Whether you're taking match quality or drawing power, this guy was an all-time great. Had a large percentage of the greatest matches in the 90s and had the ability to impart significance in his biggest matches. Also a very cautionary tale to learn from regarding landing on your head too often.
RIP and respect for Mitsuharu Misawa, who passed away on this date in Pro Wrestling History, June 13th, 2009 at the age of 46. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers ever, he started as the second-generation Tiger Mask in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in 1984, becoming an instant sensation with his high-flying, hard-hitting style. He later dropped the mask and rose to become a dominant main-eventer, winning the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship multiple times and forming iconic rivalries with Kenta Kobashi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Akira Taue (known as the โFour Pillarsโ of AJPW). Misawaโs stiff chops, precise execution, and emotional in-ring storytelling left a massive legacy, influencing countless wrestlers in Japan and beyond.