Rikishis with the highest potential?

[visitor_22 28]

Who are the rikishis with highest potential? 

My personal list:

1) Onosato

2) Hoshoryu and Atamifuji

3) Kotozakura and Hakuoho

4) Takerufuji

[visitor_22 28]

I don't watch lower divisions of pro sumo at all, so my knowledge is limited with only Makuuchi wrestlers.

May be someone has better list.

Edited November 26, 2024 by visitor_22

[Katooshu 3,182]

Tanji is impressive for an 18-year-old. Made makushita a month after turning 17 (so he earned the promotion at 16) and to me he looks to have more to his sumo than the likes of Yoshii and Otsuji, who were also quite advanced for youngsters but then stagnated (albeit they're still very young). He is adaptable and can win with a range of techniques, and has a good frame to add size to. 

Other assorted lower division names to keep an eye on: Wakanosho, Anhibiki, Noda, Ikazuchido (longer term), and of course the tsukedashi crew (Kusano, Matsui, Ishizaki, Mita, Okaryu, etc.). Ochil too if he ever actually goes pro.

As far as sekitori...

Aonishiki is super sharp up close and capitalizes on mistakes faster than anyone in juryo already. Very good with subtle moves to create openings. Physically stronger than other skilled youngsters like Kotoeiho and Wakaikari. His weakness so far seems to be aggressive pushers who don't let him get inside to grapple, but he's got plenty of time to work on that.

Onosato an obvious name for this, given his record breaking rise and immense power. With just a bit more polishing he could be yokozuna material. Due to his fast rise he's also got more time to develop in the elite makuuchi ranks than most college stars.

While Takerufuji is no doubt very talented, I'm weary of his longevity given his extensive injury history that dates back well before ozumo - a major injury every other year since middle school. Similar story for Hakuoho, who even with his strong 10-5 in Kyushu was regularly looking pained after wins.

I'm sure Atamifuji will be a sanyaku regular eventually, but I do wonder if he's just a bit limited to really soar like an Onosato or the other two ozeki. 

Edited November 25, 2024 by Katooshu

[Reonito 1,387]

1 hour ago, Katooshu said:

Aonishiki is super sharp up close and capitalizes on mistakes faster than anyone in juryo already. Very good with subtle moves to create openings. Physically stronger than other skilled youngsters like Kotoeiho and Wakaikari. His weakness so far seems to be aggressive pushers who don't let him get inside to grapple, but he's got plenty of time to work on that.

If he was a little bigger, I'd have him ticketed as at least Ozeki material, and he may get there anyway. He's been incredibly impressive to watch.

[Ack! 461]

I'm not sure if I would add Wakatakakage to this list, but I don't think we have seen his ceiling yet. His comeback has been impressive, almost Terunofuji-like.

[RabidJohn 1,734]

2 hours ago, Ack! said:

I'm not sure if I would add Wakatakakage to this list, but I don't think we have seen his ceiling yet. His comeback has been impressive, almost Terunofuji-like.

At his age, he may have a run or two left in him, but as much as I like him, I see him as a perennial sekiwake capable of the occasional outstanding performance.
Not out of the question, but I've no expectation for him to rise any higher.

His comeback is great, but I see it as a natural consequence of the injury being dealt with sensibly and promptly.
No one expected someone as badly damaged as Terunofuji to do what he did. Possibly the GOAT comeback in sumo, but they should never have let it get that bad.

Edited November 30, 2024 by RabidJohn

[Ack! 461]

On 30/11/2024 at 07:35, Ack! said:

I'm not sure if I would add Wakatakakage to this list, but I don't think we have seen his ceiling yet. His comeback has been impressive, almost Terunofuji-like.

 

On 30/11/2024 at 09:46, RabidJohn said:

At his age, he may have a run or two left in him, but as much as I like him, I see him as a perennial sekiwake capable of the occasional outstanding performance.
Not out of the question, but I've no expectation for him to rise any higher.

His comeback is great, but I see it as a natural consequence of the injury being dealt with sensibly and promptly.
No one expected someone as badly damaged as Terunofuji to do what he did. Possibly the GOAT comeback in sumo, but they should never have let it get that bad.

Well, with a yusho and a jun-yusho within four bashos (granted a 12-3Y and a 11-4 JY are not impressive records for that feat) at sekiwake I always thought he had the potential to go higher, but that was two+ years ago with a half-year kyujo, so who knows?  Maybe I'm just a sucker for believing each shin-sekiwake is the next ozeki. 

[Yamanashi 3,793]

5 hours ago, Ack! said:

Maybe I'm just a sucker for believing each shin-sekiwake is the next ozeki. 

Well, maybe not each, but try finding an Ozeki who wasn't a shin-Sekiwake.

[Sue 494]

13 hours ago, Ack! said:

Maybe I'm just a sucker for believing each shin-sekiwake is the next ozeki. 

Of course you are. Everyone knows that Shodai is the next Ozeki.

[Jakusotsu 5,892]

1 hour ago, Sue said:

Of course you are. Everyone knows that Shodai is the next Ozeki.

Sure, but will he be the next Sekiwake?