Rikishi Reveals Which WWE Hall Of Famer Helped Create The Stinkface
WWE Hall Of Famer Rikishi is remembered for his signature move, the stinkface. As a guest on the latest episode of The World According To Wrestling podcast, Rikishi finally revealed where the move originated from.
As a member of Too Cool, Rikishi became a fan favorite for the stinkface, in which he would plant his posterior on his opponent's face. Rikishi said he first got the idea for the move from a fan at a house show.
"I was wrestling Ray Traylor, The Big Bossman, at a house show in Oakland, Alabama that night and I gave him a clothesline in the corner and I wasn't actually looking at him," Rikishi said. "I can hear an old lady shout, 'Rikishi! Turn around and stick your butt in his face!'"
In an improvisational moment, Bossman gave Rikishi the OK to go through with the move. Rikishi started playing to the crowd to build the anticipation, and then received one of the loudest pops of his career when he executed the maneuver. The rest, as they say, is history.
"I'm in the middle of the ring and I see Bossman in the corner. And he said, 'Come on boy, stick your ass in my face,' and I said, 'Really? Well here it comes,'" Rikishi said. "I took my first step and the crowd roared. I took my second step the crowd got louder. The closer I got to him it was probably the loudest pop I have ever heard and when I turned around and his face was just the same level as my butt and I just paused there for a second. I wanted to hear and see how long I could make the fans sing and they sang and they sang and they sang and then all of a sudden, bam! I sat on him and the place just blew up. This was on a Sunday and the next night The Stinkface was introduced on Monday Night Raw."
Rikishi has delivered the stinkface to some of the most notable wrestlers ever. He even made a babyface turn in 2001 by using the move on Stephanie McMahon and Vince McMahon.
Source: The World According To Wrestling