Japanese Pro-Wrestler Dies During Match

by Scott C. Broussard on Jun 16, 2009 10:58 AM EDT

Mitsuharu Misawa was a popular Japanese wrestler and widely considered one of the best in the business, winning a five-time AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, three-time GHC Heavyweight Champion and was named Wrestler of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter on three occasions (thank you, Wikipedia). In a match on June 13, 2009, he received a belly-to-back suplex, landed directly on his head, was knocked unconscious, and died shortly after due to spinal cord injuries. Why bring this up here? Because this is the lethal technique:

While rarely seen, the suplex can be used in MMA (see also here, here, and here), much to the delight of the fans, who reward the fighter with cheers, and promoters, who reward the fighter with cash bonuses to keep doing it. Events like Misawa's death are reminders that there are very real dangers to the sport, and these athletes really do risk their lives with every fight. It's good to remember that.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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good post

good point
thanks

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 16, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

That's why I was kinda pissed that no one really brought up marquardt spiking leites..

It was a very dangerous, and intentional, move by him which couldve resulted to something really bad for leites, and to the entire sport if he landed it.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jun 16, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Did anyone notice that piledrivers are in the videogame? That shit is ridiculous.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Jun 16, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Again, I don’t think that was intentional. The guys were tired and slippery and i think he just didn’t get the proper position to slam and was to tired to pull it off properly. regardless, it is dangerous and I’m glad Leites was ok.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Jun 16, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Jun 16, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

I tried embedding that in the post but couldn’t get it to work – didn’t think to put in the comments – thanks.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Jun 16, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Jesus. Misawa was one of my favorites when I was really into puroresu.

At the same time, I can’t say I’m surprised. Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi, and all those guys who made AJPW in the early and mid 90s were famous for heavy bumps that featured landing on their heads/necks.

Misawa’s wiki says he died due to spinal damage. While suplexes (especially ones that have the victim landing on their head or neck) are dangerous, I have to imagine Misawa’s death had a lot to do with sustained punishment on his neck and not the trauma of one direct shot.

Man, this is sad. Never like to see any athlete die in the ring or on the field.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 16, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

For those who don’t know who Misawa was, it would be like Ric Flair dying over here during a match. I will miss him, truly one of the best workers of all time.

by TheAlphaNerd on Jun 16, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

On the UG they are saying he died of a heart attack due to the impact triggering it…. so its officially spinal chord injuries that caused his death?

In the footage that I saw on the UG, they were moving him around and I was under the impression that with spinal injuries you need to be immobilized.

What the fuck is a "robster craw"?

by Gunslinger20 on Jun 16, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Whether or not this kid died due to spinal trauma is irrelevant, really. It’s dangerous to spike your opponent’s head onto the mat and that is why it’s against the rules. I think the suplex is the same concept as a piledriver except that it is something I see quite often in MMA, especially in regards to top-level wrestlers. It’s quite effective as a technique, maybe even too much much. I would hate to ban it (technically it is if the spiking-opponent’s-head rule counts in this situation) but I would rather not see it than have somebody die during a UFC event or some shit..

by Ahhhoki on Jun 16, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Misawa was 46, definitely not a kid.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 16, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Already addressed that below.

by Ahhhoki on Jun 16, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Whether or not this kid died due to spinal trauma is irrelevant,

Kid? This guy is old enough to be your father, probably your grandfather….

What the fuck is a "robster craw"?

by Gunslinger20 on Jun 16, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Probably true, but it’s just a word. I didn’t really think too hard about the noun I was using.

by Ahhhoki on Jun 16, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

IMO... You missed the scariest example...

by EnsignFrog on Jun 16, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

One of the first lessons you are tauight in Judo is how to fall and land with a reduced risk of injury.

by Ahhhoki on Jun 16, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

That was exactly what came to mind for me.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Jun 16, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

/Self-facepalm

I also searched for Lindland’s “suplex” on Vitale but couldn’t find a damn gif.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Jun 16, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

This

fight alone makes him #1.

by Riney on Jun 16, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesnt matter how many times you see that. Whenever its on a video or a gif or anything, I always watching it 4 or 5 times thinking: “How on earth is he 1) alive 2) walking 3) carrying the W”

by GeeDub on Jun 17, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Strictly speaking, the only belly to back suplex there was Barnett/Yoshida. Stevenson and Valencia rocked some german suplexes and Palhares looked to have done a modified gutwrench suplex.

by ilostmydog on Jun 16, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions