Misawa killed by spinal cord injury
MITSUHARU Misawa probably died from a cervical spinal cord injury rather than a heart attack, police reports from Japan indicate.
Misawa, 46, the founding father and President of Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan, died in the ring during the main event match at a show in Hiroshima on June 13.
The wrestling legend's family have decided to exercise the option under Japanese law to keep the official cause of death secret.
However police reports indicate that the cervical vertebrae, the top four vertebrae that connect the neck to the shoulders, had been dislocated from the back suplex that Misawa took, which in turn cut the spinal cord and brought about cardiopulmonary arrest.
An arrest from this kind of 'blunt force trauma' has a virtually 100 per cent mortality rate.
A spectator at the show told Japanese newspaper The Mainichi Daily News that Misawa did not seem himself during the match, as he "kept shaking his head and he looked to be in a bad way".
Like many wrestlers of his experience, the Japanese star had suffered from long-term neck and shoulder problems built up over years of taking bumps in the ring.
Being the President, or 'Shacho', of Pro Wrestling NOAH, he was likely to be reluctant to take time off to heal nagging injuries as stars like The Undertaker or Shawn Michaels are doing in WWE.
There were immediate repercussions in the aftermath of Misawa's death.
Reigning champion Jun Akiyama, himself a 17-year veteran, relinquished the GHC heavyweight title and retired from wrestling, due to herniated discs in his back.
Akiyama announced this in an emotional speech in the ring at the NOAH show the day after Misawa's death at Hakata Star Lanes.
Go Shiozaki, a former tag partner of Misawa, defeated Takeshi Rikio later that evening to become the new champion - a belt his close friend had held three times.
Akitoshi Saito, the man who delivered the suplex on Misawa, wrestled on the show, entering the ring in tears and pointing to the sky when he was introduced.
He once again broke down after the match and told reporters: "I will carry this heavy cross on my back forever."
Tributes have been pouring in from across the wrestling world.
Britain's own Doug Williams, a former tag team champion in NOAH and now a top star in TNA, told The Sun: "Misawa was a not only a great wrestler but a great boss.
"One thing that always struck me was how laid back and happy he was in contrast to the stoic and somewhat grumpy persona he would display in public and in his matches.
"In particular I remember one time when we were wrestling there was an unfortunate clash of heads which resulted in his eyebrow being bust open and blood pouring all down his face.
"I went, after the match, to the locker room to apologise but he wouldn't hear any of it - he just sat there laughing and grinning broadly whilst the doctor stitched him up.
"In fact, he always greeted me with a huge smile whenever I came on tour. So I guess he must have liked me!
"Shacho, may you rest in peace. I, for one, will never forget you."
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In an unprecedented move, the WWE have acknowledged the passing of a man who never wrestled for them in the US.
Executive Vice President John Laurinaitis, who wrestled with Misawa in the 1990s in Japan, commented: "On behalf of WWE, we were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of Mitsuharu Misawa.
"We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans. Misawa will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in Japan."
Jim Ross wrote a lengthy tribute to Misawa on his blog, saying: "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 being a highly skilled, pro wrestler, then study the late Mitsuharu Misawa. May he rest in peace."
On Raw this past Monday, CM Punk wrote MISAWA on his taped forearm in green marker pen and stars including Matt Hardy and David Hart Smith have also paid tribute.
TNA's Matt Morgan and Jeremy Borash also remembered the legend, with Morgan calling Misawa "a class act".
The fact that so many people from different corners of the wrestling world have united in their appreciation of Mitsuharu Misawa speaks volumes about the impact that this man had on the entire wrestling industry.
May he rest in peace.
The Sun
