News R.I.P Akebono

[TheMaster]

Pioneering Hawaiian-born sumo champion Akebono dies aged 54

Tributes paid to wrestler, who was born Chad Rowan and became the sport’s first non-Japanese grand champion in 1993

www.theguardian.com

..born Chad Rowan in Hawaii, is regarded as a pioneer after he broke down cultural barriers in the centuries-old sport to become the first non-Japanese yokozuna grand champion in 1993.

Japanese media said the wrestler, who took the name Taro Akebono when he became a Japanese citizen in 1996, had died of heart failure this month, citing a statement by the US Forces in Japan.

Legend

 

[CptHowdy187]

I'll never forget the horrid site of his fat nutsack hanging out of his sumo sash at Wrestlemania 21.

 

[Tweak896]

Maybe wasn't the best style for mma, but was a pioneer that helped shaped everyone's understanding of mma. Atleast in Sumo he was a boss.

 

[Lee Danger]

is it due to low pay of being a sumo? or is it because, like many athletes, they dont have proper financial advice guiding them on how to save their money?

they spend all their ernings in food.

 

[Blastbeat]

they spend all their ernings in food.

i wanna try this, its what sumo wrestlers eat a shit ton of to bulk up

Chankonabe - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Gamer2k4]

Never forget when Akebono tossed the Big Show right out the damn ring

View attachment 1038789

RIP legend

I didn't know about that, and had to look it up. It looks a little WWE-ized (otherwise, let's be honest, Big Show would have lost within seconds), but I appreciate that they let Akebono win against one of their superstars on their own show.

 

[Stump]

Damn, RIP big man.

Throw back to when I was first getting into MMA. It was so wild back then, when there were still legitimate specialist representatives of different martial arts. It was like a video game - Sumo wrestler vs boxer, Pit fighter vs. Judoka. As glad as I am that the sport has evolved and become more mainstream, we lost something from the era where brass-balls motherfuckers like Akebono shone.

RIP

 

[Seminole Gamer]

I think you meant regular sumo wrestlers rather than Yokozunas. Yokozuna, as well as other high ranking guys, generally do ok after retirement because they save some money and get positions in the Japanese Sumo Association (coaches, stable owners, etc.) But not always, in particular Akebono had financial troubles which is why he had to take unnecessary damage in K1, MMA and pro wrestling.

Oops you're right, my mistake. I hated seeing him get knocked out and beat up in those fights.

 

[boingyman]

RIP braddah Akebono. Dude was one of the big 3 sumo legends out of Hawaii. I remember seeing him in person when I was a teenager. At that time he was the biggest person I've ever seen in real life. This was right around the time he was promoted to Yokozuna in the early 90s.

 

[StonedLemur]

Pioneering Hawaiian-born sumo champion Akebono dies aged 54

Tributes paid to wrestler, who was born Chad Rowan and became the sport’s first non-Japanese grand champion in 1993

www.theguardian.com

..born Chad Rowan in Hawaii, is regarded as a pioneer after he broke down cultural barriers in the centuries-old sport to become the first non-Japanese yokozuna grand champion in 1993.

Japanese media said the wrestler, who took the name Taro Akebono when he became a Japanese citizen in 1996, had died of heart failure this month, citing a statement by the US Forces in Japan.

Rest in peace sir, time flies when you're done

 

[snackebono]

Respect

 

[SuperNerd]

One last bump for the big guy

 

[TheBulge]

I always felt bad for him watching him get his ass kicked, but then again he shouldn't have kept putting himself in that position. With his name in and legacy in Japan he could have surely made a living a different way post-Sumo wrestling. R.I.P. regardless.

 

[BoogerDawson]

He was a guest judge on Iron chef a few times.

 

[boingyman]

Some local boys from Hawaii going at it. Would be like prime BJ vs Max

Akebono vs Musashimaru Yokozuna battle.


Akebono vs Konishiki

 

[Brigfa2]

I'm sure weebs even created a thread in UFC discussion about Shinzo Abe when he died

 

[Pepy]

RIP Big Guy