RIP Mitsuharu Misawa [Archive]

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thecc

06-13-2009, 11:19 AM

from pwinsider

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" suplex. Misawa went over for the bump but didn't get back up. It is believed he 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 told Misawa had passed away a short time later.

Yomuri Online in Japan reported that Misawa passed away en route to the hospital at 10:10 PM Japanese time.

When All Japan Pro Wrestling owner Shohei "Giant" Baba passed away in 1999, issues with Baba's widow eventually led to Misawa leading an exodus of most of the core All Japan talents from the company, forming Pro Wrestling NOAH. 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.

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. In Japan, he was one of the all-time greatest in-ring performers and in many ways, was carrying the torch for the style that Baba and All Japan, in their prime, excelled at.

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. :( This is terrible. RIP

CSL

06-13-2009, 11:20 AM

Are you fucking kidding me right now?

Vastardikai

06-13-2009, 11:22 AM

Holy fuck, man.

RIP Misawa, One the best in the World.

CSL

06-13-2009, 11:23 AM

Fucking unreal :(

Makes me feel pretty lucky that I got to see him work last year. Shocked as a mother fucker right now

Xero

06-13-2009, 11:24 AM

Wow.

thecc

06-13-2009, 11:26 AM

Fucking unreal :(

Makes me feel pretty lucky that I got to see him work last year. Shocked as a mother fucker right nowI can't even imagine how horrible Saito must feel.

CSL

06-13-2009, 11:35 AM

I dread to think, especially since he calls the belly to back 'The Death Landing'. You'd be nervous to ever fucking bump or bump anybody ever again. I'm still shocked. I must have checked Wikipedia about 3-4 times now, half expecting it to be a joke.

Volare

06-13-2009, 11:36 AM

Man...what can you say?

What Would Kevin Do?

06-13-2009, 11:42 AM

Fuck.... RIP Misawa. Hard to believe. Watching him was one of the things that got me into puroresu...

And while it's a horrible thing, at least he didn't die because of a botch. Everything that's been said sounds like it was a routine move, and Misawa had a heart attack... Still fucking awful though.

The Chris Rosa

06-13-2009, 11:43 AM

This is horrible. I can't believe it.

RIP Misawa.:(

What Would Kevin Do?

06-13-2009, 11:46 AM

Not going to lie, this made me tear up a bit... This is from Chris Hero's blog, who's currently touring in Japan with NOAH

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.

Mike the Metal Ed

06-13-2009, 12:01 PM

Wow, RIP. :(

What Would Kevin Do?

06-13-2009, 12:02 PM

Lock Jaw

06-13-2009, 12:53 PM

I don't really follow Japanese wrestling too much, but still... this sucks big time. RIP.

Blitz

06-13-2009, 02:49 PM

Absolutely fucking horrible. RIP.

Exyle

06-13-2009, 03:42 PM

Terrible loss for wrestling.

RIP Misawa.

NeanderCarl

06-13-2009, 04:56 PM

Say what you want about Japanese wrestlers, they know how to sell.

mike adamle

06-13-2009, 05:08 PM

Well, at least he died doing something he loved, still sucks though.

What Would Kevin Do?

06-13-2009, 05:12 PM

I really want to know what this means for NOAH... this is really a bad situation for them... To those who don't know, Misawa was also the president/founder of NOAH. This is essentially the equivalent of not only a Ric Flair/Hulk Hogan figure dying in Japan, it's also the equivalent of their companies Vince McMahon dying.

06-13-2009, 05:53 PM

Saito : " Way to sell that Death Landing, Mitsuharu! "

Saito: " Mitsuharu??? "

Vastardikai

06-13-2009, 05:58 PM

^

Too Soon...

thecc

06-13-2009, 07:54 PM

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MTPQ9192

Kawada Vs Misawa
One of the best matches imo

FourFifty

06-13-2009, 09:13 PM

Never was a big fan of Japanese wrestling except for a few things in FMW, but I have a world of respect for everyone who laces up their boots and puts their asses on the line in the name of entertaining a crowd.

Rest in peace.

Testicle

06-13-2009, 11:06 PM

I can't believe that he's dead.

Over the past few years I started to watch puroresu and Misawa became my favorite wrestler. In his career he had 24 five star matches (1st all time). He had 5 match of the years. He went from being the other Tiger Mask, to the AJPW ace and lifted that company onto his shoulders along with kobashi, taue, kawada and akiyama. He was without a doubt one of the best workers of all time, and I have no idea what will become of Japansee wresting as a result as the business has been strugling a ton as of late.

People talk about who the greatest pro wrestlers are, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, thats fine as far as American wrestling goes, but watch this man's matches and you will gain a new respect for what these men do.

Rest in peace.

Here is a really awesome tribute video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8PLkjfwZvU

Testicle

06-13-2009, 11:09 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ANvKlcT6F4

This is my favorite match of his, not neccisarily his best. It took place on March 1st, 2003 againts Kobashi Kenta. These two had a tremendous rivalry as up and comers in the 90's, but this match was a match between two legends, its about 40 minutes long and I think its well worth it.

