World Sumo League

[Asojima]

The World Sumo League, the organization that put on the S.U.M.O Challenge in New York in October 2005, seems to be off and running with a 2006 tour. The tour supposedly will end in New York in October with a grand championship of some kind. So far, there are at least 8 events scheduled in the U.S. for May and June with more events worldwide in the planning stages. For some info see:

No Hold Barred and WSL Website and WSL Blog

Think it is WWF coming to Sumo. (Cloverleaf...)

Edited May 4, 2006 by Asojima

[Kintamayama]

The World Sumo League, the organization that put on the S.U.M.O Challenge in New York in October 2005, seems to be off and running with a 2006 tour. The tour supposedly will end in New York in October with a grand championship of some kind. So far, there are at least 8 events scheduled in the U.S. for May and June with more events worldwide in the planning stages.

Yes, and some BIG problems within the IFS over this..

Edited April 29, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Kishinoyama]

Think it is WWF coming to Sumo. (In jonokuchi...)

Well if it is like the WWE then the outcome will be predetermined (In jonokuchi...) . The E does stand for entertainment and while it is good to be entertained it is also good to have competition that is real. :-(

Edited April 29, 2006 by Kishinoyama

[Hashira]

what exactly is the picture on the top page of the WSL site meant to be?

two guys in make-up with sticks?? i hope its the taiko drummers "creating a visual and audio treat for spectators"

i see that they've given them little happi style coats to try to avoid the "men in diapers" tagline, but doesn't it make them look like strippers?

[Tetsuzukiyama]

Once I started reading the names of the wrestlers, I just couldn't stop. Here's the list:

The Black Tiger

Tsunami

Lord of Rage

Iron Mountain

Bloodfeud

Devestation

Firestorm

Burn Chamber

Avalanch

White Wolf

Havok

Earthquake

Thunderhead

Cold Front

Raganarok

Taurus

Shadow Jin

Tempest

Hurricane

Wreckquiem

Raptor

Sounds more like a Mortal Kombat clone than a wrestling league. Not sure if I'll be a fan or anything but I like that it raises the profile of Sumo outside of Japan.

Kinta, any follow-up on the IFS comment? Big problems like... copywright issues over 'Sumo'? The swank vests?

[Kintamayama]

Kinta, any follow-up on the IFS comment? Big problems like... copywright issues over 'Sumo'? The swank vests?

No, over allowing the amateur wrestlers belonging to the various European Associations to participate. They did allow participation in the Madison Square Garden thing last October. Now-problems.

[Senpai]

Based n articles about world sumo league than it's more like a entertainment show than a serious sport-event. Hopefully the won't make fun out of professional sumo. If they will call those participants professional sumo wrestlers then what NHK wrestlers will be? Somekind of freaks who train and live by the traditional rules in Japan for a chance to figth 6 times in a year???

Edited May 5, 2006 by Senpai

[Doitsuyama]

"Professional Sumo" is an English term to begin with. In Japanese it isn't called Pro-Sumo, but Ozumo, which translates to "Big Sumo". To think of that, the English translations of Sumo terms sometimes are absurdly different from the original Japanese, take "Junior Champion" or something like that for Sekiwake.

[Asashosakari]

I'm fine if these guys would call their show "professional sumo". Just look at the difference between sumo and "professional sumo" as analogous to that between wrestling and "professional wrestling", and everything falls into place.

Big problems like... copywright issues over 'Sumo'? The swank vests?

I wonder if those vests will figure into Devestation's finishing move. (rimshot)

Edited May 4, 2006 by Asashosakari

[Cammy]

Oh man the names are great

Top 5 in no order

1.Lord of Rage

2.Wreckquiem

3.Raptor

4.Cold Front

5.Burn Chamber

(I am not worthy...) if I ever need a good laugh I can just come and look at there names.

How about everybody list what they think are the best/funniest names.

[Kintamayama]

How about everybody list what they think are the best/funniest names.

Tamamitsukuni

Ashuu (Gezundheit)

Bungonishiki etc.

[Jonosuke]

No, over allowing the amateur wrestlers belonging to the various European Associations to participate. They did allow participation in the Madison Square Garden thing last October. Now-problems.

