Mitsuharu Misawa, dead at 46. :(

[FINisher]

Misawa collapsed tonight during his tag title match after taking a High Angle Backdrop from Saito. He couldn't breathe and went into cardiac arrest. A doctor in the crowd managed to resuscitate him. Morishima called an end to the show. He was rushed off to the hospital.

On June 13, 2009, after receiving a belly to back suplex during a match at Hiroshima Green Arena, he lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead in the hospital at 10:10 p.m.

PRO WRESTLING NOAH FOUNDER MITSUHARU MISAWA PASSES AWAY AFTER COLLAPSING IN-RING
by Mike Johnson @ 2009-06-13 10:32:26

I am extremely saddened to report that one of the greatest in-ring workers of the modern age and the founder of Pro Wrestling
NOAH, Mitsuhau Misawa, just a few days short of his 47th birthday, died earlier this morning (tonight in Japan) following an in-ring accident stemming from a suplex.

Misawa was wrestling in a tag team bout at the Hiroshima Green Arena, teaming with Go Shiozaki to challenge Bison Smith and Akitoshi Saito for NOAH's Global Honored Crown Tag Team championships Around 15-17 minutes in, Saito delivered with what was described to me as looking like a "routine" back suplex. Misawa went over for the bump but didn't get back up. The entire roster surrounded the ring as they attempted to revive him. The crowd, realizing something was wrong, went silent and then began chanting Misawa's name.

It is believed Misawa may have suffered a heart attack as he immediately stopped breathing. EMTS attempted to revive him in the ring via AED in the ring and he was rushed out to an ambulance.

In the wake of the Misawa incident, the show was immediately halted. The NOAH roster were instructed to return to their tour buses and were later informed Misawa had passed away.

Yomuri Online in Japan reported that Misawa passed away en route to the hospital at 10:10 PM Japanese time. It's possible he passed away before that, but 10:10 is the official time in media reports.

Misawa was groomed for stardom from the day he was brought into All Japan by Shohei "Giant" Baba after being successful amateur High School wrestler. He became the second Tiger Mask (under the hood, he wrestled Bret Hart in 1990) before eventually competing under his real name.

Misawa's classics with Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi were the stuff of immediate legend, with Japanese photos of the bouts showing hard-hitting still photos that looked more like boxing matches. Then, when you'd see the tapes via trading, you were awe-struck at how intensely athletic and competitive the bouts were. Before hardcore was a buzz word used to promote a certain style, that's what All Japan main events were - a hardcore, physically brutal style of storytelling in professional wrestling that was unlike anything else in the era.

When All Japan Pro Wrestling owner Shohei "Giant" Baba passed away in 1999, issues with Baba's widow, Motoko Baba eventually led to Misawa leading an exodus of most of the core All Japan talents from the company a year later, forming Pro Wrestling NOAH. The biggest hold-out was Toshiaki Kawada but every other major AJPW name at the time jumped. NOAH, almost immediately, became one of the top in-ring products anywhere in the world, with Misawa as one of the key figures in and out of the ring. All Japan was never the same, although it continues to live on under the ownership of Keiji Mutoh.

Stateside, Misawa made very few trips to the United States to perform, working a pair of shows for Ring of Honor and Harley Race's WLW last year as well as appearing for California's Pro Wrestling Iron, an American satellite promotion for NOAH a few years prior run by Mike Modest and Donovan Morgan.

In Japan, Misawa was one of the all-time greatest in-ring performers and in many ways, was still carrying the torch for the style that Baba and All Japan, in their prime, excelled at. He wasn't in his prime shape anymore and physically, was beaten down by the punishment he put his body through, but when needed, could still perform at an incredible level in comparison to others half his age.

I can't even begin to express what an awesome performer Misawa in his prime was. In many ways, the style that he, Kenta Kobashi and Toshiaki Kawada, among others, popularized in the United States via tape traders helped inspire the entire "strong style" phase of wrestling on the independent level of the United States. It's impossible to even access the influence his work had on the entire wrestling industry.

To read a translated version of a Yomuri Online report, click here.

Our deepest condolences go out to Misawa's family, friends and fans on a truly sad day for this business.