Halbowsky

06-14-2009, 12:35 AM

I was at the ROH show tonight. Before the show started, all of the wrestlers (including Ric Flair) and referees gathered around the ring with Bobby Cruise in the ring who announced the passing of Misawa. They did a 10 bell salute and a moment of silence.

While I never followed Japanese wrestling, I had always heard of Misawa and I was glad I got to see him wrestle back in 2007 against KENTA.

R.I.P.

Shadow

06-14-2009, 12:44 AM

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooow...Jesus christ

At least going out doing what he loved.

CSL

06-14-2009, 12:53 AM

What Would Kevin Do?

06-14-2009, 01:03 AM

Wow, that's hard to watch... It's fucking surreal.

Fignuts

06-14-2009, 01:07 AM

God, those videos are hard to watch.

DAMN iNATOR

06-14-2009, 02:19 AM

Bison Smith.

Destor

06-14-2009, 03:40 AM

I was working a show today and a fellow puro mark/worker came in and told me about this. I really couldn't beleive it. This is the biggest loss to pro-wrestling ever for my money.

Depressing.

Bad Company

06-14-2009, 05:41 AM

Holy shit. RIP Misawa

Mr. Monday Morning

06-14-2009, 09:18 AM

Crazy, really crazy. Never would have expected it. If anything (and without meaning to be morbid) I maybe wouldn't have been that shocked if it had happened to Kobashi. But damn, never saw it coming.

Dreadful shame, he obviously didn't want to be main eventing and working high level these last few years.

RIP

Testicle

06-14-2009, 10:02 AM

He was probably the last guy I though something like this would happen to.

The MAC

06-14-2009, 10:13 AM

man, at least they stopped the show. RIP. What a time to have a heart attack!

What Would Kevin Do?

06-14-2009, 12:03 PM

Pictures from the first NOAH show after the untimely event
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/sports/martialarts/090614/mrt0906141939004-p1.jpg
Apparently Saito said "I will carry that heavy cross on my back".

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/sports/martialarts/090614/mrt0906141913003-p3.jpg
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/sports/martialarts/090614/mrt0906141913003-p4.jpg

Picture from the first NJPW show after the accident, paying tribute to Misawa

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

What Would Kevin Do?

06-14-2009, 12:07 PM

Jim Ross on Misawa's death...

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.

Testicle

06-14-2009, 06:02 PM

More good news for Pro Wrestling Noah; their heavywieght champion, Akiyama Jun, just herniated 2 discs in his back and forfieted the title.

What Would Kevin Do?

06-14-2009, 10:28 PM

I'm getting conflicting reports on Akiyama announcing his retirement. There seems to be a rumor floating around, but no reputable place has actually stated this.

Testicle

06-14-2009, 10:59 PM

I'm getting conflicting reports on Akiyama announcing his retirement. There seems to be a rumor floating around, but no reputable place has actually stated this.

You are probably right, on the Noah site it says he is out for an indefinite period.

blake639raw

06-15-2009, 10:20 AM

Got this from another forum

F4W.com

Quote:
Although Pro Wrestling NOAH and the family of Mitsuharu Misawa attempted to keep the cause of death quiet, it has been reported in Japan from police reports from talking with hospital workers that the death was caused by a spinal cord injury from the back suplex and not heart problems.

CSL

06-15-2009, 10:54 AM

Yeah, Cervical Spinal Trauma apparently

Innovator

06-15-2009, 11:05 AM

I wonder if it was just from the suplex or from years and years of bumps

Innovator

06-15-2009, 11:06 AM

Shit I thought I already posted before that

RIP Misawa

Mr. Monday Morning

06-15-2009, 03:33 PM

Probably a combination of the two. He took ridiculous punishment over the years, probably one more bump combined with not being in that great shape anymore and his body gave out.

What Would Kevin Do?

06-15-2009, 05:06 PM

Probably a combination of the two. He took ridiculous punishment over the years, probably one more bump combined with not being in that great shape anymore and his body gave out.

Yeah... I love Misawa, but, he didnt' stay in the best of shape near the end...

Ol Dirty Dastard

06-15-2009, 05:28 PM

Well damn he was 47 years old and broken down from years of abuse. Probably felt like he was 65.

Dave Youell

06-15-2009, 06:31 PM

I just feel privileged that I managed to see the man live just once

AJHayes

06-15-2009, 06:54 PM

Man, this one hit hard.

Rest in peace, Misawa-San

The Optimist

06-17-2009, 04:37 AM

Misawa RIP

DAMN iNATOR

06-17-2009, 01:41 PM

I noticed Monday night Punk had "Misawa" written on his left hand ring tape in addition to the usual "X" over his wrist and knuckles...
http://i41.tinypic.com/3501dtd.jpg