Well Fukao got $10,000 US by winning the MSG one so does it mean he is no longer an amateur? I am sure he will be active in college circuits this year if he can outmuscle Ichihara, Mori and Yamamoto trio. So the problem is not just IFS but in Japan as well if more Japanese "amateurs" are invited.

[Sasanishiki]

I believe the IFS' problem is not so much prizemoney for tournaments (because there was at the MSG tournament last year) but rather not channeling most of the money to the IFS. THe money on opffer is to go to the athletes themselves and their national federations, not the IFS. Hmm, I wonder whay the IFS is unhappy?

[Johnofuji]

Here is a list of some of the guys and names that didn't make it :

The Black Tiger -came about because White Fluffy Kitten just wasn't scary enough

Spewnami -he thew up on the plane

Iron Molehill- lost out to his big brother Iron Mountain for making a fuss

Familyfeud- got told to jazz it up to Blood Feud

Devestation- used to be a tree hugging greeny called Deforestation

Burn Chamber -used to be Fart Chamber until he got caught playing with matches

Avalanche - only came along because he misheard someone with a Russian accent say "lets havealunch"

White Wolf -was once known as Pink Wolf after he went on the TV show "Queer eye for the fat guy"

Havok- really wanted to be known as Ewok after watching too many Star Wars movies

Chunderhead - sat next to Spewnami on the plane

Cold Front - wanted to be known as Y-front until he discovered the pleasure of putting on a mawashi one chilly winters morning

Raganarok- came about because he used to be called "Shag onarock" and had to change his name because it sounded too racy.

Taurus-used to wear glasses and get called Thesaurus for reading too many dictionarys

Shadow Jin- named after his favourite drink

Tempest- previously know as "Serial Pest" for streaking naked across the dohyo at tournaments

Raptor- No relation to Craptor who sat next to Spewnami and Chunderhead on the plane but had a different problem

Kenzo introduced the organiser of WSL to me after the World Games in Germany last year and I got to chat with him on the plane to London before he went home to Noo Yoik.He was a really nice guy and seems like a very astute businessman.He even kindly helped me out when I freaked out a bit when I was told my luggage was too heavy and would have to pay a massive excess baggage cost.Kenzo said I was having a panic attack- something I have never experienced before but after all I did have to throw away some japanese pornos given to me by the coach of the Japanese team and some good swiss chocolate.

I have always thought it was inevitable that someone would commercialise sumo and of course it had to be the yanks but I hadn't really envisaged that he could turn it into such a glitzy WWF style circus- probably because of a misconception I had that it would be more of an event they would put on after chasing a greased pig around at the county fair. (Actually that sounds more like what we do here when we have to play second fiddle to Pooka the Clown and his balloon twisting act)

A lot of the guys doing this are quite accomplished competitors at the various World Sumo championships they have been to.Many of them are the stalwarts that come year after year.I often wonder if they compete at the worlds because they are consistently the best in their country or are these the guys that have a monopoly in their respective sumo federations and manage to come for the fun?

Will watch it for the spectacle but hope it doesn't end up like the US version of rugby- with padding and helmets.

Johnofuji

[Kishinoyama]

Spewnami -he thew up on the

(Yusho winner...) I have to say that is my favorite name that did not make it.

[Cammy]

Oh man those are some pretty good names. I have to go with Iron Molehill as the best. Thanks for the laugh

but after all I did have to throw away some japanese pornos given to me by the coach of the Japanese team

Ummmm (Yusho winner...) (Sigh...) :-/

I would of thrown away some more stuff, and kept the pornos... (Whistling...) :-P

[Tetsuzukiyama]

Think it is WWF coming to Sumo. :-)

Well if it is like the WWE then the outcome will be predetermined :-) . The E does stand for entertainment and while it is good to be entertained it is also good to have competition that is real. :-D

I listened in on the 'Sounds of Sumo' broadcast from that Goldman blog linked above and managed to dredge up some info about the league.

The bouts will not be fixed and there will be over a million dollars in prize money up for grabs during the season. Inside, the arena will be made to look like the Kokujikan and should make you feel like you're in Japan.

There will be some 'Cirque du Soleil'-esque Japanese themed pageantry interspersed througout the 'show' which to me sounds like the Medieval Knights show from The Cable Guy. This league will totally get into a movie!

As for the product, too bad most the Europeans are too bald to have top-knots. Takes a lot of the Samurai/Edo-thing away when even the Japanese guys are close-cropped.

