Akebono Taro, the first ever foreign-born sumo wrestler to be named a grand champion, has died of heart failure, his family confirmed Thursday. He was 54. Akebono, who was born Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan in Hawaii in 1969, died this month in Japan. U.S. sumo wrestler Akebono, left, performs the
Tag: wrestler
Arizona wrestler becomes first girl to win high school state title
An Arizona teen became the first female to ever win a high school wrestling state title while competing against boys this past weekend. Audrey Jimenez, an 18-year-old from Sunnyside High School in Tucson, won the Division 1 title in the 106-pound weight class, and she can forever call herself a
Ex-W.W.F. Wrestler ‘Billy Jack’ Haynes Arrested in Wife’s Murder
William Albert “Billy Jack” Haynes Jr., who in the 1980s competed in the World Wrestling Federation, was arrested in the killing of his wife at a home in Portland, Ore., on Thursday after a standoff with police. The authorities publicly identified Mr. Haynes, 70, on Saturday, days after the police
Cuban Olympic judo wrestler dies at 34 after reported breast enhancement surgery
Maricet Espinosa Gonzalez, a judo wrestler from Cuba, died earlier this week at the age of 34. The Cuban Sports University announced her death in a Facebook post, saying they were “in mourning” and in “great pain.” “On behalf of our teachers, workers, and students we extend our deepest condolences
'Cassandro' honors the gay wrestler who revolutionized lucha libre
The Cassandro trailer. YouTube Cassandro, the new biopic directed by Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams, stars Gael García Bernal as the eponymous Mexican-American fighter who changed the course of Mexico’s beloved lucha libre. The film is Williams’ first narrative scripted project, and builds off his documentary short, “The Man Without
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson returns to WWE for first time since 2019, hits wrestler with People's Elbow
Finally, The Rock has returned to Denver. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stepped into a WWE ring Friday night for the first time since 2019 and gave everyone a show. Johnson was in Boulder, Colorado, earlier in the day on “The Pat McAfee Show.” With WWE’s “SmackDown!” in nearby Denver, the
Bray Wyatt's fiancée posts touching tribute to late wrestler: 'I miss the love of my life so much it hurts'
The fiancée of the late WWE wrestler known as Bray Wyatt wrote a heartbreaking message on her Instagram Tuesday in the wake of his death a few weeks ago. Wyatt, whose real name is Windham Rotunda, died last month at the age of 36. He reportedly died of a heart
Legendary pro wrestler Hulk Hogan details 'vicious cycle' of painkiller addiction after string of surgeries
Hulk Hogan became one of the biggest names in wrestling. The now 70-year-old Hogan, whose birth name is Terry Gene Bollea, spoke about the physical toll the sports have taken on his body over the decades. He also opened up about his addiction to prescription painkillers following a string of
Ohio State champion wrestler in serious condition after being shot during reported robbery
An Ohio State wrestler is in serious condition at a hospital near the school’s campus after being shot Friday night. Sammy Sasso was shot at around 8:30 p.m. on the 1300 block of North High Street and was transported to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Buckeyes wrestling coach
Pro wrestler Teddy Hart arrested on drug possession charges
Edward Annis, the professional wrestler known as Teddy Hart, was arrested in Florida Friday on two felony drug possession charges, according to online court records. Annis was arrested in Titusville, and police said he was in possession of MDMA ecstasy and a controlled substance without a prescription, according to online