Fale Dojo / NJPW NZ Dojo proudly welcomed the 2024 June Intake under the leadership of Toks Fale aka New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Bad Luck Fale and Mark Tui. This group included three dedicated young lions, with the invaluable addition of Senior Senpai, Johnny Gardner, TJ Illes, Trent Hooper, and Cian Devin.
Mark Tui
Mark Tui, representing the trainers, expressed satisfaction with the progress: “The 2024 June Intake was a pleasure to work with,” said Tui who competes in LION’S DEN and NJPW TAMASHII events as ‘Magic’ Mark, one-half of the popular Pretty Boy’s tag team with ‘Pretty’ Richie.
“The class exceeded in all aspects of their training. Minus a few injuries, it’s prone to happen,” Tui emphasised, “but that’s why we train them hard: So that way they don’t have to be injury prone. Rather, they can break down their bodies so that the anatomy can repair, adapt and come back stronger.”
“The three new lion recruits, David Sheather, Sacha Le Fustec, and Hayden James, seamlessly meshed with our core group,” Tui noted about the latest additions to the Fale Dojo pro wrestling intake. “When they opened up about their families, a strong bond formed, and it became clear that like all of us, they are determined to support their loved ones and carve out a successful career in professional wrestling. Our responsibility is to equip them with the values and attitude to earn them favour and longevity.”
HAYDEN JAMES
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Driven by initiative, unwavering perseverance, and an unyielding commitment to his childhood dream, Hayden James set his sights on becoming a professional wrestler with NJPW. Inspired by the legendary Bullet Club, James channelled the spirit of his wrestling heroes to ignite his passion.
“From a young age, my dream was always to step into the ring as a pro wrestler,” James revealed. “I vividly remember watching the Bullet Club, under the leadership of AJ Styles, and I knew at that moment: ‘That’s where I belong.’ So, I embarked on my training journey with the ultimate goal in mind, even though the path ahead seemed uncertain.”
James eventually discovered Fale Dojo. As he competed across Queensland where he is known as Logan Pearce, he sought guidance from Dojo alumni in the area.
“I’d always told people I wanted to go to Fale Dojo and wrestle in New Japan, but I don’t think anyone took me seriously apart from a small group of people,” said James. “After looking to those who had come through the Dojo for inspiration like Shep Alexander, Mitch Ryder, Tim Hayden and Zeke Andino, I decided it was time I stopped dreaming about it and did it. So here I am, following in the footsteps of those I mentioned and my partner Kyla Knight, so there’s a lot of pressure on me to do them all proud and maximise my time here.”
Despite being the newest member of the 2024 June Intake, Hayden arrived with a level of experience that impressed his trainer, Tui.
“Hayden had perfect timing in joining the June Intake,” Tui remarked. “Hayden’s previous experience quickly earned him a spot on the LION’s DEN show before debuting at the TAMASHII show in Christchurch where he had a standout performance. Then he recently wrestled in Melbourne in the Oceania Cup undercard. With Hayden, the sky’s the limit. He has the right attitude and a tremendous fighting spirit. I hope Hayden soon realises the magnitude of his talent.”
James faced an initial challenge in immersing himself in the Dojo’s culture. He said, “This place is its own entity and that makes it so appealing. I had to navigate through unfamiliar cleaning routines, greetings, and etiquette, while everyone else seemed to know exactly what to do. Thankfully, the more experienced Seniors were always willing to help me out. I’ve adapted well, but there is always room for growth.”
After getting into the flow, James fully embraced his surroundings.
“The LION’S DEN shows have easily been my favourite part of the intake,” he revealed. “I had no idea I’d be on them so soon, but I was trusted with being featured straight out the gate and it’s honestly made this whole experience ten times better. Getting the chance to show what we’ve learned in training and skills we’ve picked up through our careers is an absolute treat.”
James went on to praise the enthusiastic LION’S DEN fans, saying, “The fans here as well are a big part of what makes it special. It feels like there’s a true sense of community and the people appreciate the shows and want to be involved rather than simply coming along because it’s something to pass the time with. I’ve had one of my favourite matches of my career here and the shows are going to be a big part of what brings people in to try the dojo for themselves.”
“Reflecting on my achievements, I am proud of keeping up with the drills and excelling in certain areas,” James expressed with gratitude. “I feel like I am contributing and not just along for the ride.”
