This tournament has been incredible so far. It’s certainly been the best of the year when it comes to delivering exciting matches. Day 12 continued to bring us actio-packed bouts.
Kotozakura vs. Kirishima and Wakatakakage vs. Onosato are two of my favourite bouts of the entire year. Please go check those out (I have them in their entirety below the spoiler warning).
Other great bouts included Takayasu vs. Hiradoumi, Oho vs. Atamofuji, Ura vs. Endo, Mitakeumi vs. Kotoshoho, Ryuden vs. Midorifuji and Ichiyamamoto vs. Kitanowaka.
Scroll down for the results of all these bouts and lots of videos.
Bonus gif today is Papayasu staring down at a defeated opponent.
SPOILERS BELOW
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Results
Takarafuji (8-4) def. Shishi (7-5) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Nishikifuji (6-6) def. Sadanoumi (6-6) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)*
Tamawashi (6-6) def. Onokatsu (4-8) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Roga (7-5) def. Shirokuma (4-8) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Ichiyamamoto (6-6) def. Kitanowaka (5-7) via tsukitaoshi (frontal thrust down)*
Midorifuji (5-7) def. Ryuden (6-6) via katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Churanoumi (7-5) def. Bushozan (4-8) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Meisei (3-9) def. Kagayaki (1-11) via oshidashi
Gonoyama (4-8) def. Oshoma (8-4) via tsukidashi*
Ura (8-4) def. Endo (7-5) via yorikiri*
Shonannoumi (3-9) def. Kinbozan (4-8) via yorikiri
Kotoshoho (6-6) def. Mitakeumi (3-9) via kotenage (arm lock throw)*
Oho (8-4) def. Atamifuji (5-7) via katasukashi*
Wakamotoharu (8-4) def. Takanosho (3-9) via yorikiri
Shodai (8-4) def. Tobizaru (4-8) via oshidashi
Daieisho (7-5) def. Nishikigi (9-3) via tsukidashi*
Takayasu (10-2) def. Hiradoumi (6-6) via tsukidashi*
Wakatakakage (9-3) def. Onosato (11-1) via yorikiri*
Kirishima (10-2) def. Kotozakura (7-5) via uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Abi (3-9) def. Hoshoryu (6-6) via yoritaoshi*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
S1w Onosato: 11-1
S2e Kirishima, M15e Takayasu: 10-2
M7e Wakatakakage, M13w Nishikigi: 9-3
M2w Oho, M3w Wakamotoharu, M4e Shodai, M5e Ura, M9w Oshoma, M15w Takarafuji: 8-4
Analysis
Did you forget about Wakatakakage?
The former sekiwake showed us all how special he is on Day 12 in defeating tournament front-runner Onosato. This is a bout of the year candidate for me and I’m awed in how strong Wakatakakage must be.
In this bout Wakatakakage absorbed Onosato’s opening rush and was able to halt him once his heels reached the boundary. Very few wrestlers have shown they have the strength to this against the freight train that is Onosato.
Wakatakakage helped himself do this by getting chest to chest with Onosato. He did this to stop Onosato from thrusting his chest and completing the push out. Onosato wasn’t expecting this and he was unable to defend Wakatakakage getting a strong double underhook grip, with both hands on either side of the belt.
From that position Wakatakakage was able to force Onosato back (again, something very few have succeeded at doing). Onosato responded well, though, he turned away from the boundary and then tried to push Wakatakakage’s head down for a hatakikomi. And he almost succeeded, too. However, Wakatakakage showed tremendous balance to stay on his feet and then re-enage Onosato with those double underhooks. That hold again prevented Onosato from thrusting him over the straw. Onosato made a small mistake in this sequence. During the brief window he had before Wakatakakage clinched with him, he landed a thrust to Wakatakakage’s throat. That pushed Wakatakakage’s head back, but not his whol body. He should have probably aimed that thrust right in the middle of Wakatakakage’s chest.
