RIP - Mitsuharu Misawa

[hydrophonic]

I know there aren't a lot of puroresu fans here, but Misawa was one of the greatest of all time.  His matches with Jumbo Tsuruta, Kenta Kobiashi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Jun Akiyama are favorites of mine.

Here is a nice little tribute video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8PLkjfwZvU

[obutiny]

One of the true legends.  It's so very sad.

[hydrophonic]

Not sure which site to credit for this, I saw it on another wrestling board.


Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry on www.jrsbarbq.com touching upon several topics, including a recent discussion with Stan Hansen, Umaga's release and more. Ross also discusses the passing of Mitsuharu Misawa, advising young wrestlers to seek out his matches to study:

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.