Akebono to WWE?

[Kintamayama 45,117]

Akebono may be on his way to the WWE. In a women's tournament held in Saitama ("Diva's Contest") , he was in the audience. Some guy or girl (Simon) came on stage and said something deriding about "Fat Sumo types". Akebono, "enraged", climbed on the squared circle, shouting "Konoyarou!!", or "you rascal", "you S.O. B", "you blaggard" (take your pick..). Looks like they are starting a buildup towards his participation in the next "Wrestlemania".

Or not.

Akebono enters ring defiantly;

[Naifuzan 1]

He'll probably suck there too, but at least he might win a match or two, and not get as humiliated as in K-1.

[Jonosuke 28]

This whole thing may show up on the next RAW broadcast, usually on Monday night (so it means Feb 7) here.

This is the first time ever Raw is broadcast from Japan and WWE has high hopes for it as so far they are still a "minor" league in Japan compared to others. They are also doing Smackdown from there as well.

The fact that WWE stages these TV shows down to a minute detail and Akebono sitting there on the front row (obviously invited with a fee), it should help promote their venture in Japan as currently they only have green liquid spewing Tajiri. Akebono speaking English also can help them sell him in the US.

Akebono is scheduled to show on another K-1 in March but let's see what happens as it could be a mutually beneficial for both if Akebono moves out of K-1 and joins WWE. Personally I think Akebono probably does not mind living in Japan as well as somewhere in US like Hawaii or California in the future.

[Zentoryu 154]

The WWE is rather notorious for bringing in famous athletes who live in the cities that they visit. They utilize them in televised "angles" and to try and get the local crowd more into the action.

Akebono's thing with Simon Dean sounds just like one of those "angles".

I would be surprised if it goes much beyond that as these things are usually a one-off deal. We likely also would have seen a press release already if he had made a long term (ie, more than one appearance) deal with the WWE.

Edited February 5, 2005 by Zentoryu

[Jejima 1,384]

Akebono's thing with Simon Dean sounds just like one of those "angles".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Who is Simon Dean? :-)

[Zentoryu 154]

Akebono's thing with Simon Dean sounds just like one of those "angles".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Who is Simon Dean? :-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's a WWE wrestler. His whole gimmick (or character) is that he's a fitness freak. He goes down to the ring every week, in whatever city they happen to be in, and makes fun of the people in the crowd for being fat and out of shape. It occasionally leads to some overweight person in the audience (usually an unknown wrestler acting as a fan) getting lured into the ring, where Simon attacks them.

After reading Moti's first post and his mention of "Simon", its pretty obvious that they decided to use Akebono as Simon's target this week.

Pretty stupid stuff, but thats wrestling... (Shaking head...)

[Jonosuke 28]

If you are still following this story with bated breath, here's the latest. During a Smackdown show, WWE's big man, Big Show challenged Akebono, "There is also a giant in Japan. The grand champion of Sumo, Akebono. Stand up and come up on the ring!"

They came face to face in the center of the ring, first WWE's 228 cm tall giant put out his right hand and then Akebono accepted and shook his hand. Then both raised their arms amid loud cheers from the fans.

"This is a definite violation of the contract," K-1's Event Producer Taniguchi was enraged. "They contacted Akebono without informing us and got him on the ring. We've already warned Akebono about this. Apparently they want an MMA style Akebono vs Big Show match. WWE is a really scary outfit. Let me tell you we won't be laying down quiet. We will go after their athletes. They will know we mean real business."

[aderechelsea 125]

Ake looks small in front of this guy ....

i've watched smack down a few times and i mmust admit i konda like the soap opera stuff that contains ... but the fights are really lame.

[Kintamayama 45,117]

I still think this is all a pre-planned-K-1 and WWE collaboration. there definhitely will be a match. When these guys get "enraged", I smell money..

This being said, I have the highest degree of respect for these athletes, because they are athletes in all respects. The fact that the results are pre-ordained and the moves are choreographed doesn't change the fact that most of these guys do it very well. Some of them, quite a few, die doing it. I've seen guys fall from 3 foot ladders, and all kinds of cool stuff. I tell you, this ain't easy.

Anyhow, the results may be fixed in advance, but WE don't know who is going to win. When we go to a movie and Clint Eastwood dies, do we say "Oh, what a lousy movie..We KNOW Clint isn't dead!!".

No, we never say that. We know it's not for real.

Now, if there is anyone out there who still thinks this is a real SPORT, well..

When done well, far-fetched storylines and lousy acting notwithstanding, it's great entertainment.

Edited February 6, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Naifuzan 1]

You just gotta remember that those guys arent fighters, the're stuntmen and actors.

