Misawa, arguably Japan's greatest modern-day grappler, was tagging with highly-regarded youngster Go Shiozaki in the main event of a show in Hiroshima
They were taking on Akitoshi Saito & Bison Smith for their GHC World Tag Team titles when he failed to get up from a moderately dangerous looking back suplex move, a staple of NOAH matches.
Misawa would have taken the move thousands of times before but this time he stayed motionless.
A hushed crowd watched efforts to resuscitate him, before he was taken out of the ring, still unconscious, on a stretcher.
Misawa was declared dead in hospital at 10:10pm local time on Saturday.
His career began when, as a national high school wrestling champion, he turned pro in 1981.
His first taste of fame came three years later as the second incarnation of Tiger Mask. more...
And who says pro-resu is fake..?
