Born and raised in Tonga, Sione was one of six teenagers and young men sent by the King of Tonga to Japan to study Sumo wrestling in the mid-1970s. Tonga Fifita was also part of the group. Sione was known in sumo circles as Sachinoshima.
Vailahi entered the 1987 Crockett Cup with Bill Dundee, beating Tim Horner and Mike Rotunda in the opening round and lost to The Super Powers (Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff) in the second round.[12] Vailahi teamed with the likes of Manny Fernandez and Vladimir Petrov throughout 1987.[13] In 1987, he appeared in the movie Body Slam, as Axe, of the tag team called The Cannibals. In late 1987, he formed a team with Ivan Koloff, who was also his coach. During this time, he formed The Powers of Pain with The Warlord and the team began feuding heavily with another team of big men, The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk).[14] Vailahi made his pay-per-view debut at the Bunkhouse Stampede Finals pay-per-view on 24 January 1988, as a participant in a Steel cageBunkhouse Stampede. He was the runner-up, being eliminated by Dusty Rhodes.[15] They injured Animal's eye in storyline during a weightlifting contest and soon after teamed with Ivan Koloff to beat Rhodes and Road Warriors to win the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship at a live event on 12 February.[16] Koloff and Powers of Pain would lose to Rhodes and Road Warriors in a barbed wire match at Clash of the Champions I on 27 March.[17] The following month, Powers of Pain entered the 1988 Crockett Cup, defeating Mark Starr and Chris Champion in the second round and Road Warriors in the quarter-final and lost to eventual winners Lex Luger and Sting in the semi-final.[18] In April 1988, Crockett decided he wanted the feuding tag teams to have a series of scaffold matches, which neither team wanted because they felt that they were too large to safely participate. This was especially so for the Powers of Pain, who were scheduled to lose the matches by falling off the scaffolding. Barbarian and Warlord decided to leave the company. The NWA announcers explained that the Road Warriors had run them off, even though they still held the World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.
Upon their arrival in WWF, the Powers of Pain were fan favorites, initially managed by Tito Santana,[19][20] They feuded with WWF World Tag Team ChampionsDemolition[2] who had defeated Strike Force (Santana and Rick Martel) for the titles and then injured Martel (kayfabe). The Powers were introduced as mercenaries to help Martel and Santana gain revenge on Demolition for both the title loss and the injury to Martel. They made their debut in a dark match (of which footage survives) at a TV taping on 18 June 1988 as a replacement for Strike Force in a WWF World Tag Team Championship match where they beat Demolition by count-out when the champions walked out.[21] Their televised debut was filmed later that evening and screened on 16 July episode of Superstars where they defeated enhancement talentsIron Mike Sharpe and Tony Ulysses.[21] The Powers had their first televised rivalry against The Bolsheviks (Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov). They defeated Bolsheviks in their pay-per-view debut at the inaugural SummerSlam, where they introduced their new manager The Baron.[22] The Baron left the WWF in early November.
At the Survivor Series, The Powers led a team of fan favorite tag teams against Demolition's team of villainous tag teams in a Survivor Series match, during which a double turn took place when Demolition's manager Mr. Fuji turned on Demolition by causing them to get eliminated by count-out. The Powers afterwards came to Fuji's aid and thus became villains and Demolition became fan favorites. The Powers of Pain then eliminated Los Conquistadores to win the match before Demolition returned to the ring to confront the Powers and Fuji. Following this, Demolition and the Powers (with Fuji now in their corner) engaged in a series of championship matches at house shows, typically ending in double disqualification or a narrow countout victory for the Powers. On 12 December episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Fuji was confirmed as the new manager of The Powers of Pain.
Barbarian entered the Royal Rumble match at the 1989 Royal Rumble pay-per-view as the number 26 entrant. He and Ted DiBiase eliminated Brutus Beefcake and Hercules, before Barbarian was eliminated by Rick Martel. On 20 February episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Powers of Pain received an opportunity for the Tag Team Championship against Demolition, which they lost via disqualification. At WrestleMania V, Powers of Pain and Mr. Fuji competed against Demolition for the title in a handicap match, where Demolition retained the title by pinning Fuji. At Survivor Series, Powers of Pain and Demolition were on opposing teams as Powers of Pain were paired with Ted DiBiase and Zeus in the Million $ Team against Hulk Hogan's Hulkamaniacs (Demolition and Jake Roberts). Powers of Pain eliminated both members of Demolition before being disqualified for double teaming Hogan. Hulkamaniacs won the match. After coming up short in their title hunt, Powers of Pain feuded with tag teams such as The Hart Foundation, The Bushwhackers and The Rockers. Barbarian participated in the 1990 Royal Rumble match as the number 28 entrant. He was eliminated by Hercules. Powers of Pain faced Demolition for the last time in a tag team match on 10 February episode of Superstars, which Demolition won by disqualification. Powers of Pain's last televised match as a team was on 19 February televised special on the MSG Network, where they teamed with Mr. Fuji against Jim Duggan and The Rockers in a match, which they lost. On 3 March episode of Superstars, it was announced that Barbarian would face Tito Santana at WrestleMania VI. The following week on Superstars, it was announced that Fuji had sold the contracts of Powers of Pain, thus splitting up the team. Powers of Pain had their last match as a team on 25 March, where they lost to Hulk Hogan and The Big Boss Man.
On 24 March episode of Superstars, Bobby Heenan became the manager of Barbarian. As a member of Heenan's faction, Barbarian's image was tweaked: he grew out his Road Warrior-like mohawk and face paint, instead wearing a fur cloak, a helmet with reindeer-like antlers, and a skull to the ring. He briefly wrestled in singles competition, defeating Tito Santana at WrestleMania VI. He was a member of Natural Disasters (Earthquake, Dino Bravo and Haku) against The Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Big Boss Man, Tugboat and Jim Duggan) at Survivor Series. Hulkamaniacs won. On 22 December episode of Superstars, it was announced that Barbarian would face Heenan Family's rival The Big Boss Man in a match at the 1991 Royal Rumble, which Barbarian lost. He would also lose a subsequent rematch to Boss Man on 18 February episode of Prime Time Wrestling. Barbarian was paired with Heenan Family member Haku in a tag team on 23 February episode of Superstars, where it was announced that the duo would face The Rockers at WrestleMania VII. Their first match as a team was on 9 March episode of Superstars, where they defeated enhancement talents. Barbarian and Haku lost the match to Rockers at WrestleMania VII. Later in the event, Haku and Barbarian helped Mr. Perfect retain the Intercontinental Championship against Big Boss Man. Barbarian was utilized as a mid-carder throughout the year.
On 13 January 1993 Clash of the Champions XXII, Barbarian was supposed to team with Vader, Paul Orndorff and Barry Windham against Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Ron Simmons in a Thundercage match but Barbarian was kicked out of his team by Harley Race for siding with Cactus Jack. As a result, Barbarian turned into a heroiccharacter. On 17 January episode of Main Event, Barbarian and Jack faced Vader and Orndorff in a match, which ended in a double disqualification. The two teams faced off in a no disqualification match on 23 January episode of Power Hour which Vader and Orndorff won. On 30 January episode of Saturday Night, Barbarian lost to Orndorff in singles competition. Barbarian received a title match against Vader for the World Heavyweight Championship on 7 February episode of Main Event, where Vader retained the title. Barbarian made his last televised appearance on 7 March episode of Main Event, where he lost to Steve Regal in the first round match of a tournament for the vacant World Television Championship. He would compete on the house show circuit for the next few months and departed the company in June.[25]
On 6 June 1994, Barbarian returned to the WWF at a house show to face Razor Ramon as a substitute for Diesel. He would wrestle numerous matches on house shows against the likes of Lex Luger, Tatanka and Typhoon for the next two months. On 1 September, Barbarian replaced an injured Samu and teamed with Fatu against Two Dudes with Attitudes (Shawn Michaels and Diesel) for the Tag Team Championship, just a few days after Michaels and Diesel had beaten The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Samu) for the titles.[26] Later that month, he permanently replaced Samu and was renamed Seone, one half of the new version of The Headshrinkers with Fatu after Samu left the WWF. On 10 October episode of Monday Night Raw, Vailahi made his televised return to WWF. The new combination made only one pay-per-view appearance as a team which was at the Survivor Series event as part of The Bad Guys (Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid and The British Bulldog) against The Teamsters (Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart). New Headshrinkers were quickly eliminated but their team won the match after Michaels and Diesel broke up as a team.[27] This resulted in Michaels vacating the Tag Team Championship and a tournament was set up to crown the new champions. New Headshrinkers participated in the tournament, beating Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart by disqualification in the quarter-final round on 31 December episode of Superstars, before losing to Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka in the semi-final round on 14 January 1995 episode of Superstars.[28] Seone participated in the 1995 Royal Rumble match as the number six entrant. He eliminated Kwang and Rick Martel and then he and Eli Blu eliminated each other. This sparked a feud between New Headshrinkers and The Blu Brothers (Jacob and Eli), in which New Headshrinkers came up short. New Headshrinkers received an opportunity for the Tag Team Championship against Owen Hart and Yokozuna on 6 May episode of Superstars, but lost the match. By July, the Headshrinkers dissolved, as Vailahi left the WWF for WCW.
