The Dark Side of Sumo Wrestling

Who would ever think that sumo wrestlers would take part in underground gangs?

(And yes, this story actually appeared on a popular website.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100715/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_scandalized_sumo

 

There's a dark side to a sport involving obese men in diapers grappling? Who knew?

 

Moral of the story: Never let a sumo wrestler sit on top of you.

 

I always though that the dark side of a sumo wrestler was the one that faces away from the sun.

 

Nice

 

tee hee

 

I would think the dark side is if a sumo is between you and the sun.

 

That would be the dark side...

 

All kidding aside, though, very good story. Thanks for the link.

 

The Yakuza is also known to be heavily involved in Japanese pro wrestling. Many American stars who work in Japan have their own stories about the Yakuza.

A couple of stories that I remember is one where Vader supposedly was beaten up in his hotel room and had his life threatened by the gangsters for screwing something up or not doing a job.

Another is one that Freddie Blassie told in his book. Blassie was in a taxi on his way to a restaurant after the matches. Two young Yakuza members were standing in the road drunk, stopping traffic. Everyone else was afraid to confront them, but Blassie went out of the cab and asked them to move. They refused, and Blassie slugged both of them. They moved and Blassie went on his way.

Next day, Blassie gets a message from a Yakuza member, who he had met before and had been given gifts to. The message was, "Mr. Yakuza member (whatever his name was) requests that you no longer hit his men." Only, as Blassie said he knew, it wasn't a request. So Blassie sent him back a message saying that as long as the two guys didn't stop traffic again, he would stop. The Yakuza guy was happy, and Blassie got out of the mess because the guy was able to save face.