10 Wrestlers You Wouldn't Believe Competed In A G1 Climax

The first non-Japanese yokozuna in history, Akebono faced a difficult transition to post sumo life. Offered the chance to clear his increasing debts by competing in MMA, the former sumo champion joined K-1 in 2003.

Racking up an unenviable 1-10 kickboxing record and a winless 0-2 record in MMW outings, Akebono somehow parlayed his celebrity into a sumo match with the Big Show at WrestleMania 21, which mercifully, he actually won.

Making the full-time transition to pro wrestling in 2005 with AJPW, Akebono jumped to NJPW in 2006 where he unsuccessfully challenged IWGP champion Brock Lesnar in March.

Entering his first G1 in 2007, Akebono achieved a respectable record of 5 points, with wins over Togi Makabe and Hiroyoshi Tenzan, a draw with Giant Bernard and losses to Masahiro Chono and Yuji Nagata.

Leaving NJPW shortly after, Akebono joined HUSTLE where he debuted from a giant egg as Monster Bono, the son of Yinling the Erotic Terrorist and the Great Muta.