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Featured Image Credit: Image: WWE
Topics: WWE, Rikishi, Matt Hardy, Roman Reigns
Josh Lawless
Topics: WWE, Rikishi, Matt Hardy, Roman Reigns
WWE legend Matt Hardy has shockingly revealed he found taking Rikishi's iconic 'stink face' move to be "delightful".
WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi, a one-time Intercontinental Champion and three-time tag-team champion, was hugely popular during the height of the 'Attitude Era'.
A member of the 'Too Cool' faction alongside Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay, his signature maneuver involved using his big behind to his absolute advantage.
Rikishi, who weighed 350 lbs, used to throw his opponents against the ropes in the corner of the ring.
He would then pull up his mawashi (sumo wrestler loincloth) and wiggle his backside right in their face.
A whole host of legendary wrestlers were on the receiving end of the move, which looked like a very unpleasant experience.
But Hardy, now performing in AEW, had no issue with it whatsoever and admitted he liked the smell.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, the 47-year-old said: I'll be honest. The very first time I took a stinkface, I was like, 'Oh my God, what is this gonna be like?'
"It smelled like baby powder. Rikishi, if you were a guy he liked, he'd make sure to be super clean for you. It was like baby powder. It was actually very easy and not rough at all. It was delightful, even.”
Hardy was memorable hit with the stink face on an episode of Smackdown in 2002 after initially thinking female wrestler Torrie Wilson was doing the honours.
One of the most iconic stink face moments was when Vince McMahon was subjected to the move following intervention from The Rock.
The WWE chairman made a request to Rikishi beforehand and he was more than happy to adhere to it.
Recalling on the WINCLY podcast, the 56-year-old said: "Before we went out there he goes, ‘Hey. I hope you washed your ass today.’ I said just because it’s called Stinkface doesn’t mean my ass stinks.
“I have the thong I never take out the sandwich bag. I have the mediocre thong that I air out. Then I have the new thongs. So I wanted to give Vince McMahon the new thong. Otherwise I probably would have gotten fired the next day.”
Rikishi's legacy in professional wrestling is continued to day with his sons Jimmy and Jey Uso, as well as nephew and current WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
But none of them will ever eclipse Rikishi's knack of getting Jim Ross to go crazy on commentary as the big man vigorously shook his rear.