WWE News: Rikishi reveals how he came up with "the stinkface" move

What’s the story?

WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi was recently a guest on The World According to Wrestling podcast, alongside the likes of Chavo Guerrero Jr., two time WWE Cruiserweight champion Neville, former WWE writer Court Bauer and Dave Meltzer.

During the podcast interview, Rikishi revealed how he invented his infamous move “The Stinkface” which he used during quite often during his WWE tenure.

In case you didn’t know…

Rikishi first signed for WWE back in the year 1992—then WWF. He worked for Vince McMahon’s company for a total of 12 years and was part of many memorable storylines during his tenure in the promotion.

He is a former one-time Intercontinental Champion, a two time WWF/E Tag Team Champion—winning the titles with Samu and Rico. He was also a part of the famous faction Scotty 2 Hotty with whom he managed to win the WWE Tag Team Championship one time.

Rikishi was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in the class of 2015.

The heart of the matter

During his interview on the podcast The World According To Wrestling, Rikishi revealed how he came up with his stinkface move. The former Intercontinental champion claimed that he invented the move at a house show in Oakland when he was wrestling against The Big Bossman and Ray Taylor.

Rikishi said that he gave Bossman a clothesline into the corner when an old lady from the crowd shouted from the crowd “Rikishi! Turn around and stick your butt in his face.” He then added that The Bossman followed it up by telling Rikishi “Come on boy, stick your butt in my face” to which Rikishi responded “Really? Well, here it comes”.

He then added that when he took his first step in doing the move the crowd started roaring and when he took his second step the crowd got really louder.

“When I turned around 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 sang and all of sudden ‘Bam!’ I sat on him and the place just blew up.”

Rikishi then stated that was the loudest pop he ever received from a crowd. He then goes on to add that the house show took place on a Sunday evening and the next day “The Stinkface” was officially announced as a move, on Monday Night Raw.

What’s next?

Rikishi might be done with WWE but he continues to make one-off appearances for the company. He has also been wrestling quite a lot on the Independent scene and continues to work for various promotions under his TNA alias Junior Fatu.

Author’s Take

In my opinion “The Stinkface” is one of the most hilarious and over moves in the wrestling business and it was good on Rikishi’s behalf to share such a hilarious story of how he invented the move.

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