Grand Sumo is back this month with the September tournament, also known as the aki basho (autumn tournament). Before each tournament, the Japan Sumo Association puts out its banzuke (ranking document) that organizes all the wrestlers in Grand Sumo into ranks and divisions. Those rankings are based on the win-loss records from the previous tournament.
I recapped the official banzuke for September here:
Grand Sumo September 2026 Banzuke: Aonishiki Returns to Ozeki
In this post, I am making my own Grand Sumo power rankings. This is where I will rank wrestlers based on who, today, is the most powerful in-ring presence in the sport and who has, in my opinion, the best chance at winning the title at this month’s tournament.
1. Onosato (1)
Official rank: Yokozuna 1 east
Record at last tournament: 9-6
For the first time since I started doing this, I have questioned whether Onosato or Aonishiki deserves the top spot in these rankings. Onosato, when healthy, is the most dominating presence in the sport, and he has a commanding head-to-head record over Aonishiki. However, this year he’s fought while hurt. He’s managed to still win more often than lose, but the wear and tear on his injured shoulder is at serious risk of drastically affecting Onosato’s career. Before the injury, he seemed well on pace to break perhaps every record in the book. Now, we’re left to worry whether his will be yet another sumo story about wasted potential due to Grand Sumo’s punishing approach to injuries (basically, if you can stand, you can fight).
Despite his banged-up shoulder, Onosato showed glimpses of his past self in July. I’m choosing to be optimistic that Onosato will look a little better in this tournament than he did in the last. That difference, to me, means he would still be the best wrestler competing this month.
2. Aonishiki (4)
Official rank: Ozeki 2 east
Record at last tournament: 12-3, yusho, gino-sho
Aonishiki is the in-form wrestler, coming off a playoff win in July. He’s also dealt with injuries this year, but his ankle obviously wasn’t bad enough to prevent him from getting the yusho (championship).
I’ve run out of plaudits for the 22-year-old Aonishiki. He’s a generational talent, and he is on track to become the first-ever European-born yokozuna in the sport’s 400 or so years of organized history. In addition to being so hard to beat, Aonishiki is also a joy to watch, with a unique style of sumo that 90% of the sport has no idea how to deal with.
Right now, I think only a healthy Onosato can stand in the way of Aonishiki taking what would be his fourth title.
3. Kirishima (3)
Official rank: Ozeki 1 east
Record at last tournament: 12-3, doten jun-yusho
Kirishima has had the most wins out of anyone this calendar year. A big reason for that is that he’s been healthy. He was the best wrestler in 2024, too. But then injuries ruined his 2025 and cost him his ozeki rank and chance to become a yokozuna.
This year, he’s won a title and finished runner-up twice. He’s fighting with a lot of confidence, and his sumo oozes class. If Onosato and Aonishiki aren’t in the running for the title, then Kirishima probably is.
4. Atamifuji (6)
Official rank: Sekiwake 1 east
Record at previous tournament: 12-3, doten jun-yusho
Atamifuji was a runner-up along with Kirishima in July. That’s the fifth time the 24-year-old has been the bridesmaid. With each passing tournament, though, he’s looking more and more like a serious contender. He’s the heaviest man in the division, and he’s known for being a sweetheart off the ring. But he’s gotten a lot tougher and meaner in the ring, and that has helped him become one of the best in the sport right now. I think he’s a lock to get 10 wins in this tournament and continue his path to becoming an ozeki. If he can do a little bit better than that, he’ll be among the title chasers.
5. Hoshoryu (2)
Official rank: Yokozuna 1 west
Record at previous tournament: 7-7-1
This is the lowest I have ever ranked Hoshoryu. He’s fought hurt all year, like Onosato. However, a lot of his poor performances don’t seem totally due to his injuries. He’s made some unusual and disappointing decisions in the ring, which all suggest he’s lacking focus or perhaps even respect for some of his opponents. It was revealed that Hoshoryu had knee surgery recently, and it’s unclear if he will compete at this tournament. If he does compete, I doubt he’s going to challenge for the title.
However, despite all this, he is still Hoshoryu. And when he is on his game, he is the most intimidating wrestler on the planet and someone who is capable of winning any bout he goes into. That aura has me unable to drop him totally out of the top five.
Full Rankings
- Onosato (1)
- Aonishiki (4)
- Kirishima (3)
- Atamifuji (6)
- Hoshoryu (2)
- Hakunofuji (10)
- Kotozakura (8)
- Daieisho (15)
- Fujinokawa (11)
- Kotoeiho (NR)
- Takayasu (14)
- Kotoshoho (9)
- Yoshinofuji (7)
- Fujiryoga (NR)
- Asanoyama (NR)
- Takerufuji (NR)
- Takanosho (13)
- Gonoyama (12)
- Hiradoumi (19)
- Oho (11)
Just missed the cut: Shishi, Churanoumi and Oshoma.
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