:eek: :(

..

http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=39367&p=1

[FlameSnoopy]

Shocking :eek:

R.I.P Mitsuharu Misawa June 18, 1962 - June 13, 2009

[cappyboy]

Man, I tell you, I don't get to see Japanese wrestling anywhere near what I'd like being on the east coast of the US. But of the name-brand Japanese talent I've always wanted to catch up with, Misawa was right at the top of that list. Shame I can never seem him in the moment now. My condolences to the entire NOAH community.

[darthsiddus2]

oh my god....... I was a BIG fan.... I mean BIG. he was one of my favorite wrestlers this is truly shocking................ RIP big man! may you finally achieve enlightenment.

[The Final Countdown]

This...wow. This is terrible. When he was at his best, there may have never been anybody better than Misawa. Just a really sad day for fans of Japanese wrestling, and the business as a whole.

Not to mention how this may impact the promotion he founded, NOAH. That's obviously a secondary concern at the moment, but you do have to wonder if they'll be able to keep it running without him.

[FINisher]

Not to mention how this may impact the promotion he founded, NOAH. That's obviously a secondary concern at the moment, but you do have to wonder if they'll be able to keep it running without him.

And if they can, and I believe they will, who will step up? Don't really want to think about it. Imagine the impact this is going to have on so many levels.. The wrestlers themselves, NOAH, the whole Japanese wrestling scene.

I'm just so sad beyond words right now.

[BurningHamster]

Holy crap. I am shocked.

[angeldelayette]

I was never really that knowledgeable on the Japanese scene, but he was one of the names that I knew and know. May he rest in peace, adding to that ever-growing wrestling ring in the sky.

[XxFutureLegend112xX]

omg....wow i am speechless, This is terriblely sad news. Misawa was the reason i got into japanese wrestling after seeing his incredible 2003 match with Kobashi in NOAH. Hopefully NOAH will live Misawa would've wanted it to.

R.I.P. Misawa

[Eisen-verse]

wow, especially after such a routine move. He will be greatly, greatly missed.

[tjb000]

NOOO! This is the terrible news to wake up to.

Misawa was easily one of my favorite japanese wrestler of all time. Actually, he'd rank really high on any favorite wrestler list of mine. I was a big fan.

Like a lot of people here, I'm speechless for the most part.

Found this at the ROH board. It's from Chris Hero's blog, who was touring with NOAH and at the event in which is happened.

Misawa-San
Current mood:disbelief
Words cannot express how deeply shocked I am. We're all just in utter disbelief. Stunned sadness.

The moments at ringside felt an eternity. Never, in my life, have I wanted the fighting spirit to jump into someone's being more than I wanted tonight. The fans chanted Misawa, Misawa, Misawa. They wanted their Hero to get up so ****ing bad. Just get up. Come on! You're too tough for this. Too strong. I grabbed his boots and held onto them til they took him away.

My heart goes out to his family. His students. His peers. His friends. His fans. His opponents tonight and his partner. It was a freak accident. No one is at fault.

Rest in Peace Shacho.

Man, this sucks.

RIP Mitsuharu Misawa, you will be missed.

:(

[Bigpapa42]

No! This is awful. Misawa was one of my favorites.

[Comradebot]

Well, I had an incredibly fun night last night...

And I wake up to this. I can't think of much that could make me feel sadder than hearing this tragic news.

Man was a truly incredible performer, and the Japanese wrestling scene won't be the same without him.

[Synticha]

This sure is a tragic death. Misawa was one of the only Puro wrestlers who I've watched. Just think about Akitoshi Saito. How bad does he feel right now...

[Comradebot]

This sure is a tragic death. Misawa was one of the only Puro wrestlers who I've watched. Just think about Akitoshi Saito. How bad does he feel right now...

In all honesty, he probably had no clue Misawa was having a heart attack. Odds are it was just a freak occurance brought on by the physicallity of the match itself.

Hopefully Saito understands that there was probably nothing he could've done personally to help Misawa.

Again, I'm deeply saddened by this news.

[FINisher]

Few comments from people within the industry..

Chris Hero recently began a storyline in Ring of Honor where Mitsuharu Misawa gave him his elbow pad as a gift during a tour of Japan. He then began using the object as a weapon in order to win matches. Hero is currently touring Japan, where news of the Japanese wrestling legend's death during a match on Saturday night is the top sports story.
Regarding his sudden passing, Hero wrote the following statement on his Twitter account (http://twitter.com/theChrisHero): "Shocked beyond belief. Never been thru anything like this. Doesn't feel real."

