Houshouryuu and the extra shove (dame-oshi)

[Moti Dichne]

Yokozuna Houshouryuu was verbally warned today for the dame-oshi after his bout against Takayasu..  He got heated up. He was slapping Takayasu in the face during a shoving match and then slammed him backwards. After pushing him out, he delivered a dame-oshi, sending him flying out of the dohyo. As Houshouryuu was leaving, head shinpan Kumegawa  verbally warned him, "The audience may get hurt, and Yokozunae have to act as if it goes without saying that they'll win." Houshouryuu reportedly apologized, saying, "I'm sorry. I got a little heated." In the dressing room after coming out of the bath, he blurted out, "I got a little heated." Was it because a slap landed on his face? "I guess so. If you get hit, you want to hit back, right?" he revealed. Prior to the match, he had a 4-10 record against Takayasu (including fusen). His perceived weakness against Takayasu and the fact that he was aiming for his first Yokozuna yusho in his fifth tournament since promotion may have contributed to his aggressiveness.

Aonishiki and Oonosato, who were tied with him with two losses, won as well. "I'm not thinking about that. I just want to focus on doing my own sumo and doing my best each day." There are three days left. A dame-oshi isn't something to be praised, but Houshouryuu's instinct to win with his heart was kick started..