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WWE legend Rikishi admits wife 'almost divorced' him after controversial wrestling move

Home> Wrestling> WWE

Updated 12:04 28 Feb 2024 GMTPublished 12:00 28 Feb 2024 GMT

WWE legend Rikishi admits wife 'almost divorced' him after controversial wrestling move

WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi nearly got divorced after a move he performed in 2000.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

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WWE legend Rikishi has admitted his wife "almost divorced" him after performing a controversial move 24 years ago.

Rikishi is a WWE Hall of Famer, winning the Intercontinental and tag team championships in a decorated career inside the squared circle.

The 58-year-old is known for his crazy stinkface move on opponents, but one extreme maneuver nearly cost him his marriage.

Despite being billed at 412lbs, Rikishi had a knack for high-flying offence and went above and beyond to entertain the WWE fans.

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The most high-profile example came at Armageddon 2000, where Rikishi competed in a six-man Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship.

And the wrestler took a ridiculously dangerous bump when the Undertaker chokeslammed him from the top of the cell onto a wood-chip covered flatbed down below.

Jim Ross lost his mind on commentary, with Rikishi lay motionless.

And years later, the veteran has admitted that his family were not happy with the sacrifice he took.

Speaking to the Metro, Rikishi said: “I almost got divorced from my family. It was like, you know, they were p***ed off that I did that move, the sacrifice. But, at the time, they didn’t understand that’s just what we do, as performers, as wrestlers, you know?

"You already prepped your mind, you know, ‘I can only get this opportunity one time. I can either take it or back out’, and I chose to take it. And, you know, years later, I’m still getting residuals over 25 years from that bump.”

That didn't happen and Rikishi's legacy is continued in wrestling with his twin sons Jimmy and Jey Uso, as well as their younger brother Solo Sikoa.

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

The Undertaker told Rikishi he would be fine to back out but but he followed through and genuinely wasn't sure if he had survived.

He continued: "There was no way I was gonna back out of it,’ he insisted, as he got goosebumps remembering the exact moment. ‘As soon as he gave me the chokeslam, he says, 'You ready?' I said, 'Tell my family I love them.'

"I didn’t know if I was still alive. ‘Trying to move my move, I was just still – all I could hear was 'Holy s**t'. I said, 'Okay. My ears work'. But I was just waiting for my body."

Featured Image Credit: Getty & WWE

Topics: Rikishi, WWE

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

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@joshlawless_

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