November Tournament 2014

November Tournament: Day 12

Andy Hakuho (白鵬), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kakuryu (鶴竜), November Tournament 2014 , , ,

The Hakuho/Kisenosato matchup was the biggest match of the day and had the most potential for shaking-up the standings if Kisenosato could get the win. However, Hakuho showed great skill in throwing Kisenosato to the dirt. He’s clearly hungry for that 32nd title. Kakuryu had just beaten Goeido in the match prior, assuring the ozeki of a losing record and demotion is looking more certain. Kakuryu looked inspired by Hakuho’s near-henka the day before and pulled off an even better dodge, sending the hapless ozeki face first into the dirt. Harumafuji also won, but with three losses he’s 2 back of the pace set by his compatriots.

Kotoshogiku improved to 6-6 with a win over an uninspired Ichinojo. Ikioi persevered through Oosunaarashi’s blistering attack to force a great belt bout. Ikioi ended up throwing the Egyptian but both men wrestled well. Tochinoshin stays in title contention with a 10-2 record as he impressively carried Sokokurai out of the ring. Endo was able to counter Kotoyuki’s size advantage with a winning belt throw that sent both wrestlers bouncing off the dohyo and into the first row of spectators.


1-loss: Hakuho, Kakuryu
2-losses: Tochinoshin

November Tournament: Day 11

Andy November Tournament 2014 , , ,

Day 11 brought more excitement to the tournament. Kisenosato has been performing very well and clearly wanted to be in contention for the title. He handed Kakuryu his first loss in a great bout. This shoving match seemed to be all about position not allowing the opponent to get inside and get a belt grip. For the most part it was Kisenosato on the attack and he was eventually able to shove a retreating Kakuryu off the dohyo.

Hakuho dodged a forceful attack from Goeido to get a quick 10th win, and thus secure a tie with Kakuryu at 1 loss. Harumafuji may have slipped out of contention entirely as he lost his balance in a weird one against Aoiyama. Aoiyama charged hard out of the gate, appeared to take a swing at the Yokozuna has he dodged away but as Harumafuji came back to re-engage, Aoiyama retreated to the edge of the dohyo resulting in the Harumafuji landing flat on his face.

Tochinoshin joined Kisenosato at 9-2 by outlasting Kyokutenho in an exciting matchup. Hopefully each will continue to rack up wins to keep this title up-for-grabs. Ichinojo, Endo and Ikioi also picked up wins.

November Tournament: Day 10

Andy Hakuho (白鵬), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kakuryu (鶴竜), November Tournament 2014 , , , , , ,

Two thirds of the way through and the title chase looks to be a battle between yokozuna: Kakuryu vs. Hakuho. Hakuho is alone at 9-1 after Kisenosato fell to Harumafuji and Kyokutenho lost to Jokoryu. Harumafuji looked surprisingly powerful, going right at Kisenosato and shoving him straight back and off the dohyo.

Neither Kotoshogiku nor Goeido looked impressive but Kotoshogiku got the win to get back to .500. Ichinojo rolled Aminishiki into the gyoji and off into the crowd. Ikioi’s losing record is assured and he’ll find himself back in the maegashira next tournament.

Tochinoshin won a bruising slapfest against Chiyomaru. Tochinoshin landed a strong right hand slap which seemed to totally take Chiyomaru out of it and thereafter he was quickly pushed over the bails. Osunaarashi won against Yoshikaze but it really looked like both should have been at home recovering from injury. Neither had the legs to drive their opponent, seemingly reliant on slapping eachother. Endo let Kaisei fall over as he retreated from the tachiai, he improves to 5-5.

Amuru won a great bout against Shohozan. Amuru was aggressive and looked in control throughout. It started as a slapfest that turned into a proper belt battle. At the end it looked like Shohozan might lose his belt as well as the match but it thankfully stayed on while he landed on the floor. Amuru just seems like he leans/hunches over too much and I don’t get how he’s not constantly off-balance.

I’m looking forward to Kakuryu v Kisenosato and Hakuho v Goeido. Goeido’s been quite the thorn in Hakuho’s side, particularly when he’s not having great tournaments. He could definitely pull off yet another upset. If Kisenosato were also to win, this tournament would completely change as there are several wrestlers with two losses including Kisenosato and Harumafuji.

November Tournament: Day 9

Andy Hakuho (白鵬), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Ichinojo (逸ノ城), Kakuryu (鶴竜), November Tournament 2014 , , ,

Kakuryu used his leverage to work Aoiyama (5-4) out of the ring and stay in the lead with a perfect 9-0 record. Hakuho quickly threw Ichinojo to stay one back off Kakuryu’s pace and remain in the hunt for his 32nd title. Joining Hakuho, and also securing a winning record for the tournament, are the 40 year-old Kyokutenho and ozeki Kisenosato by up-ending Toyohibiki (2-7).

Harumafuji threw an over-eager ozeki, Goeido, off the dohyo to get his seventh win. Goeido dropped to 4-5. Kotoshogiku gave it his all and got the win against Takayasu but still seems a bit weak when trying to drive forward with his legs. At this point, his wins seem to come from the back and upper body.

Ikioi beat Aminishiki to improve to 2-7 and faces Tochiozan (4-5) tomorrow. Aminishiki (3-6) will face Ichinojo (4-5), and will surely live to fight another day. Yoshikaze came back from injury but lost, and fell to (0-6-3). He’ll face Oosunaarashi tomorrow, likewise winless (0-4-5) and coming back from injury. I wish both well. One will pick up their first win of the tournament. Endo picked up his fourth win of the tournament, already garnering more wins than September, against Amuru (2-7), who’s not having a great makuuchi debut. Endo faces Kaisei (4-5) tomorrow. He’s 2-1 against the Brazilian and I’m hoping he pulls off the victory and gets closer to kachi-koshi.

Of tomorrow’s matchups, I think I’m most looking forward to Hakuho v. Aoiyama. Though he’s never beaten the yokozuna, Aoiyama has been the best performing of the Sekiwake/Komusubi foursome and has been giving every match his all.