Who'd still be on top had they not had to retire?

[Kasutera 258]

Thinking about how Sokokurai has been able to get his dismissal from the kyokai reversed and he's now doing fairly well back in makuuchi, I've wondered who you guys think would be some rikishi who were made to retire before they really should have, either due to scandal or whatever other reason, that might still be on top had they continued to be active. Asashoryu for one comes to mind, but maybe you guys have different opinions? Wakanoho as well.

What do sports fans love more than WILD SPECULATION?!

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

Wakanoho and Tokusegawa.

[shumitto 419]

Under other circumstances Tokusegawa could have stayed. Wakanoho would have been kicked out anyway.

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

• Although he never was "on top", I would like to think that Daishochi would have made Ozeki, and still be wrestling today. The former Daishochi is better know these days as Byamba.

[Vikanohara 171]

From recent years, I recall mostly these anticlimatic intai :

2004.05 - 2013.09 : Baruto

2010.03 - 2012.07 : Chiyozakura
2007.01 - 2011.05 : Yamamotoyama

2007.01 - 2011.05 : Kiyoseumi (Ichihara)
2006.03 - 2011.05 : Sakaizawa
1999.01 - 2010.01 : Asashoryu
2005.03 - 2008.07 : Wakanoho

Of course Homasho could have been more of a Sanyaku regular as well.
While I had higher hopes for Tochinowaka (Ri) too.

[Jakusotsu 6,396]

Kiyoseumi's career ambitions appeared to be very much over after one year anyway. I doubt he would have become more than just an elevator rikishi.

[shumitto 419]

I happened to remember Kiyoseumi a few minutes ago while at the park (probably my subcounscious related him to this topic, go figure) but IIRC he relied on tsuki/oshi to set up a hatakikomi or some otoshi technique, even before his injury. That style wouldn't have brought him much further.

I had some hopes for Wakaryoma, as he made my first list - two names - of prospects when I had just started watching sumo. The other name was Chiyoarashi/then Watanabe.