Other personalities from the world of wrestling added their thoughts on his death:
* Gangrel (http://twitter.com/gangrel13): "had some great matches with misawa, so sad what a lost to our sport."
* Matt Morgan (http://twitter.com/Tnamattmorgan): "Horrible news today guys. Just heard Japanese legendary wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa passed away. Misawa was always a class act towards me."
* Jeremy Borash (http://twitter.com/JeremyBorash):: "Shocked to hear of the passing of Mitsuharu Misawa. Was lucky enough to meet him at last year's Tokyo Dome show. What a sad tragedy."
* Matt Hardy (http://twitter.com/MATTHARDYBRAND): "Just read that Mitsuharu Misawa passed away while performing in Japan on Saturday night. A very sad thing to hear."

[randomfreeze]

I don't watch Japanese wrestling often at all, but I know Misawa's name....it's very sad, don't know what else can really be said.

[Candyman]

Wow. I don't follow Japanese wrestling, but he was one of the two names I was familiar with. A really sad thing to hear.

[Crychon]

Damn... Definitely one of the greatest of all time... RIP Misawa. :(

[The Masked Orange]

Christ, he was my all time favourite japanese worker

RIP

[FINisher]

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00824/mm2_380x223_824611a.jpg

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2480620/Japanese-wrestling-legend-Mitsuharu-Misawa-dies-in-ring.html

[James Casey]

...

damn

...

[smurphy1014]

Damn

:(

[Tigerkinney]

Like everyone else utterly shocked by this sad news.

RIP Misawa. :(

[Hyde Hill]

I was never really that knowledgeable on the Japanese scene, but he was one of the names that I knew and know. May he rest in peace, adding to that ever-growing wrestling ring in the sky.

Same here and may he rest in peace and may NOAH prosper.

[darkfire423]

Mitsuharu Misawa, another wrestler I have added to the list of I will never be able to see in person that I love to watch. Now it is a dream of mine to get in the ring and I am working on getting in the ring. Misawa is one of the reasons I would want to get in the ring. I always go back to it FMW and Hayabusa saved my love for wrestling. Now once I got into Puro, I started to trade, download, get my hands on all things Puro. A Misawa comp tape ended up in my hands. I wore the tape out. He is one of the best ever. Bret Hart might have always said the Best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. I, like many people would have loved to see a Bret Hart vs Mitsuharu Misawa dream match. A match without all the bull of back stage politics. On the line that line. Best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be

Misawa is now in wrestling heaven.

[wrestlingfan#1]

I'm don't watch as much puro as I would like to but my love for it all started with the first ever import game I played Giant Gram:2000. The classic footage on that game was astounding, none more than the Misawa clips, including the INFAMOUS Ganzo Bomb, one of the sickest move related bumps i've seen. Why I was never able to see him live he still remains one of my all time favorite wrestlers, he will be truly missed.

RIP Mitsuharu Misawa

[G-Prime]

I haven't actually seen the man wrestle, but I know he's a legend, and that alone makes this loss huge. RIP Misawa.

[Thriller]

And if they can, and I believe they will, who will step up? Don't really want to think about it. Imagine the impact this is going to have on so many levels.. The wrestlers themselves, NOAH, the whole Japanese wrestling scene.

I'd imagine they will continue, for a little while at least, in Misawa's honour but Kobashi is the only person who can be as much of a figurehead as Misawa was.

Gangrel: "had some great matches with misawa, so sad what a lost to our sport."

I wouldn't have thought those two would have ever crossed paths. Odd.

[FINisher]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGdiAF09R7Q&feature=related

Here is the video clip after the match. Contains graphic content, viewer discretion is advised. :( And here's an image from what seems to be from a NJPW show.


http://www.purolove.com/images/shows/njpw/njpwmisawa14062009kb.jpg

[Nedew]

I wouldn't have thought those two would have ever crossed paths. Odd.

I was thinking that, especially considering Gangrel's now directing porn for a living. However, I found this on his Wikipedia page:

he formed a tag team with Tom Nash known as "The Blackhearts", with Heath and Nash competing under masks as "Destruction" and "Apocalypse" respectively. They won the won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship as a team.

