Rikishi was a beloved part of WWE’s famed attitude era. While always a serious competitor, he incorporated many elements of comedy into his character. One of the most infamous spots was his “stinkface” maneuver.
Rikishi delivering a stinkface was the ultimate insult to his opponent. It also made crowds of the time laugh and remember not to take wrestling too seriously. Most fans remember him fondly as a fun performer to watch.
One particular stinkface gave Rikishi pause. Speaking to The Domenick Nati Show, Kishi told a hilarious story about the time he had to stinkface Vince McMahon. Rikishi was worried he might have an accident.
“I didn’t even know that was going to happen until I got there at TV that day, and nobody really told me what’s happening until, like, I don’t know, maybe 30 minutes before you’re getting ready to go out live on TV live. You know, I said, ‘Okay, I know I’m doing a segment with The Rock out there but what are we doing? Oh, Vince is in it. ‘Okay, just follow.’
I said, ‘Alright.’ So I come out there, and this is called the gorilla position where you see where everybody comes out before they should go out on TV. So I get up there and then I see Vince McMahon there, and then he said, ‘Kishi.’ I said, ‘Yeah, how you doing?’ He said, ‘You ready?’ I said, ‘I’m always ready. Let’s do this.’
“He said, ‘I hope you washed your ass today.’ That was the first time I knew, I guess he’s gonna get the stinkface. Now, I’m thinking, check this out, now I’m thinking, d-mmit. I hope I don’t d-mn sh-t on this man’s face out there, because before I came, you know, I love Taco Bell. I went to Taco Bell, got me a couple of those tacos with beans, and burritos, and stuff, and I had no idea I was wrestling. I was going to have the boss in my segment that night. And here I could — that was, for me, the most nervous that I’ve ever felt going to the ring, because I’m like, ‘If I give this man the Stinkface and I just happen to have one drop of bean come out of my ass, or on the face, you can guarantee your ass, I’m fired.”
Things worked out and Rikishi went on to become a WWE Hall of Famer. Rikishi also has his own comic book. While he was never a world champion with WWE, Rikishi’s popularity lives on to this day.
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