WRESTLER

Akebono Tarō

1969 - 2024

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Akebono Tarō (Japanese: 曙 太郎, Hepburn: Akebono Tarō; born Chadwick Haheo Rowan; 8 May 1969 – 6 April 2024) was an American-born Japanese professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining sumo in Japan in 1988, he was trained by the pioneering Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990. After two consecutive yusho or tournament championships in November 1992 and January 1993 he made history by becoming the first non-Japanese-born wrestler ever to reach yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo. One of the tallest and heaviest wrestlers ever, Akebono's rivalry with the young Japanese hopefuls Takanohana and Wakanohana was a big factor in the increased popularity of sumo at tournament venues and on TV in the early 1990s. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 25 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 20 in 2024). Akebono Tarō is the 137th most popular wrestler (down from 112th in 2024), the 6,743rd most popular biography from United States (up from 6,986th in 2019) and the 58th most popular American Wrestler.

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Among WRESTLERS

Among wrestlers, Akebono Tarō ranks 137 out of 1,027. Before him are Natalya Neidhart, Yrjö Saarela, Lou Thesz, AJ Lee, Eino Leino, and Yaşar Doğu. After him are Randy Orton, Carl Westergren, Anders Larsson, Bob Backlund, Erik Malmberg, and Sami Zayn.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1969, Akebono Tarō ranks 200. Before him are Andrei Kanchelskis, Ol Parker, Shinichi Kawano, Fran, Chin Han, and Ariadna Gil. After him are Brian Krause, Mr. Lawrence, Gina Torres, Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Ken Jeong, and Shea Whigham. Among people deceased in 2024, Akebono Tarō ranks 329. Before him are Bob Schul, Damo Suzuki, Marwan Issa, Hans-Emil Schuster, Yoshiko Kuga, and Jorge Toro. After him are Linda Lavin, Dieter Burdenski, Richard Lewis, Luciano Sušanj, Bennie Muller, and Michael Ruse.

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Akebono Tarō ranks 6,745 out of 20,380. Before him are William Lloyd Garrison (1805), Robert R. Wilson (1914), Zoë Kravitz (1988), Nas (1973), Robert Hays (1947), and Little Walter (1930). After him are Kurt Fuller (1953), Robert Guillaume (1927), Peter Fleming (1955), Aron Ralston (1975), Martin Donovan (1957), and Kerry Washington (1977).

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Among WRESTLERS In United States

Among wrestlers born in United States, Akebono Tarō ranks 58. Before him are Road Dogg (1969), Buddy Rogers (1921), Brutus Beefcake (1957), Ted DiBiase (1954), Lou Thesz (1916), and AJ Lee (1987). After him are Randy Orton (1980), Bob Backlund (1949), Stan Hansen (1949), Kurt Angle (1968), Bobo Brazil (1924), and Matt Bloom (1972).

American born Wrestlers

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