When you think of sumo, you probably imagine massive athletes in traditional topknots and barely-there loincloths. But World Elite Sumo's "New Era" event, happening this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, is out to change that perception—and one of its competitors, Abdelrahman "Sandstorm" Shalan, is here to sell us on the sport's raw, violent appeal.

This isn't your grandfather's sumo. The one-night, 12-man openweight tournament, broadcast live on Triller TV starting at 8 p.m. ET, promises furious taiko drumming and opera-singing announcers. It's the latest bold attempt to make sumo a mainstream attraction for North American audiences—and Sandstorm believes this could be the breakthrough moment.

Sandstorm, an Egyptian-born wrestler who now calls New Jersey home, knows a thing or two about the sport's traditions. He once competed in Japan under the name Osunaarashi Kintaro, rising through the ranks of Grand Sumo—the ultra-traditional form where wrestlers live in stables, wear the mawashi (loincloth), and follow strict rules enforced by the Japan Sumo Association. Only those who reach the top two divisions get paid, and life inside the stable system is as much about discipline as it is about power.

But World Elite Sumo is a different beast. It's part of a growing wave of professional sumo organizations that break away from the rigid traditions of Grand Sumo. Think of it like the difference between amateur wrestling and the WWE—same core action, but with a whole new level of showmanship and accessibility.

There's also amateur sumo, or "amazumo," which follows the same fighting rules but allows women to compete and drops the strict social codes about appearance and lifestyle. Competitors there wrestle for glory and championships, not paychecks. World Elite Sumo sits somewhere in between—professional, but built for a modern audience that craves spectacle.

For Sandstorm, the appeal is simple: "It's all violence, no butt cheeks." He's not wrong. Traditional sumo's minimal attire often surprises newcomers, but World Elite Sumo keeps the intensity while making the sport more palatable for a Western crowd. It's raw, it's powerful, and it's ready for prime time.

Whether this "New Era" can finally make sumo a fixture in North America remains to be seen. But with a stacked tournament, a passionate competitor like Sandstorm, and a prime venue that just hosted UFC 328, this weekend's event is shaping up to be a must-watch for any fan of combat sports—or anyone looking for something completely different.