Mitsuharu Misawa pronounced dead

[ShaolinHandLock]

Originally Posted by Darkstar Already posted on page 1.

Didn't notice that.

[Dave7g]

This is bigger than Eddie and Benoit, what Misawa did for the business will hardly ever be matched by anyone. The man was an absolute legend and had some of the greatest matches I've ever seen in my life with Kawada. He was a miserable old bastard and he died happy I have no doubt. R.I.P.

[ShaolinHandLock]

I completely forgot about the match that I saw on YouTube a while back between Misawa (as Tiger Mask II) against Mil Mascaras.

I will embed the link in the YouTube Wrestling Finds thread.

[JobberJoe]

RIP Misawa.

This really is a terrible shame.

He was just one of the true legends of the biz .

[The Icon]

I don't have words.

[DC]

It's a damn shame. RIP Misawa.

This isn't easy to watch.

The following link to You Tube shows the final moments of Misawa's life as he is worked on by medical staff. Please do not click on this link if the contents of the video may distress or offend you as this is not my intention.

[hendrixsummer69]

ive never watched much japenese wrestling but he still helped the bussiness and human he died doing what he loved i supprose its better then going as a broken down old man at home RIP

[Evil Gringo]

In more bad news for NOAH Akiyama has herniated two of the discs in his lower back and had to vacate the title in the aftermath of the show where Misawa died.

Akiyama in his role as booker set up a decision match for the title on today's show between Rikio and Go Shiozaki which was won by Go today.

Saito wrestled today in a tag match with Momota against Yone and Suzuki. He was visibly weeping at several points.

NJPW allowed Kikuchi and Aoki to hold a ten bell salute before their show (the two are currently competing in the BOSJ tournament), NOAH also did a similar salute and had a memorial set up for fans to pay their respects as well as playing Spartan X (Misawa's long time theme song) during which their was a huge MISAWA call from the crowd.

ROH did a ten bell salute in his honour and several wrestlers such as Jericho and Chris Hero have spoken of their sadness at his passing although the best comment comes from Jim Ross...

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.

Spot on Jim.

[Frank Botch]

That video is really distressing,the look on Takayama's face,the crowd chanting, the eerie silence.... just terribly sad.

Few pictures leading on from Gringo's post.





Apparently Saito also spoke saying ''I will carry the heavy cross on my back''. I feel terrible for the guy.

[MojoPogo]

If anyone deserved to wear the moniker, true legend, it was Misawa, and not just for how he performed in the ring either. He deserved better, however, as much as there will no doubt be debate on the japanese style and intensity, i personally think that the man himself wouldnt have had it any other way, all those involved know the risks, and unfortunately as in any high intensity, high impact sport, sometimes tragic accidents happen. My heart goes out to his family and those in the ring at the time, i cant even begin to imagine how i'd feel..................RIP, a true wrestling god.