In the early nineties, the Blackhearts were paired with Nash's wife Luna, wrestling in Joel Goodhart's Tri-State Wrestling, in Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation, and finally Giant Baba's All-Japan, where the team split up.

[Shmoe]

Jesus, this is an absolutely devestating loss to Japanese wrestling, and wrestling in general. When I got into puroresu, Mitsuharu Misawa was always a name you could count on for a blistering classic. His 2003 match with Kenta Kobashi is one of the best matches of the decade without a doubt, and although he'd lost a step or two in recent years, he proved that on his night he was still one of the best wrestlers in the world. I am shocked at this, that it happened in the way it did.

Rest In Peace to one of the true greats, a true legend, Mitsuharu Misawa.

[The Masked Orange]

At least he died doing what he loved. In front of a crowd of people who adored him.

If there's anything to take away from such a disaster, it's that.

[Nedew]

At least he died doing what he loved. In front of a crowd of people who adored him.

To completely lower the tone of the thread... Anyone reckon Peter North plans on going out like that?

[SaySo]

Source: JR's Blog

Mitsuharu Misawa was never an acquaintance of mine but I felt like I knew him from watching many of his DVD's which were usually with men that I did know. Misawa was arguably the best in ring performer in the world in his prime. First of all, Misawa knew how to wrestle and how to wrestle physically. The fundamentals had been drilled into this legend as a young man who went on to become a Japanese National Amateur Champion. Several things stood out to me about Misawa. In addition to be a physical, fundamentally sound athlete, timing and toughness were two of his greatest attributes. Great timing is a gift that largely can't be taught. It's like ring psychology. Some of it can be taught but mostly it must be a learned trait and some people are in the business for years and never learn great timing or main event level ring psychology. Toughness is another trait that can be nurtured but generally can't be taught. Misawa was naturally tough and it showed. And his fans loved him for it. They also loved his passion and the emotional ride on which he would take them. That's what pro wrestling is, selling emotion.

Another significant piece of Japanese, wrestling history died this weekend. Mitsuharu Misawa apparently died in the very spot that he gained his incredible fame and resounding respect from wrestling fans around the Globe....inside a wrestling ring.

It's a damn shame that the vast majority of American wrestling fans won't give a second thought about the untimely death of "a Japanese wrestler." I encourage all fans to find DVD's of Misawa and watch him in his prime, in the 90's especially. If one is really serious about about being a highly skilled, pro wrestler, then study the late Mitsuharu Misawa.

May he rest in peace.

[FuelFan0102]

Ted Tanabe, Osaka Pro's referee passed away today, also at the age of 46.

From Osaka Holiday Paradise:
In more terrible news this weekend, Ted Tanabe suddenly collapsed after yesterday’s show and fell into a state of unconsciousness. CPR was administed and an AED was used before he was rushed to the hospital. As of 6:42am Japan time he is still unconscious.

Sadly Ted Tanabe (real name Tetsuo Tanabe) never regained consciousness from his collapse last night and passed away at 12:23. Tanabe was 46 years of age.

Even more sad stuff.

I hate to say it, but they say things happen in three... and with these two so close and so similar, it's sorta eerie...

[BurningHamster]

Oh man! This just plain sucks! Ted Tanabe too?

For those who don't know and may not think too much about a referee dying, Ted Tanabe was probably the most popular and colourful referee in Japan. Pretty sure he was also involved in booking at various times too, was right in the middle of Michinoku Pro Wrestling during their freaking glorious run in the mid '90s and the eventual trip over to the US and involvement in ECW's Barely Legal PPV. Plus, he was just one of those referees who was added something to the matches without taking anything away from the wrestlers. A real personality.

RIP Ted Tababe. You were the freakin' man.

[Derek B]

........... :(

[The Final Countdown]

Wow..what a terrible few days for puroresu.

[The Final Countdown]

Here's a statement from Ring of Honor regarding Misawa:

Everybody at Ring of Honor would like to send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Mitsuharu Misawa along with all of the wrestlers and staff at Pro Wrestling NOAH. Although Misawa only appeared on two ROH events, his impact on pro wrestling was very evident in many of the matches our fans watch today, and in the style of many of the wrestlers in Ring of Honor.

In the past several years of working with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Misawa was a great supporter of ROH, and was an integral part of making it possible for wrestlers such as KENTA, Namomichi Marufuji, Takeshi Morishima, and Go Shiozaki to come to wrestle for our company.

