Mitsuharu Misawa (1962 - 2009)

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Mitsuharu Misawa, who many believe is one of the greatest wrestlers in the history, passed away due to an injury caused during a match in Hiroshima on 2009/06/13.

He was teaming with Go Shiozaki to challenge the GHC Tag Team champions Akitoshi Saito & Bison Smith. Akitoshi hit a high-angled back suplex. The ref asked Misawa whether he could move, and Misawa responded by saying no.

The ref stopped the match at 27:03. There was a doctor in the audience (they didn't have one at ringside like New Japan does!?) who tried heart massage. All the NOAH wrestlers (plus Yoshihiro Takayama and Kensuke Sasaki who were also on the card) came into the ring. The heart massage brought back some pulse, and he was carried into a hospital but never came back.

I had a chance to see him live when he wrestled for ROH at the Manhattan Center back in 2007. There was a LONG line from the venue all the way to the other side of the block. I was never a big fan of his but am glad I went to see the card.

RIP.

[shgarland]

I've just read that the WWE posted the following in the "Industry News" area of their website. I originally read it on pwheadlines.com, but surfed over to wwe.com to see the original post:

Wrestling legend Mitsuharu Misawa passes
Written: June 14, 2009

"On behalf of WWE, we were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of Mitsuharu Misawa. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans. Misawa will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in Japan," said John Laurinaitis, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations.

The post on pwheadlines.com where I originally found this said "Laurinaitis worked with Misawa throughout the 1990s as both were stars with All-Japan Pro Wrestling."

I don't believe I've seen Mitsuharu Misawa compete, but it's always sad to see another in this great sport go. My heart goes out to the friends and family of Mr. Misawa.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Johnny Ace (John Laurinaitis) was a long time regular for All Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1990s.

These are some of Misawa's famous matches:

June 8, 1990 vs. Jumbo Tsuruta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMpHibYk4f8

September 1, 1990 vs. Tsuruta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmDRogY9018

April 20, 1991 with Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi vs. Tsuruta, Akira Taue, & Masanobu Fuchi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJxPL4vG0Y

July 2, 1993 with Kobashi & Jun Akiyama vs. Kawada, Taue, & Yoshinari Ogawa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbTU-PH03D8

June 3, 1994 vs. Kawada:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUnIS83oIyQ

June 9, 1995 with Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue - Kawada pins Misawa for the
first time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoWnvDSXM7A

October 31, 1998 vs. Kobashi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKCXYJyGDuw

January 22, 1999 vs. Kawada - The last match Giant Baba ever watched:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifUBuBeZsxo

March 2, 2001 with Akiyama vs. Shin'ya Hashimoto & Yuuji Nagata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97MIbYaSg9o

Jahno.