While WWE currently references Vailahi as Sione on their website, the character's name was actually spelled Seone on television and in WWF Magazine during his 1994–1995 run. Sometimes it was also spelled Sionne in French.[citation needed]
Return to WCW (1995-2000)
Super Assassins (1995–1996)
In late 1995, Vailahi returned to WCW, wearing a mask and teaming with his former Powers of Pain tag team partner, The Warlord. They were known as the masked "Super Assassins", managed by Col. Robert Parker. Super Assassins made their televised debut on 27 November episode of Prime, with a win over The American Males. No mention was ever made on television of their former identities, and the team did not last long as Warlord left WCW in early 1996.
Faces of Fear competed in the tag team division throughout 1997 and failed to get any championship success. Dungeon of Doom disbanded after Taskmaster's retirement. Faces of Fear would then feud with Wrath and Mortis, whom they faced in a losing effort at Fall Brawl. On 29 September episode of Monday Nitro, Barbarian lost to newcomer Goldberg, becoming one of the earliest victims of his undefeated streak. Faces of Fear had their next rivalry against Glacier and Ernest Miller, whom they defeated at World War 3. On 12 February 1998 episode of Thunder, Barbarian tried to separate Meng from Hugh Morrus after Meng defeated Morrus and refused to release the Tongan Death Grip. Meng then applied the hold on Barbarian as well, thus breaking up Faces of Fear. Barbarian formed a tag team with Morrus under the management of Jimmy Hart and feuded with Meng throughout the year. The former partners competed in the opening match of the Road Wild pay-per-view, where Meng defeated Barbarian.
The First Family and departure (1999–2000)
Jimmy Hart reunited Faces of Fear in early 1999 and put them in a tournament for the vacated World Tag Team Championship. Barbarian turned on Meng during a tournament match against Bobby Duncum, Jr. and Mike Enos on 12 February episode of Thunder by striking Meng with the Kick of Fear. Barbarian continued his rivalry with Meng throughout the year. In the spring of 1999, Barbarian formed a short-lived alliance with Hugh Morrus, which led to the two receiving several title shots for the World Tag Team Championship but failed to win the titles. As part of this alliance, Barbarian faced his former partner Meng and Jerry Flynn in various tag team matches including a street fight on 10 April episode of Saturday Night. Barbarian and Morrus lost all of these matches.
This would later lead to Barbarian being placed in Jimmy Hart's The First Familyfaction with, Hugh Morrus, Brian Knobbs and Jerry Flynn in the summer of 1999. First Family found very little success, failing to win the World Tag Team Championship from the team of Konnan and Billy Kidman on 11 November episode of Thunder. This resulted in the group completely dissolving within only two months, and all the members of the faction went their separate ways. Barbarian's last televised match in WCW was on 29 March 2000 episode of Thunder, a loss to the World Television ChampionJim Duggan. WCW terminated Barbarian's contract in April 2000 in an effort of lowering budget costs.
Independent circuit (2000–present)
In March 2004, The Barbarian won the NWA Virginia Heavyweight Championship, and feuded with David Flair for the title, until he was ruled ineligible to compete due to a lack of a valid Virginia wrestling license. In 2005, The Barbarian again teamed with The Warlord in Gladiator Championship Wrestling, and renewed his feud with Road Warrior Animal. In 2007, at the Annual Championship Wrestling/IRW Fun Fest Slam in Kingsport, Tennessee, The Barbarian wrestled 'Big' Steve Fury, the CW Heavyweight Champion, in front of 1,100 people. He also made an appearance in IWA Mid South, at the April Bloodshowers 2007 event, where he wrestled Jimmy Jacobs. In 2008, The Barbarian teamed with Demolition Ax (Bill Eadie), and managed by Ted DiBiase, in Seagrove North Carolina, defeating Cowboy Willie Watts and Leroy Greene. In 2009, The Barbarian teamed with the Iron Chief in the Ivan Koloff's tag team tournament in the Allied Independent Wrestling Federation (AIWF). In August 2012, Chikara announced that The Barbarian would be making his debut for the promotion in the following month's 2012 King of Trios tournament, where he will reunite with The Warlord and Meng as The Faces of Pain in reference to their previous team names Faces of Fear and Powers of Pain.[29] On 14 September, the team was eliminated from the tournament in the first round by Team ROH (Mike Bennett, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson).[30][31] Two days later, on the final day of the tournament, The Barbarian and The Warlord took part in a tag team gauntlet match, from which they eliminated their old WWF rivals, Demolition, before being eliminated themselves by 1-2-3 Kid and Marty Jannetty.[30]
Personal life
Sione has seven children with his wife, Seini Tonga. His youngest son, Peter, was 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.
In July 2016, Sione was named part of a class actionlawsuit 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.[32] In September 2018, the lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant.[33] In September 2020, an appeal for the lawsuit dismissed by a federal appeals court.[34]