Wayne Pace (born August 8, 1989), better known by his ring name Gianni Valletta, is a Maltese professional wrestler currently working for Dragon Gate (DG), as part of Z-Brats. He is best known for his work for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).
Professional wrestling career[]
Early Career (2011–2018)[]
Very much influenced by the late, Bruiser Brody and nicknamed, the Maltese Rikidozan, Gianni began his professional wrestling career in the European independent scene on October 22, 2011 in Basingstoke, England at Varsity Pro Wrestling, where he faced Scotty Cass. He also founded the Maltese Pro Wrestling Malta promotion, the first professional wrestling promotion in Malta.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (2018–2020)[]
In 2018, Valletta made his debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling following TAJIRI's recommendation to work with the promotion, He would continue his tenure with the promotion by working for various events such as at the sixth night of the AJPW Summer Action Series 2018 from July 22, he teamed up with TAJIRI to unsuccessfully challenge Violent Giants (Shuji Ishikawa and Suwama) for the World Tag Team Championship. At the 2018 edition of the World's Strongest Tag Determination League where he teamed up with Tajiri, and scoring a total of six points after competing against the teams of Joe Doering and Dylan James, Jun Akiyama and Daisuke Sekimoto, KAI and Kengo Mashimo, Shuji Ishikawa and Suwama, Odinson and Parrow, Kento Miyahara and Yoshitatsu, Takao Omori and Manabu Soya, Zeus and The Bodyguard, Jake Lee and Ryoji Sai, and Yuma Aoyagi and Naoya Nomura.
He also participated atr the 2019 Champion Carnival, where he placed himself in the A Block and scored a total of six points after competing against the reigning Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Kento Miyahara, Atsushi Aoki, Dylan James, Yuji Okabayashi, Shuji Ishikawa, Zeus, Ryoji Sai and Yuma Aoyagi. He also made an appearance in the 2019 edition of the event where he teamed up with Takashi Yoshida and scoring a total of eight points after going against the same teams from the preceding year as well as Yoshitatsu and Joel Redman. On March 25, Gianni joined Purple Haze; however, his last match took place at AJPW What We Can Do Now on April 6, 2020, where he fell short to Jiro Kuroshio. Since then, Gianni left Japan due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
Dragon Gate (2024–Present)[]
After the declaration of the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency, KAI announced on December 19 that Gianni would join Z-Brats on January 10, 2024. Gianni made his return to Japan on January 10, 2024 at the fourth day of Dragon Gate's Open The New Year Gate alongside KAI in a winning effort against the team of Último Dragón and Punch Tominaga. From March 6 to April 6, Valletta and Z-Brats stablemate KAI took part in the 2024 Rey de Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins, one loss, and two matches that ended in a double countout, faling to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On Apirl 10, Valleta attacked Último Drágon and proceeded to removed his mask, leading to Dragón's former rival Luís Mante to make the save, before Valleta challenged him to a title match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship. On May 5 at Dead or Alive, Valletta unsuccessfully challenged Mante for the Open The Dream Gate Championship.
In Wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- King Kong Knee Drop (Diving knee drop)
- TKO (Cutter)
- Signature moves
- Chokeslam
- Chain attack
- Discus Lariat
- Sleeper Hold
- Spinning spinebuster
- Tiger Driver (Sitout double underhook powerbomb)
- Nicknames
- "Maruta no Rikidōzan" (Japanese for the "Maltese Rikidozan")
- Entrance themes
- "Walk" by Pantera (AJPW)