{{see also|Cage of Agony|Gates of Agony|Mogul Embassy|l3=the Embassy / Mogul Embassy}}
On October 23, 2021, Liona made his All Elite Wrestling debut on AEW Dark: Elevation, teaming with Mike Reed in a loss to FTR. On October 24, he appeared on AEW Dark teaming with Bison XL, losing to 2point0.{{Cite web |title=Toa Liona: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD) |url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/toa-liona-18962.html |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=www.profightdb.com}}{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Sanchez |date=October 24, 2021 |title=Spoilers For AEW Dark October 24 Tapings At Universal Studios |url=https://wrestletalk.com/news/spoilers-aew-dark-october-24-tapings-universal-studios/ |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=WrestleTalk |language=en-US}}
On April 1, 2022, Liona was named as one of Tully Blanchard's new clients, teaming with Kaun to form the Gates of Agony.{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=The Doctor Chris |title=ROH Supercard of Honor 2022 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2954933-roh-supercard-of-honor-2022-results-winners-grades-reaction-and-highlights |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} The team defeated Shinobi Shadow Squad (Cheeseburger and Eli Isom) at the event.{{Cite web |last=Quarrinton |first=Norman |date=April 2, 2022 |title=ROH Supercard Of Honor Full Results And Recap: Several Titles Change Hands As The Tony Khan Era Kicks Off |url=https://www.thesportster.com/roh-supercard-of-honor-april-1-recap-results-tony-khan-samoa-joe/ |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=TheSportster |language=en-US}} On May 25, Liona teamed with Juicy Finau in a GCW Tag Team Championship match, losing to BUSSY.{{Cite web |title=Toa Liona – Online World of Wrestling |url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/toa-liona/ |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=www.onlineworldofwrestling.com}}
On July 6, Gates of Agony made their AEW Television debut on AEW Rampage, defeating Jonathan Gresham and Lee Moriarty.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Bryan |title=Jonathan Gresham & Lee Moriarty vs. The Gates of Agony set for AEW Rampage |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/jonathan-gresham-lee-moriarty-vs-the-gates-of-agony-set-for-aew-rampage |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=WON/F4W – WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results |date=July 2022 |language=en}} On July 23, 2022, at Death Before Dishonor, Prince Nana announced he had purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises and reformed The Embassy, with Cage, Kaun and Liona.{{cite web|title=Prince Nana Announces He's Purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises At ROH Death Before Dishonor|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/prince-nana-announces-he-s-purchased-tully-blanchard-enterprises-embassy-returns|work=Fightful|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|date=July 23, 2022|access-date=July 24, 2022}} They would go on to defeat the team of Alex Zayne, Blake Christian and Tony Deppen during the preshow.{{cite web|url=https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/death-dishonor-2022-results|title=ROH Wrestling.com Death Before Dishonor 2022 Results}} At Final Battle, The Embassy defeated Dalton Castle and The Boys, to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/embassy-win-roh-six-man-tag-team-titles-roh-final-battle-2022|title=The Embassy Win ROH Six-Man Tag Team Titles At ROH Final Battle 2022}}
Gates of Agony suffered a loss to FTR at Battle of the Belts IV when they challenged for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Bryan |title=Two title matches added to AEW Battle of the Belts IV |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/two-title-matches-set-for-aew-battle-of-the-belts-iv |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=WON/F4W – WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results |date=October 5, 2022 |language=en}} At Rampage:Grand Slam, The Embassy lost the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships to The Elite members "Hangman" Adam Page and The Young Bucks.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Don|title=AEW Rampage results (9/22): Murphy's review of Sting and Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage and Luchasaurus, AEW Trios and ROH Six-Man Tag Titles matches, four-way tag for a shot at the ROH Tag Titles|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/09/23/aew-rampage-results-9-22-murphys-review-of-sting-and-darby-allin-vs-christian-cage-and-luchasaurus-aew-trios-and-roh-six-man-tag-titles-matches-four-way-tag-for-a-shot-at-the-roh-tag-titles/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=September 23, 2023}} On November 1, 2023, on AEW Dynamite, The Embassy regained the titles.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=AEW Dynamite results (11/1): Powell's live review of Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the AEW International Title, Hikaru Shida vs. Willow Nightingale for the AEW Women's Title, Tony Khan's announcement|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/11/01/aew-dynamite-results-11-1-powells-live-review-of-orange-cassidy-vs-claudio-castagnoli-for-the-aew-international-title-hikaru-shida-vs-willow-nightingale-for-the-aew-womens-title-tony-k/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=November 1, 2023|access-date=November 2, 2023}}
On the May 8, 2024 episode of Dynamite, Cage and the Gates of Agony turned on Swerve Strickland, disbanding the Mogul Embassy in the process.{{Cite web |last=Mueller|first=Chris|date=2024-05-08 |title=AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From May 8|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10120252-aew-dynamite-results-winners-live-grades-reaction-and-highlights-from-may-8|access-date=2024-05-09|website=Bleacher Report|language=en-US}} On the May 25 episode of Rampage, Gates of Agony and Cage revealed their new team name to be "Cage of Agony".{{Cite web |title=AEW RAMPAGE RESULTS (5/25): Pac vs. Rocky Romero, Jericho-Hook-Shibata interaction, Rush vs. Kassidy, plus Samoa Joe, Statlander, Willow |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2024/05/25/aew-rampage-results-5-25-pac-vs-rocky-romero-jericho-hook-shibata-interaction-rush-vs-kassidy-plus-samoa-joe-statlander-willow/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}} After Cage left the group, Kaun and Liona were left as a tag team.
