(NOAH) "There are times when I get down, though..."— Rikio's words really struck a chord with me.

Weekly Pro 7th November 2000

(Issue No. 1002)

One Night Navigation - 22nd October, Differ Ariake 

It is easy to forget, but Rikio has only experienced a few dozen professional wrestling matches. Yet, because he frequently competes at a high level as Kobashi's partner, he is inevitably not viewed as a novice. The reason why I am writing this is because I feel there's a difference in perception between the person in question and those around them. Needless to say, Rikio always gives it his all. He is currently at a stage where he can charge forward wholeheartedly, unafraid of failure. Yet, those watching can't help but feel he is capable of doing even more. Quite apart from the foundation provided by his background in professional sumo, his sheer physical size makes it appear as though he isn't giving his all. Consequently, voices from the stands often express a sense of dissatisfaction—though, of course, such complaints arise precisely because so much is expected of him.

The proof of this lies in how a single "going all out" move sends a stir through the crowd. Ultimately, it comes down to how to sustain the momentum rather than letting it end with just one burst of action, so from that perspective, there was a particularly noteworthy moment during the match. Rikio cornered Takayama and repeatedly drove his left arm into him with the force of a lariat. The sheer intensity—reminiscent of Vader—left the crowd completely spellbound. Whenever I see that kind of offensive approach, the high level of potential becomes apparent—which is precisely why I say Kobashi "still hasn't fully exploded" onto the scene. In short, that is precisely the "potential" I see in the tag of Kobashi and Rikio. 

Rikio  is also desperate to fulfill his duties as Kobashi's partner. After the match, he said this: "It’s painful not getting results, and sometimes I get down on myself, wondering if I’m actually being of any use to Kobashi-san. But there’s no point in moping; I just have to give it my all, no matter who the opponent is."

It is often said that the position makes the man, and being Kobashi's partner should prove to be a tremendous asset for Rikio. He absolutely must not let go of his current spot. Even if I don't end up becoming the official partner, this time right now is incredibly valuable for me. With Taue-san and Kikuch-san there—and me being the youngest of the three—I’m determined not to lose to them in terms of spirit. I’m going in with the mindset that *I* am the one who should be Kobashi-san's partner—ready to push the others aside to make it happen."

Becoming Kobashi’s official partner—a genuine, bona fide partnership—means that Rikio will move closer to becoming a complete professional wrestler. The aforementioned gap in mindset between him and those around him should naturally disappear as well.

While admitting that Rikio "still has a long way to go", Kobashi also said this: "NO FEAR came at him, and that is when Rikio stepped up. That's a big harvest for us today."

NO FEAR, who had their sights set solely on Kobashi, naturally launched a concentrated attack. Although Kobashi was clearly at a disadvantage, Rikio, who had been outside the ring, made a comeback and scattered them. That is what Kobashi is talking about. 

In other words, Rikio is definitely being useful to Kobashi. So there's no need to feel down. 

Picture notes

~ When the victorious NO FEAR approached him, Kobashi made a gesture indicating, "Come on, I'll take you on, one on one!"

~ "The man is truly extraordinary" (Weekly Pro about Rikio)

~ The audience were chanting "Let's go, NO FEAR!"