[0.0] "Da fragt man sich echt, was das soll. Mit der Zeit hätte man etwas Sinnvolleres anfangen können. Immerhin wurde dafür der Ring umgebaut (Seile entfernt). Es ist unangenehm, Big Show in dem "Outfit" zu sehen. Dass es so endet, war von vornherein klar."
[0.0] "So we go from one of the greatest technical matches in pro wrestling to Big Show and some Sumo wrestlers shove each other almost naked while some Japanese guy yells. Okay."
[5.0] "I think this was a good rendition of what they wanted to do on the wrong show with the wrong crowd. From my understanding, Akebono wanted to at some point start a sumo league with a more pro wrestling-style presentation, and this match was effectively a pilot for it. Still very much in the style of sumo but more dramatic. I think if this was a special exhibition between Akebono & Big Show on a sumo show or as its own event, but as a weird stipulation match at Wrestlemania where the preamble went way longer than the match (in an era where WWE fans gave a shit about having wrestling on the show) this fell so flat. If this was going to be at Mania it needed something more; either a full minute or so of building to the finish beyond what was here or Show just plain going full heel and trashing the setup after losing leading to a pull-apart brawl. But that's not what this was; I respect Akebono's vision and Show's commitment to the whole thing, but this was just kind of there. Certainly not worthy of being in the lower echelons of this site's Matchguide, but perhaps it shouldn't even be counted at all."
[3.0] "I think this could've worked with more planning. Shoot style matches have grown in popularity over the years, even in WWE with Underground matches and their collaborations with Josh Barnett's Bloodsport. The main issue with this match is that the audience, myself included, are very unfamiliar with the practice of sumo which results in a lot of drawn out theatrics and minimal action when the match starts moving. It's by no means good but I feel like there's potential here, maybe let Otis compete in Bloodsport and have him wrestle sumo style. The match is a dud but Big Show would gain more weight after this attempt at humiliation and win the ECW championship next year and Akebono would get a match for the IWGP heavyweight championship against Brock Lesnar, so it all worked out"
[5.0] "Not sure how anyone could be too offended by this beyond the fact that it isn't a pro wrestling match. It might not be a pro wrestling match but it's fine. They at least attempt to do stuff and milk a bit of drama, but yeah, not great. Insane that I am the high man on this one."
[2.0] "Ok the theatrics were ok and all but the match was boring. Akebono was a sure win. Big show was there I guess. Even scripted this one was never in doubt so why here of all place have it. Skippable for sure."
[0.0] "It was a bit of a fun idea to incorporate sumo wrestling into WWE and both men were in very good shape here, but this was just and then a short nothing fight in the space of three minutes and the crowd weren't too interested in it as it followed one of the all time best WrestleMania matches ever in Michaels Vs Angle so it stood no chance."
[2.0] "Don't know what the point of this was other than to get Big Show on the card. No one wants to watch Wrestlemania for a scripted sumo match. Really didn't care for this but nothing too offensive about it."
[1.0] "While it's cool seeing sumo represented in the West, this definitely wasn't the way to do it. Akebono is obviously very legit and both men look impressive, but it just boils down to stalling and then a short, mostly nondescript fight which the crowd hated. At least it was over quick, although it still wasted about 10 minutes of time from the PPV. Akebono would go on to wrestle many more matches and got into his element, and Show would continue jobbing to celebrities at Mania (cough cough Mayweather)."
