Day Eleven. No news from the infirmary. The final third of Hatsu Basho begins today with perfect attendance among our top division competitors. In Juryo, Wakanosho defeated Sadanoumi, moving both men to 8-3. Fujiseiun joined them at 8-3 by defeating Asasuiryu. Tomorrow, Sadanoumi will fight Tsurugisho, Wakanosho will take on Kagayaki and Fujiseiun will battle Meisei.
Makuuchi Action
Tobizaru (4-7) defeated Hatsuyama (1-10). Hatsuyama laid into Tobizaru with tsuppari but Tobizaru shifted to the right side and pulled Hatsuyama down to the ground. Hikiotoshi.
Abi (9-2) defeated Shishi (8-3). Henka! Abi leapt to his left at the tachiai. Shishi turned to adjust but Abi shoved him forward and let him run off the dohyo. Tsukiotoshi.
Midorifuji (5-6) defeated Ryuden (4-7). Ryuden locked both of Midorifuji’s arms in his armpits and stood there. I’m not sure what he was planning but Midorifuji didn’t wait to find out. Midorifuji twisted to his left and hauled Ryuden down. Katasukashi.
Oshoumi (8-3) defeated Nishikifuji (6-5). Nishikifuji grabbed Oshoumi with his right hand and twisted to throw him down. Oshoumi countered by falling into Nishikifuji. Oshoumi hooked his left leg around Nishikifuji’s right leg and forcing his attacker to the ground first and falling on top of him. Sotogake.
Asakoryu (6-5) defeated Chiyoshoma (4-7). Henka! Chiyoshoma. Asakoryu adjusted but Chiyoshoma went on the attack with his left hand uwate. He pulled and tried to haul Asakoryu down but again the victim of a throw countered and twisted into Chiyoshoma, forcing Chiyoshoma down and falling on top of his attacker. Sukuinage.
Tokihayate (6-5) defeated Asahakuryu (5-6). While trying to change his left-hand grip, Tokihayate pulled and hauled Asakoryu down with his right hand under arm grip. Shitatenage.
Mitakeumi (5-6) defeated Gonoyama (4-7). Mitakeumi charged forward into Gonoyama, forcing him back to the bales. Then he suddenly pulled, shoving Gonoyama to the ground. Hatakikomi.
Shodai (5-6) defeated Tomokaze (4-7). Shodai powered into Tomokaze and then stopped and backed away, pulling Tomokaze forward to the clay. Hikiotoshi.
Roga (4-7) defeated Oshoma (6-5). Roga grabbed pulled on Oshoma’s arm. As Oshoma stumbled forward, Roga grabbed Oshoma’s belt with his left hand uwate. Roga then twisted Oshoma down to the ground. Oshoma tried to counter with his own underarm throw but Oshoma landed a beat before Roga. Uwatedashinage.
Asanoyama (8-3) defeated Hiradoumi (7-4). Asanoyama charged ahead with his left hand uwate and his right hand inside Hiradoumi’s armpit. Hiradoumi resisted and tried to twist Asanoyama down but Asanoyama continued to push himself forward and forced Hiradoumi over the bales. Yorikiri.
Churanoumi (7-4) defeated Kotoshoho (6-5). Kotoshoho pulled and Churanoumi took advantage and charged forward, forcing Kotoshoho back to the tawara and shoving him over the bales. Oshidashi.
Halftime
Kinbozan (4-7) defeated Tamawashi (4-7). Kinbozan wrapped Tamawashi up and charged forward, ushering Tamawashi back and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Atamifuji (9-2) defeated Fujinokawa (7-4). Fujinokawa got his right hand inside and immediately tried to pull Atamifuji down. Atamifuji shuffled with Fujinokawa, keeping his opponent between himself and the bales. Atamifuji broke Fujinokawa’s grip and shoved him out from behind. Okuridashi.
Onokatsu (5-6) defeated Daieisho (4-7). Henka! Onokatsu shifted left and deflected Daieisho’s attack to the side, thrusting him down. Tsukiotoshi.
