On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Akebono, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Akebono Tarō (曙 太郎) (born Chadwick Haheo Rowan) was born in Waimanalō, Hawaii on May 8, 1969.
He died on April 11, 2024 at the age of 54.
In sumo wrestling, Akebono was the first non Japanese-born sumo wrestler to achieve the highest rank of yokozuna.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Akebono Tarō (曙 太郎) (born Chadwick Haheo Rowan)
- Ring Names
- Bono-kun ( February 19, 2008 - July 26, 2009)
- Bono-chan ( April 13, 2008 - January 28, 2009)
- Akebono ( March 1, 1988 - August 22, 2017)
- Born May 8, 1969
- Died April 11, 2024 (aged 54)
- Nationality
JapanUnited States - Birth Place Waimanalō, Hawaii
- Billed From
- Waimanalō, Hawaii ( August 4, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Japan ( March 31, 2005 - August 3, 2005)
- Height 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
- Weight
- 441 lbs (200 kg) ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- 514 lbs (233 kg) ( January 1, 1993 - January 31, 2001)
- Notes In sumo wrestling, Akebono was the first non Japanese-born sumo wrestler to achieve the highest rank of yokozuna.
Japan
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Promoter ( January 1, 2016 - August 22, 2017)
- Wrestler ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- MMA Fighter ( December 31, 2004 - December 31, 2006)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion INDY July 17, 2015 August 22, 2017 Promotion 
DDTFebruary 23, 2017 April 11, 2017 Promotion ZERO1July 25, 2009 April 10, 2017 Promotion WRESTLE 1January 10, 2016 March 20, 2017 Promotion AJPWAugust 30, 2009 December 15, 2015 Promotion DDTAugust 18, 2013 December 23, 2013 Promotion DG USAOctober 29, 2010 October 30, 2010 Promotion DRAGON GATESeptember 21, 2008 October 14, 2009 Promotion HUSTLESeptember 22, 2007 July 26, 2009 Promotion MICHINOKUNovember 9, 2007 November 9, 2007 Promotion NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
February 5, 2006 November 11, 2007 Promotion AJPWAugust 4, 2005 January 8, 2006 Promotion WWEMarch 31, 2005 July 2, 2005 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Tweener July 27, 2009 April 11, 2017 Face March 21, 2008 July 26, 2009 Heel September 22, 2007 March 20, 2008 Tweener March 31, 2005 September 21, 2097 - Images History
Jul 2015Aug 2009Aug 2005Mar 2005Dec 2003Jan 1993Jul 1987
DDT
ZERO1
WRESTLE 1
AJPW
DG USA
DRAGON GATE
HUSTLE
MICHINOKU
NJPW
WWE
- Finishers
- M64 - Falling Hip Toss to an oncoming opponent ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Muso - Waist-lift Side Slam ( January 1, 2012 - April 11, 2017)
- Yokozuna Drop / Japanese Drop - Samoan Drop, sometimes from the second rope ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Yokozuna Impact - Jumping piledriver ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Asian Mist ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Makai Otoshi - Delayed Brainbuster ( March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Volcano splash - with Taiyō Kea - Diving Splash by Akebono with Kea on his back ( May 16, 2010 - June 16, 2011)
- Banzai Drop ( January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2007)
- Bono Bomber - Spinning Side Slan ( January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007)
- Rikibino Splash 63 - with Takeshi Rikio - Diving Splash by Akebono with Rikio on his back ( January 22, 2006 - December 31, 2006)
- Dai Funka - with Shinjiro Ohtani - Missile Dropkick by Otani followed by a Yokozuna Press by Akebono ( August 29, 2009 - October 19, 2010)
- Dai Kazan Press - with Shinjiro Ohtani - Diving Splash by Akebono with Ohtani on his back ( August 29, 2009 - October 19, 2010)
- Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Time to Fight" by Kurt Kipapa - Single ( August 2, 2005 - April 11, 2017)
- Theme Song "Makuuchi" by Jim Johnston - Single ( March 31, 2005 - July 2, 2005)
Titles & Accomplishments
- Titles Won
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 2 All Asia Tag Team Championship (with Ryota Hama)
- 2 Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
- 2 World Tag Team Championship (1 with Taiyō Kea, 1 with Yutaka Yoshie)
Dragon Gate
- 1 Dragon Gate Open the Triangle Gate Championship (with Masaaki Mochizuki & Don Fujii)
DDT Pro-Wrestling
- 1 KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship (with Sanshiro Takagi & Toru Owashi)
Pro Wrestling Zero1
- 3 NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 with Shinjiro Ohtani, 1 with Daisuke Sekimoto, 1 with Shogun Okamoto)
- 1 NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Championship
- 1 World Heavyweight Championship
- Other Accomplishments
- AJPW Champion Carnival Winner (2015)
- AJPW January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (2010, 2015)
- AJPW Ōdō Tournament Winner (2013)
- Zero1 Furinkazan Winner (2009 - with Shinjiro Ohtani)
- Black Belt Competitor of the Year (1993)
- Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team Award (2005 - with Keiji Mutoh; 2009 - with Ryota Hama)
- Tokyo Sports Newcomer Award (2005)
Relations
- Tag Teams & Stables
- ZERO64 - Takuya Sugawara, Daisuke Sekimoto, Mineo Fujita, Takafumi Ito ( May 27, 2012 - October 14, 2013)
- SMOP - Ryota Hama ( March 14, 2009 - June 30, 2013)
- Partisan Forces - Minoru Suzuki, Taiyō Kea / Maunakea Mossman, Masakatsu Funaki ( May 16, 2010 - June 16, 2011)
- KAZAN - Shinjiro Ohtani ( August 29, 2009 - December 19, 2010)