“Moreover, I’ve been afforded some incredibly good opportunities here, and I am extremely grateful for every single one of them: From competing in my first week to headlining multiple LION’S DEN shows and debuting at New Japan TAMASHII in Christchurch where I wrestled Johnny-San in a singles match,” James concluded. “I’m willing to do anything to make sure it’s not the last time I get to compete on that stage.”
DAVID SHEATHER
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
David Sheather joined the February 2024 Intake, marking his second consecutive session in the June class. Hailing from Queensland, Australia, Sheather was inspired by fellow Dojo graduate Shep Alexander, deciding to travel across the Tasman Sea for his training.
“I came to Fale Dojo intending to improve myself both inside and outside of the ring,” Sheather stated. “My primary focus was on developing discipline and overall self-improvement.”
“Shep’s glowing recommendation of the Dojo was a major factor in my decision to join,” Sheather explained. “When Shep returned to Brisbane, he was a different beast than before he left. More focused and fierce, yet respectful. I wanted to learn what he’d learnt. Become what he became.”
Standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches, Sheather sought to refine his wrestling skills in the big man style under the guidance of Toks Fale.
“There’s no better big man than Fale San,” Sheather joins a lineage of big men, including Hikuleo, Oskar Leube, Jake Taylor, Juicy Finau, and Richard Mulu, who have all gained valuable knowledge from the 15-year veteran, ‘Rogue General’.
“Fale-San is at his level for a reason, and I recommend anybody to learn from him, not just those of us with size advantage,” attested Sheather of the training that has awakened his immense attributes. “Fale-San taught me how to conserve my energy and leverage my stature effectively. It has been truly enlightening to train under his guidance.”
Sheather was praised by Tui as having a great attitude and a willingness to learn. In doing so, Sheather earned his way by competing on the LION’s DEN roster.
“The LION’S DEN shows are a great experience, we get to wrestle in front of an ever-changing crowd every week,” said Sheather, he also served fantastically in other capacities such as host, ring announcing and music production before making his LION’S DEN in-ring debut. “It’s an amazing way to boost the progress tenfold. Being able to see everybody’s progress week to week is heartwarming, and passion that everybody has and they want to get better shines through all the boys here.”
As a result of his immense progress, the LION’S DEN events paved the way for Sheather to debut at the NJPW TAMASHII show that was held in Christchurch on July 28th.
“Competing on TAMASHII will always be a significant milestone for me,” Sheather reflected on his tag team match alongside Cian Devin. “It’s a dream come true to check off this bucket list item. I’ve grown so much through this experience, and it feels amazing to showcase my new skills. My entire wrestling style has transformed for the better.”
“The past two intakes of training have been extremely intense, but the outcomes are undeniable,” Sheather affirmed in closing. Currently, in his third intake, Sheather is determined to end on a high note. “I have dedicated myself to a full year at the Dojo with no intention of easing up.”
SACHA LE FUSTEC
Normandy, France
The youngest and smallest of all came from the farthest to train at Fale Dojo. We are thrilled to have our first student from France, Sacha Le Fustec. Arriving in the 2024 February Intake, this June intake represents Le Fustec’s second back-to-back class.
“I set myself a huge challenge of becoming a pro wrestler and everything that goes with it such as getting in shape and learning psychology. The Fale Dojo was the perfect place for it,” explained Le Fustec. “The biggest challenge for me so far has been to keep up with the pace and the intensity of the training that comes with keeping a good diet.”
Mark Tui praised Le Fustec for his open-mindedness, courage in facing challenges, and his quick ability to learn new skills.
“In my first 6 months here, I’ve been amazed by the progress both in and out of the ring,” Le Fustec mused. “I anticipate facing more challenges ahead and understand that the hard work will only increase to maintain this momentum, but I’m proud of the strong foundation I’ve laid for myself.”
As a regular competitor at LION’S DEN shows, Le Fustec has shown versatility against various opponents and styles, even when faced with larger opponents. Despite the odds, Le Fustec has managed to win over the crowds who enthusiastically chant “Oui! Oui! Oui!” in a show of unwavering support.
“Wrestling on LION’S DEN has been extremely important in my journey,” Le Fustec has been wrestling on the weekly LION’S DEN shows since April. In addition to his young lion’s duties, he operates the music production.
“It shows the highs and lows of the training and gives you the way to go for all the things you have to improve before the next show,” he shared in closing. “But all of those things make it gratifying.”
