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Notable Maneuvers
Sukuinage. On a day where the current Ozeki (and Ozeki hopefuls) looked less than convincing, former Ozeki Asanoyama won with an impressive beltless arm throw against Nishikigi.
Match of the Day
THis was a matchup between two ex-Ozeki AND a key look at two members of the "how healthy are they for Nagoya?" brigade. They started hard, with Takayasu preventing Kriishima establishing any kind of grip. Then they began the kind of focused pushing that tries to find an opening. Generally, Takayasu has been good at this type of match throughout his career, while Kirishima was the walking wounded in recent basho. But it was Kirishima who did better when they locked up in a sideways, one-handed dual mawashi grip. As the Ozekiwake moved Takayasu back, it looked like Papa Bear might have injured something (arm, ribcage, ankle?) and went backwards and out easily.
Recap
It was not a good day for the Ozeki. All three lost, and not to opponents they should be losing to. Daieisho is a good rikishi, but he easily shoved back Kotozakura. Meisei very easily dispatched Takakeisho. Atamifuji went back-and-forth all over the ring with Hoshoryu, but Hoshoryu also never found a decisive winning maneuver. Some of the former Ozeki did well. Mitakeumi absolutely surprised Onosato for a simple victory. Kirishima got a crucial first win against Takayasu in his bid to bounce right back to sumo's second rank.
And, of course, the Yokozuna used to be an Ozeki as well, technically speaking. Terunofuji did not look like he was in full Kaiju mode. He will always be big and strong, but he didn't really manhandle Sanyaku debutant Hiradoumi. Hiradoumi, in fact, got the tachiai and grip he probably wanted with a deep and low mawashi handle. Terunofuji withstood it by wrapping Hiradoumi's arms. It didn't end decisively or quickly, but Terunofuji won in the end.
A heavily bandaged Terunofuji taking a lot of effort to topple Hiradoumi does not exactly pass the eye test, but a win is a win. That's doubly true on a day where the rikishi under him on the Banzuke lost. That's not just true of the three Ozeki. Onosato's loss puts a dent in his repeat yusho chances, while Abi now needs a 14 match winning streak to fulfill his longshot Ozeki promotion. Terunofuji probably will not need a Zensho yusho effort to win the Nagoya yusho.
He also clearly has a tough road. While the Ozeki and two top Sekiwake did all lose, they also all lost to worthy opponents who are dangerous in their own right. It also will probably make them that tiny bit more forcus and determined. A Day One loss doesn't doom a rikishi to a bad basho. Hoshoryu and Kotozakura both lost their fist bout in May, then were in the thick of the yusho race until the final day.
The results are striking, but the underlying meaning isn't all that surprising. The Sanyaku ranks are relatively even, with the upper Maegashira very close in quality. The final stretch of matches on each day are all going to be battles, especially since everyone is fighting for something overall in that crowd. And an Asanoyama, Oshoma, or someone has to rack up the wins in lower Maegashira to challenge whoever survives the joi gauntlet into the second week. Nagoya is already looking interesting.
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