[Kintamayama 45,117]

You just gotta remember that those guys arent fighters, the're stuntmen and actors.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They train and live as fighters. They are also incredible stuntmen and lousy actors, but that's beside the point. They all undergo a lot of wrestling and martial arts training, be sure of that. They get injured, they injure others. Not every stuntman can hold his own in Puroresu, and that is a gross understatement.

[Asashosakari 19,320]

I still think this is all a pre-planned-K-1 and WWE collaboration. there definhitely will be a match. When these guys get "enraged", I smell money..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pre-planned in that Taniguchi's outrage is probably manufactured, but I doubt there's more to it that just Akebono's involvement in (quite possibly) this year's Wrestlemania. I haven't followed pro-wrestling much for the last 2 years, but knowing Vince McMahon I can absolutely see him trying to recreate the Mike Tyson thing from a few years ago (which was quite successful) with Akebono this time.

I don't think Chad has nearly enough credibility in the eyes of the average U.S. wrestling fan to pull it off though.

At any rate, we'll know soon enough, as these Raw and Smackdown! tapings will air this week, and the fan reaction should become clear soon enough. That is, unless the two mini-angles with Ake end up on the WWE cutting room floor.

[Zentoryu 154]

At any rate, we'll know soon enough, as these Raw and Smackdown! tapings will air this week, and the fan reaction should become clear soon enough. That is, unless the two mini-angles with Ake end up on the WWE cutting room floor.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's what I think is going to happen. I've read the taping results for both Raw and Smackdown's Japan shows. The only mentions of Akebono were that he shook hands with Triple H at the end of the Raw show after the cameras had stopped rolling and with Big Show on Smackdown during the time alloted for commercial breaks. No mention of his involvement in any mini-angles.

While we won't know for certain until Monday night when the taped Raw hits the air, it appears that Akebono's presence seemed to be specifically for the entertainment of the local crowd, regardless of what Taniguchi says.

Edited February 6, 2005 by Zentoryu

[Zentoryu 154]

Well, if anyone is still interested at this point, I checked out RAW last night.

Akebono did make an on-air appearance, but his participation was negligable.

He was introduced to the crowd midway through the show and was seated at ringside most of the night.

He did participate in the mini-angle with Simon Dean during the second hour.

I don't remember the exact words, but Dean was making fun of the Japanese women in the audience, saying something along the lines of: "just because you're in love with fat, overweight Sumo wrestlers doesn't mean you have to look like them!"

At this point Ake rose from his seat and gave Dean that infamous intense stare of his.

Dean saw him and immediately started apologizing, insisting he was only kidding and that he didn't want any problems with the big guy. Akebono then sat back down.

He didn't climb into the ring or get involved physically at any point, at least not during the televised portion of the show.

So it looks like, for the moment anyway, the WWE doesn't have any interest in using Akebono outside of special appearances like this.

Edited February 8, 2005 by Zentoryu

[Jonosuke 28]

He didn't climb into the ring or get involved physically at any point, at least not during the televised portion of the show.

Akebono was there for both Raw and SmackDown taping (shot in two straight days). Akebono went up on the ring on the SmackDown taping. Obviously they were trying to cater to the Japanese fans by having Tajiri get the belt on Raw. But let's see if they show Akebono-Big Show staredown and handshaking on this Thursday's SmackDown.

I wonder why they did not use any Tokyo venue instead of making Saitama appear to look like Tokyo...

But it's an open secret that Akebono really enjoys all this WWE carnival stuff.

Edited February 8, 2005 by Jonosuke

[Asashosakari 19,320]

I wonder why they did not use any Tokyo venue instead of making Saitama appear to look like Tokyo...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not sure, but if I'm not mistaken, last year's tour to Japan also saw them hit Saitama. (Edit: And no Tokyo there either...the other stops were Hiroshima and Osaka.) Just speculating, but are they using the same arena that K-1 uses for their World Grand Prix tournaments? If so, it may just be that they prefer using a place that is accustomed to a MMA/wrestling setup. Plus, the potential venues in Tokyo may have exclusive contracts with NJPW and AJPW...

Edited February 9, 2005 by Asashosakari

[Fujisan 533]

Akebono+The Giant.

Akebono finally meets someone bigger but probably less clumsy in the ring(Only just though) than he is- (Whistling...)

The WWE is a circus and I can see two of the biggest clowns in the ring right now and I dont just mean in size.

Edited February 9, 2005 by Fujisan

[Zeokage 0]

The fact that WWE stages these TV shows down to a minute detail and Akebono sitting there on the front row (obviously invited with a fee), it should help promote their venture in Japan as currently they only have green liquid spewing Tajiri.  Akebono speaking English also can help them sell him in the US. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's just on the RAW side of the programme. On the SmackDown! side they have Akio, Sakoda, Kenzo Suzuki and Funaki (not sure if he can wrestle Japan's style after being in WWE for so long).

