Japanese wrestler Misawa dies in ring

[$heriff Tom]

thanks to www.f4wonline.com for this sad news.

MISAWA PASSES AWAY AFTER BACKDROP IN HIROSHIMA MATCH

Mitsuharu Misawa, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all-time, was declared dead at 10:10 p.m. Saturday night at a hospital in Hiroshima from an apparent heart attack after being being given a back suplex in a tag team title match.

Misawa would have turned 47 on June 18th.

Misawa, the president of Pro Wrestling NOAH, was teaming with Go Shiozaki in a match challenging Bison Smith & Akitoshi Saito for the GHC tag team championship in Hiroshima. Misawa was given the move at about 8:45 p.m. and knocked unconscious.

According to eye witness reports, Saito gave Misawa a "routine" back suplex that was described as a "7" in danger on a scale of one-to-ten. He did not get up. It was chaos in the ring as they attempted to revive him using CPR and the crowd was hushed for a while, and began a "Misawa" chant. He turned purple in the ring and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

His heart stopped beating in the ring.

The wrestlers were told on the bus that he had passed away.

While it is being reported that he passed away at the hospital, he may have actually passed away in the ring.

Misawa was the Japanese high school national wrestling champion at 187 pounds in 1980, and was recruited by Giant Baba into All Japan Pro Wrestling. He gained his first taste of stardom in 1984 when he was chosen to be the second Tiger Mask. After unmasking in 1990, he became an even bigger star after a series of singles matches with Jumbo Tsuruta.

He was Japan's biggest pro wrestling star of the 90s, and one could make a strong case for him as the top wrestler of the decade. He was the Wrestler of the Year in 1995, 1997 and 1999.

After the death of Shohei "Giant" Baba, Misawa wrestled a little over one more year for All Japan Pro Wrestling, while working as company president. After consistently butting heads with owner Motoko Baba, the widow of Shohei Baba, he and 90% of the All Japan roster quit the company to form Pro Wrestling NOAH.

[rlm6370]

Truly one of the best of all time.

[$heriff Tom]

In the process of nabbing a lot of Misawa stuff from a trader friend, especially his battles with Kawada. Always on the agenda, never pulled the trigger, sad to think to do it now.

[$heriff Tom]

Latest word is he died from a "spinal injury" taking the suplex, and not a heart attack after all. Family has chosen to keep the cause unreleased, which is optional in Japan.

[$heriff Tom]

So this apparently did not come from a straight up back-suplex as we know it, but a suplex in Japan where you pretty much land on the back of your head. They are not sure if it was this one that did it, or a culmination of the heap of those he has taken in his career.

So I finally did it and grabbed myself 18 Misawa discs, for $36. Covering his fabled feud with Kawada, and another one with Taue.


"Misawa vs. Kawada: The Essential Collection" DVD 14


DISC 1: “The Prologue”

1. 1988 RWTL: Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Genichiro Tenryu (12/16/88 ) – This match will be foreshadowing for latter on. Here Kawada is the youngster, out of his league, latter this role will fall to Kobashi and then Akiyama. Watch as they destroy Kawada’s knee. Remember that for the 12/93 tag match, the 6/3/94 match, and many more...

2. Triple Crown: Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenryu (06/05/89) - This match is an interesting harbinger of things to come. It is the longest Triple Crown match up to this point, and serves almost as the bridge between 1980’s AJPW style, and the style Misawa and Co. would use in the 90’s. Meltzer gave it *****, and it’s easily one of the best matches of the 80’s.

3. Tiger Mask II (Misawa) & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Yatsu and Fuyuki (05/14/90) – Tiger Mask II gets brutalized by Yatsu and Fuyuki, and as a result unmasks as Misawa, and kicks some ass.

4. Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (06/08/90) – Misawa upsets Jumbo, in by FAR the biggest win of his career up to this point. One of the greatest matches you'll ever see.



DISC 2: “Partners”

5. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi (10/19/90) – One of the best Misawa & Co. vs. Jumbo & Co. six man’s.

6. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi (04/20/91) – Another amazing six man tag. Probably the most famous of the six man tags from this time. Hell, I could probably fill 10 discs of just Misawa & co. vs. Jumbo & co. six man tag’s and they’d all rule.

7. World Tag Titles: Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Terry Gordy & Steve Williams (07/24/91) – Misawa and Kawada upset the champs and win the tag team titles for the first time.



DISC 3: “The Triple Crown”

8. Triple Crown: © Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10/24/91) – Misawa’s beaten Jumbo, now Kawada gives it a try. Everyone knows he really has no chance, but he gives it a hell of an effort. Awesome match.

9. Triple Crown: Mitsuharu Misawa vs. © Stan Hansen (8/22/92) – Misawa wins the Triple Crown from Stan Hansen, beginning his two year Triple Crown reign.

10. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (10/21/92) – Misawa makes his first Triple Crown defense against his partner.



Disc 4: “Different Paths”

11. World Tag Titles: © Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams (01/30/93) – Misawa and Kawada lose the tag titles to Gordy and Williams. This would be the last time they would hold the tag titles and one of their last matches as a team.

12. Champions Carnival 1993: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (03/27/93) – A match from the 1993 Champion Carnival. The animosity is not their yet, more of a contest between former partners.

13. Champions Carnival 1993: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Akira Taue (04/13/93) – Former rivals Taue and Kawada show each other mutual respect after going to a draw, foreshadowing their eventual teaming up.



DISC 5: “New Beginings”

14. World Tag Team Titles: Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue vs. © Terry Gordy & Steve Williams (05/26/93) – Kawada and Taue team up and win back the Tag Titles that Kawada and Misawa lost to Gordy and Williams.

15. World Tag Team Title: Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi vs. © Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue (06/01/93) – The first meeting of these teams, a combination that would become legendary.

16. Misawa/Kobashi/Akiyama vs. Kawada/Taue/Ogawa (07/02/93) – Probably the best six man tag you’ll ever see. Everyone plays their roles perfectly, and the crowd goes crazy for the Misawa/Kawada exchanges.



DISC 6: “Enemies”

17. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (07/29/93) – They finally bring the HATE here. Their first singles match with full on animosity.

18. 1993 RWTL: Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (12/03/93) – Best match of the feud up to this point. Remember the 1988 RWTL match here; unlike five years ago, when Kawada’s injured knee stopped him from being able to save Tenryu, this time his knee stops him from tagging Taue in. One of the best tag matches you’ll ever see.

19. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (4/11/94) – This match would have been part of the actual Champion’s Carnival but Misawa was injured... so they still had the match but its non-tourney.



DISC 7: “The Greatest Battle”

20. Champions Carnival 1994 Finals: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Steve Williams (04/16/94) – Kawada wins the 94 carnival and earns another shot at Misawa’s titles. Interesting note here: Kawada beats Williams, the man who would go on to end Misawa’s TC title reign in October. Great match too.

21. World Tag Team Title: Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (05/21/94) – Kawada’s a real prick here, booting Misawa off the apron repeatedly. Just a great vicious tag match, the final 20 min are especially awesome. This match sort of sets the template for the epic tags to come.

22. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (06/03/94) – Pure Art. One of the best matches you’ll ever see. You can FEEL Kawada’s determination. Watch Misawa go for the knee, watch Kawada bust Misawa’s eardrum. Best singles match of the feud, some say all time.



DISC 8: “A Singles Title”

23. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Steve Williams (10/22/94) – Kawada FINALLY wins the Triple Crown. From the man who beat Misawa no less...

24. Champions Carnival 95: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (04/06/95) – Kawada literally breaks Misawa’ face (orbital bone) 30 seconds in... And then they go for another 29:30. That’s dedication. Fun match too.



DISC 9: “The Epic Tag”

25. World Tag Team Title: Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (06/09/95) – In my opinion the best men’s tag match of all time, with a finish that was literally years in the making. Epic storytelling that will likely never be equaled. You need to see the back-story for it to truly work it’s magic. The very definition of a must see match, with some of the greatest selling/visuals/storytelling in a wrestling match that have ever been filmed.

26. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (07/24/95) – Misawa looks to avenge his first pin fall loss to Kawada. Great, great fast paced match. This one doesn’t get enough love.



DISC 10: “60 Minute Classic”

27. World Tag Titles: © Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (10/15/95) – Probably the best 60 min tag match you’ll ever see. Much better than their 1/24/95 60 min draw. I wanted to pick one of the two 60 min draws for this set, I picked this one. You’ll thank me if you’ve never seen it.



DISC 11: “2 Pinfalls”

28. 1996 RWTL Final: Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada (12/06/96) – If 6/9/95 is the best men’s tag of all time, this is a close second. Kawada once again pins Misawa. A true classic all around.

29. Champions Carnival 1997: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (04/02/97) – Fun match. Continuing their series of 30 min draws in the carny.

30. Champions Carnival 1997 Finals: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (04/19/97) – Kawada pins Misawa for the first time in singles competition... In less than 7 minutes...



DISC 12: “The War Continues”

31. Champions Carnival 1997 Finals: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi (04/19/97) – ...and then pins Kobashi on the same night, winning him the 97 Carnival and earning him another shot at Misawa’s titles.

32. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (06/06/97) – Kawada tries to give Misawa brain damage by dropping him on his head more times than you can count. Awesome match. Some hate the head dropping; I love the viciousness of Kawada in this match. Oh the head dropping...

33. Champions Carnival 1998: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (03/29/98 ) – Another 30 min draw. This was needed to set up the “no time limit” stipulation for their upcoming dome match.



DISC 13: “Victory at Last”

34. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (05/01/98 ) – In front of a crowd of 58,300 at the Tokyo Dome, six years after their first Triple Crown match, five years since they were partners, and three years since getting his first pin over Misawa, Kawada FINALLY pins Misawa for the Triple Crown on the biggest stage possible.

35. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (01/22/99) – Kawada breaks his arm mere minutes into this match, that doesn’t stop him from pinning Misawa again, and hitting the infamous Ganso bomb in the process. Brutal match.

36. Triple Crown: Toshiaki Kawada vs. © Mitsuharu Misawa (07/23/99) – Misawa faces Kawada in the final Triple Crown match they will ever have. This match works as a highlight reel for their feud, featuring most of their signature spots, like Kawada kicking the crap out of Misawa in the corner, Misawa standing up after Kawada's shin kicks, a tease of the Ganso bomb, and the Tiger Driver '91.



DISC: 14 “Aftermath”

37. Champions Carnival 2000: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (03/31/00) – Kawada and Misawa meet for the final time in the champion’s carnival. This will be the last match they will ever have against each other in an All Japan ring. Misawa wins, with the first Emerald Frosion he ever hit on Kawada.

38. Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (NOAH, 07/18/05) – In front of a huge Tokyo Dome crowd, at NOAH’s biggest show ever, and more than 12 years after their rivalry started, Misawa faces Kawada in what will most likely be the final chapter of their feud. Whether the right man won in the end, that’s for you, the viewer, to decide...


Keith_h's History of Misawa vs. Taue (4 Disc Set)

Continuing in the series of the All Japan big 4 against one another, we now come to the Misawa vs. Taue singles

match series. Spanning 16 years, and 14 taped matches, Misawa and Taue's rivalry has always been over shadowed by

the Misawa/Kobashi and Misawa/Kawada feuds. This is a shame, because the Misawa/Taue feud produced some amazing

matches. Hell the worst of their matches was still a good match, while their best match (4/15/95) is an all time

classic and comparable even to the best of the Misawa/Kawada and Misawa/Kobashi singles matches. Yes, it's that

good. I know there are a lot of people out there that can't stand or won't give Taue a chance, and that's to bad

because Taue was always a decent worker and from '95-98 he was pure awesome. Taue has been called boring,

average, or bad by many people, but a boring, average or bad worker could never have competed in singles matches

of this caliber. I've heard it said that these matches are only good because Misawa dragged Taue through them.

