🖤🖤
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 “Four Pillars” of AJPW). Misawa’s stiff chops, precise execution, and emotional in-ring storytelling left a massive legacy, influencing countless wrestlers in Japan and beyond.