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R. I. P. Mitsuharu Misawa

Posted: Jun 14th 2009 By: Claude "Bud" Guffey II

Another one of the greats has passed, in what seems to be a heart-breaking trend. Mitsuharu Misawa, an absolute legend in Japan, tragically died Saturday, June 13, 2009 after suffering a heart attack following a belly-to-back suplex. He did not die in the ring, but later at the hospital. He was only 46 years old.

Many American wrestling fans may not have heard of Misawa. In Japan, he was a larger-than-life superstar. He was trained by Dick ?The Bruiser? Beyer, Shohei ?Giant? Baba (another Japanese legend), and Dory Funk, Jr.

He wrestled for a while as Tiger Mask (the second version), after All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights to the gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling, who used the gimmick with wrestler, Satoru Sayama.

During his time with AJPW, Misawa won the following titles:
--AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championship (2 times)
--AJPW Triple-Crown Heavyweight Championship (5 times)?Unification of the NWA United National Championship, PWF Heavyweight Championship, and the NWA International Heavyweight Championship
--AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (6 times)
--NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship
--PWF World Tag-Team Championship
--Champion?s Carnival (1995, 1998)?Annual single-elimination, singles tournament held by AJPW, using round robin rules.
--World?s Strongest Tag-Team League (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)?A tournament held annually by AJPW, using round robin rules.

After the death of the legendary, Giant Baba, Misawa became the president of AJPW until a disagreement between he and Giant Baba?s widow led to his departure from AJPW and the formation of Pro Wrestling NOAH. During his stint in NOAH, Misawa won the following titles:
--GHC Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
--GHC Tag-Team Championship (2 times)
--Global Tag League (2009)?Similar to AJPW?s World?s Strongest Tag-Team League

In addition to his many honors in pro wrestling, including, but not limited to being ranked #2 in the PWI 500 in 1997, he has had the privelege of wrestling some of the greatest talents in pro wrestling history. Several well-know American wrestlers had the privelege of wrestling Misawa, including Terry ?Bam Bam? Gordy, Steve ?Dr. Death? Williams, and Stan ?The Lariat? Hansen, to name a few.

Mitsuharu Misawa will be one of the many stars that will be missed in the Japanese professional wrestling landscape. His contributions to the sport in his home country are equivalent to that of America?s Harley Race, Bruno Sammartino, or Ric Flair, just to name a few. In short, he was great, and his legacy will be hard to follow. Rest in peace, Misawa.

From all of us here at the Maximum Wrestling Alliance, our condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.

Sincerely,

Claude ?Bud? Guffey II
Maximum Wrestling Alliance
ESG Entertainment, LLC

Tags: Terry Gordy, Steve Williams, Stan Hansen, Ric Flair