WWE: 10 hilarious gimmick matches to distract you from quarantine

5. Sumo Match: The Big Show vs. Akebono (WrestleMania 21)

You’ll notice more than a few “first and only” matches on this list, and this was the first and only Sumo Match in WrestleMania history. The Big Show, for some inexplicable reason, decided to challenge Akebono to a Sumo Match at WrestleMania 21. For context, Akebono is a legitimate sumo legend.

He was the first American-born sumo wrestler to reach the rank of yokozuna (the highest rank in sumo wrestling). Of course, WWE couldn’t say that, instead saying he was a “grand champion” in Japan, because actually saying it would conflict with former WWE Champion Yokozuna, whose character was that of a Japanese sumo legend, despite his being Samoan.

Akebono reached the rank of yokozuna in the same year that Yokozuna captured the WWE Championship, which was 1993. By 2001, Akebono had been retired from sumo for four years. He’d actually transitioned to mixed martial arts and kickboxing, where he lost almost every single fight, only winning a single one via decision just two weeks before WrestleMania 21.

The match itself is, as many of these are, a mess. The Big Show is clearly relatively clueless about actual sumo, and seems to be looking for direction and following Akebono even in the pre-match rituals.

After a short contest, Akebono easily tossed Show out of the ring to take the win. Ironically, despite this uninspiring entry into the world, Akebono went on to have a very successful professional wrestling career in Japan with AJPW, NJPW, and several other Japanese promotions.