Edit - There's a US guy called Carl Pappalardo, no photo or nickname given. Add that to the list

Edited May 6, 2006 by Tetsuzukiyama

[Guest iwajima]

Sounds real cool bringing (Punk rocker...) sumo world wide. Has anyone ever don this before?

[Doitsuyama]

Sounds real cool bringing (Punk rocker...) sumo world wide. Has anyone ever don this before?

I don't think so. Um, world wide? So far there are eight events, all in the U.S. Other events are "planned", but just let us wait if the WSL survives until then...

[Guest iwajima]

Sounds real cool bringing (Punk rocker...) sumo world wide. Has anyone ever don this before?

I don't think so. Um, world wide? So far there are eight events, all in the U.S. Other events are "planned", but just let us wait if the WSL survives until then...

Why is it advertised as the World Sumo Leaugue and professing to have the best sumo wrestlers in the world then?

[Doitsuyama]

Why is it advertised as the World Sumo Leaugue and professing to have the best sumo wrestlers in the world then?

Why is the NBA Winner the "World Champion"?

Why is the MLB Finals called the "World Series"?

Ok, the WSL likely will have a fair share of international sumo wrestlers. Good level, but the best? I doubt that seriously. For this more than one participant from Japan is needed for starters.

Edited May 9, 2006 by Doitsuyama

[Guest iwajima]

Why is it advertised as the World Sumo Leaugue and professing to have the best sumo wrestlers in the world then?

Why is the NBA Winner the "World Champion"?

Why is the MLB Finals called the "World Series"?

Ok, the WSL likely will have a fair share of international sumo wrestlers. Good level, but the best? I doubt that seriously. For this more than one participant from Japan is needed for starters.

Ok then but looking on the internet I see that in the past non Japanese have won tournaments .Are there no strong non Japanese sumos ?Surely just being JAPANESE doesnt mean you can be a good sumo.I know a couple of English friends who are lousy footballers. (Sign of approval)

[Doitsuyama]

Ok, the WSL likely will have a fair share of international sumo wrestlers. Good level, but the best? I doubt that seriously. For this more than one participant from Japan is needed for starters.

Ok then but looking on the internet I see that in the past non Japanese have won tournaments. Are there no strong non Japanese sumos wrestlers? Surely just being JAPANESE doesnt mean you can be a good sumo wrestler.

Sorry for correcting your quote, but I just hate it when the wrestlers are called "sumo". It's like calling Kobe Bryant a "basketball". I know only of one past tournament which was in New York, and a Japanese won it. Surely you are correct in saying that non-Japanese can be strong as well. In fact, looking at Ozumo, you could doubt that Japanese can be as strong as other nations. But kidding aside, the Japanese sumo system from kids until college should result in a bigger number of champion level wrestlers than in other countries.

[Guest iwajima]

Ok, the WSL likely will have a fair share of international sumo wrestlers. Good level, but the best? I doubt that seriously. For this more than one participant from Japan is needed for starters.

Ok then but looking on the internet I see that in the past non Japanese have won tournaments. Are there no strong non Japanese sumos wrestlers? Surely just being JAPANESE doesnt mean you can be a good sumo wrestler.

Sorry for correcting your quote, but I just hate it when the wrestlers are called "sumo". It's like calling Kobe Bryant a "basketball". I know only of one past tournament which was in New York, and a Japanese won it. Surely you are correct in saying that non-Japanese can be strong as well. In fact, looking at Ozumo, you could doubt that Japanese can be as strong as other nations. But kidding aside, the Japanese sumo system from kids until college should result in a bigger number of champion level wrestlers than in other countries.

What is the correct name for a sumo then ? Please help here as I wish to use the correct terminology and I ma sorry that you hate it .By the way who is Kobe Bryant, is he named after his fathers first name and his birth place?

[Doitsuyama]

What is the correct name for a sumo then ? Please help here as I wish to use the correct terminology and I ma sorry that you hate it .By the way who is Kobe Bryant, is he named after his fathers first name and his birth place?

Don't worry about that Kobe guy. Bryant is his (and his fathers) surname. Why is first name is Kobe I don't know, but it very likely isn't related to the city. You can call the guys sumo wrestlers or rikishi.