#123 – Yokozuna vs Earthquake, Sumo Match, May 16, 1994
A great topic for Dre and the Black Cat this week on the Old School Wrestling Podcast as they take a look at an obscure match from 1994 on Monday Night Raw where Yokozuna took on Earthquake in a rare sumo match. They also announce their next live podcast on June 12th with Box Brown at the Squared Circle in Chicago on June 12th, go over some great feedback from the Army of Darkness episode and Dre has an incredible surprise for Black Cat! Please support the Old School Wrestling Podcast by visiting flairchop.com to purchase our book “The OSWP 500,” the collected volumes of the first 75 episodes, an OSWP t-shirt, or one of our beautiful posters.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:03:41 — 36.9MB)
Fun episode. Although there is a little disappointment that this was a John Tenta themed show and “Golga” didn’t come up (unless I missed the reference daydreaming about “Avalance” teaming up with “The Zodiac”)
For your viewing pleasure….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siaw-vpQ4Ck
I always forget that John Tenta was a former Sumo. My favorite memory of him was his first appearance when he was “randomly selected” from the crowd to sit on Dino Bravo for some fatty push-ups. I think even back then Tenta was in the nosebleed seats to make it seem even more random.
I am one of the few people who enjoyed the Dungeon of Doom, and I loved The Shark. The Dungeon was just a wacky bunch of WWF run-offs, but I loved it anyway. I was drawn to the “evil” factions, my two favorite being the Ministry of Darkness and The Brood. So this was sort of the precursor to that, but with less blood and demonic symbolism.
It always amazed me when WWF/E would hire these big fatty wrestlers, and then take them off TV to lose weight. I think it was mentioned on this podcast (or it might have been an old OSWP) that Yoko was taken off TV because none of the states would let him compete. But I know they did that several times with Mabel/Viscera. I just could never figure out why they’d hire a 550 lb guy, but if they reached 600, they were too fat and needed to lose some weight.
Keep up the good work boys!
I don’t really have much to say that hasn’t already been said about this incredible classic of a sumo match, but I do want to chime in and mention that I know the dude who played Daniel’s A-hole nemesis in Karate Kid 2. I sing karaoke at the Hawaiian restaurant/lounge he owns in Seattle. He’s usually there on weekends if he’s not out on an acting gig (yes, he is still active in Hollywood!). He and his family hang out there. His wife bartends. The restaurant is full of autographed pictures of his Hollywood pals along with Karate Kid 2 posters, action figures, etc. Never forget!