From F4WOnline
I first heard the news a few minutes ago from Claudio Castagnioli's Facebook page. He passed taking a "routine" back suplex from Akitoshi Saito. Of course, routine back suplexes in Japan are a lot more dangerous than their American cousins because they're so much stiffer. Still, it's not a move that is going to kill someone. The cause of death was heart attack though, so it's doubtful that he died due to trauma directly from the move. Even so, it was probably an accumulated thing. He's taken so many head-dropping moves and stiff strikes over the years.
Misawa joins a pantheon of Japanese superstars to be taken from us early under whatever circumstances. Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta and even the godfather of modern Japanese wrestling, Rikidozan, all died before their 65th birthday, with Tsuruta and Rikidozan not even making it to 50.
Misawa will be remembered for being the most recognizable face and most over superstar, the veritable godfather if you will, of the 90s puro scene, where he wrestled in classic matches against Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama, Toshiaki Kawada, Stan Hansen, Vader and several others. His 6/3/94 match against Kawada where he used the Tiger Driver '91 for the first time in over three years is regarded as one of the best of all-time, if not the best. I have seen it, and there are very few matches that I'd put in its league, regardless of style.
His political moves were controversial, but regardless, he was an A+ worker and one of the true all-time greats. No one should die that early, but in this business, on either side of the Pacific, it's not surprising at all. Still a bummer though.
RIP Mitsuharu Misawa. You were one of the all-time greats.
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