Going into the 2014 Hatsu Basho all eyes were on ozeki Kisenosato and his quest to be promoted to yokozuna.
A yusho (tournament win), perhaps a runners-up slot, having pushed Hakuho to a play-off on the final day, and there would be, at the very least, serious consideration given to a promotion even without the unwritten prerequisite of late of back to back titles at rank.
With Kise, the sport’s best ozeki this side of the year 2000 by a country mile, and the second most consistent man in the sport after Hakuho in the past two years, few were in any doubt that he had at least earned the right to be considered.