24 Comments
User's avatar
Whoopdy Do's avatar

For me that Kirishima-Takayasu match was the bout of the tournament so far.

Tim Edwards's avatar

Amazing match. Those two are two of the best defensive wrestlers out there, so when they meet you get a lot of counter met by counter met by counter... It's very entertaining. I forget the tournament, but I think sometime last year they had a barn-burner that was my match of the tournament (and probably match of the year if I ever tried to rank them).

Elisabeth M's avatar

absolutely epic

Elisabeth M's avatar

i've been wondering because so far he hasn't looked injured (taped, moving gingerly, not putting weight on a leg etc.); he might just be good at hiding it.

regardless, he'll need to figure out how to win from a more upright position, which i think he'll be able to do. but so far a pretty rough tournament for him.

Dj sto's avatar

Hi Elizabeth, Mr insufferable thinks Aonishiki looks unwell 🤧, I just don’t know why he’s not performing, he seems to have decided to use the same tactic over and over again

Elisabeth M's avatar

it's possible! backstage, before his first bout, he was using two of those small towels to cough into, big coughs. not sure what's going on.

Andrew Young's avatar

Dammit.

D. Foy's avatar

I’m not going to tap “like”

Elisabeth M's avatar

love that "tokihayate is arya stark" is official now! my work here is done.

Tim Edwards's avatar

The north remembers.

Dj sto's avatar

Well hello to all, Mr insufferable isn’t saying anything, and I should have put money on this !!

Tim is right of course, in my just above average limited knowledge I could see the younger / older and more experienced Rikishi have taken a leaf out of Aonishikis book, clearly they have been watching back his matches and have now worked out how to put Aonishiki down, the answer quite simply is keep him upright he hates that position and even Atamifuji managed to use his ample tummy to keep him from lowering himself into a crab like position and sadly that has completely undone his ability to win his bouts, Aonishiki seems to have stopped using all those wonderful unusual moves we first saw and has been looking more like a old seasoned fighter sticking to the basic play book, now we see the others using his own tactics against him, I am not sure if this is coaching steering or his own strategy?

The Mawashi tactic is a bit unnerving, the fear of them coming off all together is making me sweat ! It’s a tactic that obviously doesn’t allow a solid grip.

I said the H word was off my table for fear of scuppering the win, but now we see he’s dropped down, 2 losses

Keeping an eye on Kotoshoho, he’s the one for me who posses the biggest threat, he’s again just come out of nowhere, also his brother whose right there with him but just 1 down.

I am happy for Takanosho he’s really sweet and I love him, I hope he continues to do well, in the mix are well deserved Rikishi Kirishima & Gonoyama and they are pushing hard. In a way I am pleased we have a number of Rikishi that are suddenly performing.

Before I get to my favourite and you all know of whom I speak? Let’s talk Kotazakura, I have to say, I just don’t think he is bothered about getting Yokozuna, I feel like he’s doing just enough to keep himself in Ozeki and no more than that it’s lazy and feels like it’s just not in his plan.

So now on to Atamifuji, please pray that he gets to 8 !!!!! For the drop to meagashire will be as fast as lightening so any help from friends would be welcome 🙏

Tim Edwards's avatar

I'm starting to think Gonoyama might be our surprise candidate this time around. The storu of him breaking through in Osaka, his home town, would be fantastic.

Dj sto's avatar

Hi Tim, I agree you may well be right on this one, still don’t take your eyes off Kotoshoho, he’s the one nobody last year talked about and then there he was, for me I am thinking possibly a three way split? Kotoshoho, Kirishima and Gonoyama , I don’t see H there right now !

Dan Bieranowski's avatar

Happy to see Wakamotoharu break the losing streak!

Andrew Young's avatar

Are loose mawashi an accident or a tactic? Seems like we're seeing a lot of them lately...

D. Foy's avatar

I am far from an authority on loose mawashis (thank god) but I can’t help but think it is a tactic. The idea struck me when I noticed it consistently with Tobizaru.

Tim Edwards's avatar

Terunofuji once got furious with Tobizaru and accused him of having a loose mawashi as a tactic. I think it happens on occasion. For some guys it might be a comfort thing, though.

D. Foy's avatar

Ha! Tobi always has been a slippery fellow… I have to say the more I know about and watch him, I enjoy him less and less…What will the banzuke do when he no longer appears in Makuuchi, I wonder?

Tim Edwards's avatar

He is the yokozuna of shithousery.

D. Foy's avatar

🤪

Elisabeth M's avatar

loose mawashi counter! on top of the gyoji hit counter.

(never seen loose mawashi before either, though admittedly i haven't been watching for long)

Tim Edwards's avatar

I've seen some matches where it ends up looking like a guy is wearing a tube top.

Elisabeth M's avatar

oooh i'll wait for that!