Rikio Takeshi

Rikio Takeshi - 力櫻 猛 (born December 20, 1972) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Sakurai, Nara. He made his debut in March 1988 and wrestled for Naruto stable. He reached the makuuchi division in July 1996. His highest rank was maegashira 4 and he retired in September 1997.

## **Early Life**

Takeshi Inoue was born and raised in the city of Sakurai in Nara Prefecture. He played baseball at junior high school, but was scouted by the 59th yokozuna Takanosato Toshihide and he joined Futagoyama stable in March 1988. He joined at the same time as future yokozuna Takanohana and Wakanohana.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially trained at the same stable as these two, Futagoyama-beya, but when former yokozuna Takanosato branched off to set up Naruto-beya in March 1989, Inoue was one of the young recruits to follow him to the new stable. He also changed his shikona, or fighting name, from Futagozakura to Rikio. In his fourth professional tournament, Rikio won all seven matches, but missed out on the jonidan yusho after losing to Imanofuji in a playoff. He was promoted to sandanme in January 1989 and makushita in July 1991. After two years in makushita he was promoted to juryo in July 1993.

### **Juryo Career**

In July 1993 he was promoted to the second highest juryo division, becoming the first wrestler from Naruto stable to reach elite sekitori status. He was demoted from that division after just one tournament, but returned to juryo in May 1994. In January 1996 he won his first juryo yusho with a 10-5 record after defeating Wakahayato in a playoff. Two tournaments later he won his second juryo yusho with a strong 12-3 record. He was promoted to makuuchi in the following July 1996 tournament.

### **Makuuchi Career**

Rikio produced a solid 9-6 record in his makuuchi debut. In the following September 1996 tournament he could only manage six wins, but bounced back with two consecutive 8-7 records. After a 9-6 record at the rank of maegashira 12, he was boosted all they way up to maegashira 4 for the September 1997 tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

In September 1997 he was promoted to his highest rank of maegashira 4, but he did not take part in the tournament. This was initially said to be due to a liver disorder, but it was later revealed that relations with his stablemaster had broken down, and Rikio was forced to retire from sumo. Due to the dispute he was unable to have a formal retirement ceremony, but some of his friends in the sumo world organized an informal one for him in early 1998, with Akebono and Konishiki among the attendees.

### **Professional Wrestling Career**

After leaving sumo he was soon scouted by All Japan Pro Wrestling. After training in their dojo, he made his debut in 2000 in a tag team match in which he partnered Masao Inoue against Takeshi Morishima and Jun Akiyama. However, before he could build any momentum, Mitsuharu Misawa left AJPW and in the process, took most of the native talent with Rikio being among these talents. In Pro Wrestling Noah, he has seen much success. He dethroned the legendary Kenta Kobashi for the GHC Heavyweight Championship (at the end of this match Rikio can be seen sobbing as he accepts the title from Kobashi), ending his two-year reign, before losing the title to Akira Taue some time later. On June 4, 2006, he captured his second GHC Tag Team Championship with Jun Akiyama when he pinned Muhammad Yone after a Musou. However, Rikio and Akiyama were forced to vacate their title on September 25, 2006 after Rikio suffered a neck injury.

On November 27, 2011, Rikio announced his retirement from professional wrestling due to serious neck injuries.

### **After Retirement**

On December 5, 2013, Rikio opened up a Ramen restaurant called "Rikio" (麺場 力皇) in Tenri, Nara.

## **Fighting Style**

Rikio is a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He won most of his bouts by uwatenage (overarm throw), followed closely by yorikiri (force out).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 307-248-20/555 (58 basho)
* **Makuuchi:** 54-51-15/105 (8 basho)
* **Juryo:** 114-96/210 (14 basho)
* **Makushita:** 64-48/112 (16 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 45-34-5/79 (12 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 26-16/42 (6 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 4-3/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Juryo** Championships
	+ 1st (January 1996)
	+ 2nd (May 1996)

## **Shikona History**

* Inoue Takeshi (1988.03 - 1988.03)
* Futagozakura Takeshi (1988.05 - 1989.01)
* Rikio Takeshi (1989.03 - 1979.09)

## **Gallery**

### **JSA Profile Pictures and Tegata**

Rikio Takeshi - 1997 (Retrieved from the JSA)Rikio's tegata
### **Career Overview**

Rikio in the unsalaried ranks (c. 1993)Rikio after promotion to Juryo (c. 1993)Rikio after promotion to Makuuchi (c. 1996)Rikio defeats former Ozeki Konishiki (c. 1997)Rikio (c. 1997)Rikio poses in his kesho-mawashiRikio serves as Yokozuna Takanohana's dew sweeper (c. 1997)Rikio's professional wrestling career (c. 2009)Rikio retires from professional wrestling (c. 2011)Rikio outside his ramen restaurant, 麺場 力皇
## **Sources**

* Rikio Takeshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Rikio Takeshi Rikishi Information