I can't see them doing this too often as they don't have many wrestlers who could actually display a match that would cater to the Japanese crowd's "usual" style. The few they do have went up against each other this time around (Benoit/Jericho, Guerrero/Suzuki). Not sure if Edge/HHH would have had that feel, on SD! Rey Mysterio has experience and has good chemistry with Angle so that was probably a good match. Funaki against Chavo Guerrero might have pleased the fans as Chave has experience in Japan and Funaki used to wrestle there as well. Not sure how the "Kimono Match" would have went down...

[Kintamayama 45,117]

Well, it seems I was right.. K1 and the WWE have reached an agreement in principal to stage matches between the WWE and something that will be called the "K1 Puroresu Army", headed by Akebono and Bob Sapp and some other K1 fighters with Puroresu experience. This all came about , of course, after Akebono's unexpected appearance in the WWE ring as an agitated "fat" person. K1 head producer Tanigawa was "outraged" and demanded an explanation. He met two top WWE officials the next day (Shane McMahon and Johnny Ice), and it was decided to co-operate. Akebono said from now on he will abide by K1 orders, and Tanigawa himself said " It's OK for a K1 fighter to enter a WWE ring".

[ilovesumo 12]

IT sounds scary... :-S

To stay in K1, let's have a fight Bono vs BUTTERBEAN :-D -that would be a showdown (Dribbling...)

[Asashosakari 19,320]

He met two top WWE officials the next day (Shane McMahon and Johnny Ice)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nitpick: That's Johnny Ace.

At any rate, as long as they keep Chad (and, to a lesser extent, Sapp) as strictly side-show where the actual fighting is concerned, that idea could actually be a good draw, at least on the U.S. side of things...not sure if the regular K-1 fans will be too thrilled with it.

Edited February 16, 2005 by Asashosakari

[Naifuzan 1]

not sure if the regular K-1 fans will be too thrilled with it.

I have a theory on this. I think there are mainly two kinds of K-1 fans. Those who like the sport, and those who like the entertainment.

People like Akebono and Bob Sapp are part of the "freak show" element in K-1, wich is popular by the second cathegory of fans I mentioned. And these are probably the kind of K-1 fighters that will participate in the wrestling events.

So I think the ones who like the serious fighters and the sport wont care what these "freak show" fihgters do, and will probably be happy to see them out of the K-1 ring for a while.

The ones who like the "freak shows" probably wont object to pro wrestling either.

[Zentoryu 154]

The WWE has been trying to negotiate a deal with the Japanese wrestling promotion NOAH to hold a joint show at the Tokyo Dome sometime later this year or early next.

This thing sounds more like a PR stunt to help lead into that show, especially when it mentions Shane McMahon and Johnny Ace. Shane has no real power in the WWE anymore (his sister Stephanie, her real life husband Triple H and father Vince have total control backstage), and Johnny Ace is little more than a talent director who is on his way out of the company.

Until we hear something directly from the WWE (which hasn't said anything at all concerning this), any reports about an agreement with Akebono and K1 have to be taken with a grain of salt.

Edited February 16, 2005 by Zentoryu

[Asashosakari 19,320]

This thing sounds more like a PR stunt to help lead into that show, especially when it mentions Shane McMahon and Johnny Ace. Shane has no real power in the WWE anymore (his sister Stephanie, her real life husband Triple H and father Vince have total control backstage), and Johnny Ace is little more than a talent director who is on his way out of the company.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

On the other hand, Johnny Ace is more or less the logical choice for (preliminary) negotiations of this kind, having wrestled in Japan for years in the 1990s... I agree though, lots and lots of these rumors float around every year, so until/unless there's a signed contract, anything's possible.

Edited February 16, 2005 by Asashosakari

[Ryukaze 0]

Well all this hubbub let me in bro's! lol Bottom line I think as always is "$$$$" My guess is thats why "akebono" left the sumo world to enter k-1 and that's probably the reason he will leave K-1 for the WWE assuming it goes down. I have been a little dissapointed in him in that he seems to have had little to no desire to stay and give back to the sumo world (train the younger generation, or become an elder or whatever). I suppose as he's stated that he still feels he can fight and wants to do so and granted thats his perogitive but it seems to be getting rather rediculous with this talk of the WWE and all now (maybe he'll try UFC next?) C'mon man, seems like his only passion is for himself and his image (though you wouldnt know it by his K-1 bouts lol). So those are "Ryukaze's thoughts! lol -