= New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2023) =
On November 13, 2023, it was announced that Gates of Agony (Liona and Kaun), would make their New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) debut, by competing in the 2023 World Tag League. The duo were announced to be competing in the A-Block.{{cite web | url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/teams-announced-2023-njpw-world-tag-league/ | title=411Mania }} On November 29, Gates of Agony would seemingly join House of Torture, but would reveal it to be a trick on the following December 1 show. The duo finished with 4 points and were unable to qualify for the semi-finals.
Personal life
Liona is of Samoan and Puerto Rican descent.{{cite web |last1=Cloete |first1=Faden |title=AEW Dark Preview: 12 matches announced, featuring Lance Archer, Anthony Ogogo, and former WWE stars |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/aew-dark-preview-february-1-2022 |website=sportskeeda.com |access-date=November 6, 2022 |date=February 1, 2022}}
Championships and accomplishments
- Future Stars of Wrestling
- FSW Tag Team Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=2543|title=FSW Tag Team Championship History}} – with Juicy Finau
- KnokX Pro Entertainment
- Urban Empire Championship (1 time){{cite web |title=KnokX Pro Entertainment |url=https://www.facebook.com/KnokXProEntertainment/posts/pfbid0Xbn9Jf75NynpRUf77HorCjMi7rGGV2PbQu2aS3ShkBZeggfQqwHKhM7RPYQuz5Bwl |website=Facebook |access-date=March 11, 2023 |date=September 2, 2021}}
- Ring of Honor
- ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brian Cage and Kaun{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=3200|title=ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=December 10, 2022|access-date=December 11, 2022}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web |title=#55 Bruce Leaupepe |url=https://goaztecs.com/sports/football/roster/season/2012/player/bruce-leaupepe |website=GoAztecs.com |access-date=October 17, 2024}}
{{cite web |last1=Monteagudo Jr. |first1=Luis |title='Full Circle' Moment for Former Aztec, Now Wrestler, Toa Liona at AEW Show |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2023/06/04/full-circle-moment-for-former-aztec-now-wrestler-toa-liona-at-aew-show/ |website=TimesOfSanDiego.com |date=June 5, 2023 |publisher=Times of San Diego |access-date=October 1, 2023}}
{{Cite web |last=Shijas |first=Muhammed |title=WATCH: AEW Dark star Toa Liona shows off incredible power after bench pressing 500 pounds |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/news-aew-news-aew-dark-star-toa-liona-shows-incredible-power-deadlifting-500-pounds |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=Sportskeeda |language=en-us}}
}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{Roh roster|toa-liona|Toa Liona}}
- {{twitter|ToaLiona|Toa Liona}}
- {{IMDb name|nm13873862|Toa Liona}}
- {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=24794|wrestlingdata=38728|iwd=liona-18962}}
{{Ring of Honor}}
{{ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liona, Toa}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:American professional wrestlers of Samoan descent
Category:Entertainers from San Jose, California
Category:Professional wrestlers from California
Category:ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions
Category:All Elite Wrestling personnel
Category:American sportspeople of Puerto Rican descent
Category:San Diego State Aztecs football players
Category:Players of American football from San Jose, California