From '91-'93 this may have some truth... after that though... no, it's not true. Misawa did face average workers

in singles matches (Gary Albright, Johnny Ace, Shinzaki, Ogawa) and he never "dragged" them to anything near

matches this good. Misawa didn't even have matches this good with wrestlers like Jun Akiyama, Stan Hansen, Dr.

Death, or Terry Gordy either. Yet he had one (4/15/95), almost two (9/10/95 is so very close to perfect...) *****

matches with Akira Taue... go figure. Maybe that's because Taue really was great, and could more than hold his

own in there Misawa. Taue haters out there, give him a chance, you might end up liking what you see.
MATCH LISTINGS:

DISC 1:
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (All Japan - 1/26/91) ***3/4 - Their first match. Misawa is the leader of the new

generation, while Taue is Jumbo's second in the old guard. A very famous move debuts in this match, and is named

after the date.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (JIP - All Japan - 3/1/92) *** - Probably the least of their matches. Taue is not

yet in his good stage.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (All Japan - 10/18/92) ***1/2 - Much better than their match from 7 months

earlier, Taue brings the fight to the newly crowned champion.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Triple Crown - 2/28/93) **** - Excellent match. Their first triple crown match,

and probably the best singles match of Taue's career up to this point, as he looks SOOOO much better than he did

the year before.

DISC 2:
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Champions Carnival - 30:00 MIN DRAW - 4/12/95) ****1/2 - '95 was the start of

legendary "Taue Miracle Run" where Taue stepped up his game and took it to Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi like never

before. Taue comes into this match with decisive wins over Kawada and Kobashi earlier in the tournament. Both

guys go all out for 30:00 minutes to set up the finals just three days later.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Champions Carnival Final - 4/15/95) ***** - Both guys are on track to win their

first champions carnival. Taue has been on fire, beating everyone in his path, and debuting the Dynamic Bomb to

finish off his opponents. Misawa has beaten Taue many times before. But can he still? The best singles match of

Taue's career, and probably in the top 5 for Misawa. Both guys just go all out and give it everything they've got

in an absolute classic.
Champions Carnival Final Slow Motion Replays - Then you get the always awesome slow motion replays. I wish other

feds would include these.

DISC 3:
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Triple Crown - 9/10/95) ****3/4 - "Almost" as good as their CC '95 classic, Taue

has more confidence here and takes it to Misawa with all he can muster. An under appreciated classic.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Triple Crown - 5/24/96) ****1/4 - Taue FINALLY does the impossible and pins

Misawa for his 1ST and ONLY triple crown championship. A lot of people criticize this match as too small or not

epic enough, I love it. It's got a nice compact little story, and tells it in an awesome way.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Triple Crown - 7/25/97) ****1/4 - Another excellent match. Both guys know each

other so well by now, and they pull out an awesome triple crown title match.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (Champions Carnival - 3/22/98) ***3/4 - Little seen, but very good match from the

'98 champions carnival. The finish may surprise you...
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (JIP - All Japan - 2/17/00) **** - Another little seen, but great match. The last

match these two would have in an All Japan ring.

DISC 4:
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (GHC Title - 5/18/01) ***1/2 - Misawa makes the 1st ever GHC Title defense

against Taue. Fun match, if a bit "small" for what they seemed to be trying for. Misawa takes a nasty chokeslam

off the ramp through a table.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (NOAH - 8/1/04) ***1/2 - This match will set up the challenger for Kobashi's GHC

Title next month. Both guys give it their all to try and win that honor. Very good match, for two old guys

throwing bombs.
Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue (GHC Title - 7/15/07) ***1/4 - The last match they've had (so far). Misawa is the

aging GHC champ, Taue is not what he once was but can still bring it a few times a year. 16 years after their

first encounter, both guys can still pull out a good match. Watch for a VERY SICK spot at the end.