Ichiyamamoto (2-9) defeated Wakatakakage (5-6). What do they say about never meet your idols? Ichiyamamoto gets to battle his. And today, he prevailed. Ichiyamamoto laid into Wakatakakage with tsuppari and then quickly pulled Wakatakakage forward and down to the ground. Hikiotoshi.
Sanyaku
Wakamotoharu (5-6) defeated Ura (1-10). Ura began to pull and Wakamotoharu moved forward with the pull. He kept Ura in front of him and shoved him off the dohyo. Oshitaoshi.
Yoshinofuji (6-5) defeated Oho (4-7). Oho hooked his left arm under Yoshinofuji’s shoulder and twisted. Yoshinofuji had his right hand firmly on Oho’s belt and went with Oho’s throw, hauling Oho forward to the ground. Uwatenage.
Aonishiki (9-2) defeated Hakunofuji (5-6). Aonishiki is a bit sick of Hakunofuji’s slow roll tachiai. Two matta. Once they got off to a good start, Aonishiki got his left hand inside and began to pull. Hakunofuji began to charge his way forward with gaburi leg thrusts but his left foot seemed to slip, then his left knee buckled and he went down. Shitatenage.
Takanosho (2-9) defeated Kotozakura (7-4). Kotozakura pulled and Takanosho charged forward, shoving Kotozakura over the edge for an easy upset. On replay, I don’t think Kotozakura put much weight at all on his left leg during that bout. I’ll keep my eye on that. Yorikiri.
Onosato (7-4) defeated Kirishima (8-3). Onosato took the brunt of Kirishima’s tachiai with his right shoulder. After the initial charge, Kirishima couldn’t get any offense going. Onosato moved forward and forced Kirishima to the bales and over the edge. Yorikiri.
Hoshoryu (8-3) defeated Takayasu (7-4). Hoshoryu couldn’t get his right-hand grip but he still pivoted and pulled. Instead of the belt, Hoshoryu wrapped his right arm around Takayasu’s head for a kubinage. But then, he let it go and shifted further to the side along the bales and pulled Takayasu forward by Takayasu’s right arm. Hoshoryu arrested his momentum at the edge and let Takayasu rush out into the crowd. That was kinda funny. Takayasu was perplexed and immediately went to the TV screen in the hanamichi to see what the hell happened. Frankly, it looks like Hoshoryu pivoted and shifted to the side just enough that Takayasu rushed forward with a little help from Hoshoryu’s tug on his right arm. Tottari.
Wrap-up
Kotozakura had worked his way into the yusho conversation and just like that, he’s out of it again. This time he falls to a Takanosho who has been having a dreadful tournament. Is it the knee? Or did he just make a terrible decision to commit to that awful pull? He has actually moved forward well at points during this basho. Not today.
Speaking of left legs, I’ll keep an eye out for news on Hakunofuji. His left ankle, and possibly the knee, turned awkwardly in today’s bout. Well, the Yokozuna are hurt and somehow winning, so it’s not like anyone will go kyujo tomorrow.
- 2-Losses: Aonishiki, Atamifuji, Abi
- 3-Losses: Hoshoryu, Kirishima, Shishi, Asanoyama, Oshoumi
Day Twelve pairings are interesting. The lower-ranked wrestlers in the yusho race are being moved up. Asanoyama will fight Fujinokawa, 9-ranks above him. Oshoumi will fight Churanoumi, 11-ranks above. Shishi will move way up (14-ranks) to fight Komusubi Oho. Kirishima will fight Hoshoryu. Abi will take on Kotozakura while Atamifuji will fight Aonishiki.
The rest of our sanyaku bouts include Wakamotoharu fighting Hiradoumi and Onosato versus Takayasu.
I’m really enjoying this tournament. It’s going in weird places and a bunch of folks are involved in the yusho race. No one has really struck out to claim this one. Everyone has had stumbles. But as we move into the final stretch here, will someone step up? Or will everyone fall to the side and let Takayasu or Fujinokawa back into this thing just to really mess with us?