After re-establishing the double underhooks (again with a belt grab on both sides) Wakatakakage showed Herculean strength in being able to elevate Onosato and turn him 180 degrees for the force out.
Amazing stuff from Wakatakakage, who kept himself in the running (just) for the title this month.
Onosato’s two main rivals for the yusho both won on this day, too. Kirishima won a thrilling bout with Kotozakura and Takayasu got past Hiradoumi.
Kirishima fought a very intelligent bout against Kotozakura. He led with a double handed thrust to the chest in the tachiai to create some space and then locked up a migi-yotsu (right arm inside, left arm outside) grip. He also locked onto Kotozakura’s belt with both hands, but used his left, which he shaded towards Kotozakura’s middle to up-end his opponent and force him backwards.
Kotozakura showed why he is so dangerous close to the boundary, though. He was able to reverse Kirishima and bring him close to the force out. Kirishima dug his right foot into the straw bales to keep himself in, though, and push the action back to the centre of the ring.
In the final phase of the bout Kotozakura turned to try and force Kirishima out. When Kotozakura started turning, Kirishima let go of the belt with his right hand and then used his remaining sashite (underhook with belt grab) to execute the winning uwatenage (under arm throw).
There was left craft involved in Takayasu’s win, but it was still very impressive. He landed a well-timed, and powerful, chest bump against Hiradoumi off the tachiai. It resulted in Hiradoumi bouncing back with his head high in the air. Takayasu tried to catch him on the way back down with a hatakikomi (slap down), but the speedy Hiradoumi was able to reset and start firing off strikes.
The older, but much stronger, Takayasu was able to land better thrusts, though. He blocked a number of Hiradoumi’s and when he started landing on the chest he was able to drive Hiradoumi back and out.
Nishikigi could have joined Takayasu and Kirishima at 10-3. However, he fell to Daieisho. Daieisho did a great job of forcing Nishikigi to fight a thrusting battle and preventing him from establishing his prefered yotsu (grappling) style. In a thrusting battle Nishikigi will always be second best to Daieisho.
The only other wrestlers with a chance of winning the title are the cohort of Oho, Wakamotoharu, Ura, Shodai, Oshoma and Takarafuji. They are all on 8-4. In order for any of them ot stand a chance Onosato will have to go winless for the rest of the tournament.
Oho came through a really fun bout on Day 12. He went back and forth with Atamifuji before landing an arm lock throw.
Wakamotoharu stood up to Takanosho’s throat thrust and scored a funky looking yorikiri.
Ura got a good jump on Endo and was able to hound him out with relative ease.
Oshoma is at 8-4 thanks to a loss to Gonoyama. He tried to shoulder roll Gonoyama off the tachiai, but Gonoyama was able to power through it and force Oshoma straight back and out.
Hoshoryu’s struggles continued on Day 12. He’s now 6-6 after a loss to Abi. Abi scored the win with one of the henkiest henka you’re likely to see. He sprung from his starting position like a bullfrog and Hoshoryu had to fight to not run himself straight out the ring. After he stopped himself Abi was there to flatten him.
Two other bouts I want to highlight now.
Midorifuji scored a very satisfying katasukashi (under shoulder swing down) against the loathsome Ryuden. It was especially satisfying after Ryuden spent the boat tries to mash Midorifuji’s face with his palm.
Kotoshoho picked up a great win over Mitakeumi. Mitakeumi attempted a henka, but missed. Kotoshoho than locked him up and pulled off a pretty uwatenage.
Tomorrow we’ve got Kotozakura vs. Onosato. Kotozakura is 3-1 against Onosato and I’m sure he’d love to play spoiler for him here. Kirishima will face his ‘frenemy’ Hoshoryu. And Takayasu will take on Daieisho.
See you then!
The look on Wakatakakage's face when he strong-manned Onosato out of the ring was intense. So strong!
Couple good matches tomorrow. We got Onosato vs Kotozakura and Kirishima vs Hoshoryu. Exciting times. Man Takayasu lived up to his cocaine bear nickname today. He let his hands fly!