User:Onekawa-Nukanoa/Sandbox1
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 Star League season | |
| Formerly | Kakari Tiamupiana |
|---|---|
| Sport | Mixed Martial Arts |
| Founded | 1910; 114 years ago |
| Inaugural season | 1910 |
| Owner(s) | Whetū Rīki Corporation |
| CEO | Ikei Taimona |
| Commissioner | Haru Piripi |
| No. of teams | 32 |
| Countries | Onekawa-Nukanoa |
| Most recent champion(s) | Takutaima Windwalkers (2024, 5th title) |
| Most titles | Takutaiwhero Tamawhiro (16 titles) |
| Sponsor(s) | Ahuriri Aerospace WhatiriMoa Pūhaka Southern Cross Sportswear |
The Whetū Rīki (English: Star League) is an Onekawan Mixed Martial Arts sports league. Originally founded in 1910 by husband-wife sporting duo Poto & Anahera Hariwana and originally titled Kakari Tiamupiana (English: Fighting Championship) with the inaugural match hosted in the capital Takutaiwhero on January 15 1910 between the then-named Takutaiwhero Kakari Hākinakina (English: Takutaiwhero Fighting Sports Club) and the Takutaikaraka Kakari Hākinakina (English: Takutaikaraka Fighting Sports Club).
Since it's founding in 1910, the Whetū Rīki has gone on to become one of the most popular and preeminent sports leagues in Onekawa-Nukanoa and one of the most prominent martial arts sporting competitions across the globe. Broadcast on both free-to-air and pay-per-view across Onekawa to audiences that can reach the tens-of-millions for the most significant events and millions more globally. It also posts significant live audience attendants, with the centenary league final, between the Takutaiwhero Tamawhiro and the Karoaroa Kopeo, holding a league record of 87,530 in attendance at the Takutaiwhero Royal Stadium.
Predominately an amateur competition from it's founding until 1957, the 1958 season saw a significant shift in the league, under the guidance of the then new CEO Hare Hakopa. The Kakari Tiamupiana had seen declining attendance throughout the 1940s and 1950s; and had failed to take advantage of the increasing prominence of television and had suffered from continued decline in revenue from radio broadcasts of the events. In conjunction with fierce competition from Onekawan Rugby Union and Sports car racing, Hare determined a radical shift in approach was needed.
The 1958 season saw the sport become professional and rebranded to the current name, Whetū Rīki, and saw all teams shift to be rebranded, whose names were decided by club locals and fans voting. This coincided with new television deals, new investment in arena and sports infrastructure and huge marketing campaigns. This shift proved to be a major success, and by the time Hare Hakopa retired in 1980, Whetū Rīki had risen to become one of the most popular sporting competitions in Onekawa.