Goeido's hopes of promotion to yokozuna suffered a blow when Tamawashi sentenced the ozeki to his first defeat of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday.
Returning yokozuna and joint overnight leader Hakuho also suffered an upset, leaving Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu in sole possession of the lead at 6-0 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Goeido was on the back foot from the charge after komusubi Tamawashi (4-2) steamed in with the first of two strong head butts, the second leaving the ozeki with a bleeding forehead.