We mourn the loss of a true wrestling legend and he will certainly be missed by all of us here at Ring of Honor.

[foolinc]

Oh man! This just plain sucks! Ted Tanabe too?

For those who don't know and may not think too much about a referee dying, Ted Tanabe was probably the most popular and colourful referee in Japan. Pretty sure he was also involved in booking at various times too, was right in the middle of Michinoku Pro Wrestling during their freaking glorious run in the mid '90s and the eventual trip over to the US and involvement in ECW's Barely Legal PPV. Plus, he was just one of those referees who was added something to the matches without taking anything away from the wrestlers. A real personality.

RIP Ted Tababe. You were the freakin' man.

Son of a....

*Braces for the rule of three to bare it's ugly head*

[enigma5007]

New Info in regards to cause of death....either way it truly sucks to see this man go :(

http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1245097353.php?style=dark

[Thriller]

I was thinking that, especially considering Gangrel's now directing porn for a living. However, I found this on his Wikipedia page:

Ah, so it was before he got the teeth and start spitting blood. That makes much more sense. Although, I would have loved to see Misawa elbowing the stupid gimmick out of the man.

http://www.purolove.com/images/shows/njpw/njpwmisawa14062009kb.jpg

Poor Kikuchi. As dreadful as it would have been being there, I'm sure Kikuchi would have wanted to be there in the ring with the rest of the team when it happened. :(

[Synticha]

Akitoshi Saito's home was attacked by fans and he is now on suicide watch after allegedly tring to do away with himself, according to Tokyo Sports and should be on TV in the next few hours over there, the poor guy really doesnt deserve this, he had no idea of his condition.

This isn't confirmed but if it's true then this is very sad thing because Saito isn't in any kind of responsibility about that what happened. Saito is the man who gave Mitsuharu Misawa his very last suplex :(

[D16NJD16]

Theres that stiff Japanese style for you. Its just amazing these things dont happen more often. really disturbing to watch

[Thriller]

Theres that stiff Japanese style for you. Its just amazing these things dont happen more often.

I'd say it was more the length of which Misawa performed in that style than the style itself that killed him. Obviously it's dangerous but nobody has done it as much, and for as long, as Misawa.

[FINisher]

http://kakutolog.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/06/17/090617wp2.jpg http://kakutolog.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/06/17/090617wp3.jpg



Sadly it seems that the backdrop wasn't as an easy we all thought it was. Of course one cannot blame one move to cause the thing that happened. All the years Misawa was active.. Hell, how many other wrestlers have competed at that age with that history with that style? Hardly any one.

I just hate hearing news about Saito, the suicide watch and his home being attacked. It doesn't change anything.

Damn I miss Misawa already. :( "May the Ark sail on forever in your honor."

[BurningHamster]

That backdrop is little messy but not even close to the worst Misawa has taken. He pretty much made a career out of exchanging head-dropping moves. I do feel bad for Saito, it's not his fault that Misawa's neck was pretty much toast and his body had to be pretty wrecked already.

Usually in that style, by the time someone gets to Misawa's age they are moving towards doing more undercard comedy matches ... guess the guy at the top of the promotion felt he didn't really have that option though.

[The Final Countdown]

That backdrop is little messy but not even close to the worst Misawa has taken. He pretty much made a career out of exchanging head-dropping moves. I do feel bad for Saito, it's not his fault that Misawa's neck was pretty much toast and his body had to be pretty wrecked already.

Usually in that style, by the time someone gets to Misawa's age they are moving towards doing more undercard comedy matches ... guess the guy at the top of the promotion felt he didn't really have that option though.
Yeah, by Misawa's standards, that's not even that bad a bump. Like you said, it was more the accumulation of working that style for so many years.

[FINisher]

Yeah, by Misawa's standards, that's not even that bad a bump. Like you said, it was more the accumulation of working that style for so many years.

Yes, of course, I agree completely. I should have been more precise on this one: When the news came they were talking about a really easy backdrop, which I thought was just a simple, WWE-standard backdrop where one lands on his back, not on the neck/head.

[FINisher]

On June 27, 2009, Akira Taue was named as Misawa's successor and is the current President of Pro-Wrestling NOAH.

A good choice.

[Thriller]

Apparently his public memorial service was attended by 25,000 people throughout the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqzCogGmKp0