Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu was handed a second shock defeat at the hands of countryman Hakuho on Thursday, causing mayhem with just three days remaining at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's finale, Asashoryu appeared to have the sekiwake on the ropes when he pushed him immediately to the edge after the face-off at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
But Hakuho made a last-gasp maneuver on the edge, cranking the yokozuna's arm and flipping him into the ringside seats, leaving Asashoryu trailing leading duo ozeki Tochiazuma and rank-and-filer Hokutoriki, who improved to 11-1.