Tigerboy1966

This is exactly what Meisei has been doing since he started. He was promoted to makushita on five separate occasions before he managed to establish himself in that division so he knows all about patience and persistence. I think we'll see him get his first sanyaku experience by the end of 2020.

If Mitakeumi loses to to Abi tomorrow (which is 50/50) he could be bypassing komusubi and landing at M1-2.

I don't think Shodai will get a prize as he has only achieved what would have been expected of him at that rank. I would expect shukun-sho for Daeisho, kanto-sho for Asanoyama and maybe not much else.

Naruto's Motobayashi wins sandanme and takes his career record to 21-0.

They will have to completely rearrange the juryo match-ups as well.

I think there HAVE to be at least 2 ozeki for a basho to be valid. I could be wrong but I think that if the number falls below 2 then a yokozuna becomes an honorary ozeki for that tournament.

Meisei was absolutely ruthless at the finish, targeting Takayasu's bad left arm The ozeki looked like he was in a lot of pain after the match. If Daieisho and Meisei keep winning I'll be looking forward to a six-komusubi banzuke in January.

I was watching live with the sound turned down and my first thought was that there had been a late matta. It was that odd. Maybe it was a lack of concentration or perhaps he felt a body part pop and decided to bail out. I haven't seen the slow motion but I didn't see anything from Daieisho that should have caused Hakuho any problems.

That style of bout should have been bread and butter for Tochi, so you can colour me worried about his prospects. Meisei has done nothing but improve and learn since he started as a 15 year old in 2011. He's probably going to MK at this rank but he will rebound as always and I think he will enter sanyaku at some point in 2020. As a Ryukyu islander, Fukuoka is as near as Meisei ever gets to a hometown basho.

Shibatayama obviously comes from the little-known Japanese branch of the Bourbon family: he has "forgotten nothing and learned nothing". And this barely sane advice comes from a man who sat out 4 consecutive basho in his yokozuna days.

Don't be so pessimistic. Mitakeumi or Abi might go 15-0 in November.

Exactly. Takakeisho isn't going to be sent out to fight three times in the next 2 days.

My makuuchi only tally is: 45 Abi, Mitakeumi 44 Asanoyama 43 Goeido 42 Endo 41 Kakuryu, Hokutofuji, Meisei 40 Tamawashi, Takarfuji Abi is the only wrestler with 5/5 kk in the top division.

When Shodai stands up straight and tilts his head back (as is his wont) he might as well have a sign round his neck saying "please insert nodowa here".

There seemed quite a time gap between Endo's nearest point of heel contact and the judge raising his hand. Looks like a bad call to me.