Mitsuharu Misawa

was a Japanese professional wrestler. Considered one of the best wrestlers in professional wrestling history, Misawa was a five-time AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, three-time GHC Heavyweight Champion and was named Wrestler of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter three times; in which Meltzer has also given Misawa the most 5-Star rated matches in professional wrestling history with 24 all together. Misawa was also known as Tiger Mask II. On June 13, 2009, Misawa teamed with Go Shiozaki against GHC tag team champions Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith at Hiroshima Green Arena in a title match. After taking a belly to back suplex from Saito, Misawa lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead in the hospital at 10:10 p.m.

In wrestling
Finishing moves
Emerald Flowsion, sometimes from the second rope or preceded by a vertical suplex lift or a fireman's carry – innovated
Tiger Driver, sometimes from the second rope – innovated
Tiger Driver '91 (Kneeling double underhook ganso bomb)

Signature moves
Discus lariat
Elbow Suicida (Suicide dive transitioned into an elbow smash)
Multiple suplex variations
Bridging / Release German
Bridging / Release wrist–clutch tiger – innovated
Tiger Suplex '85 (Bridging / release three-quarter nelson) – innovated
Release Dragon Suplex
Rolling Elbow (Discus elbow smash)
Tiger Body Press (Frog splash)

Nicknames
"The Standard Bearer of Future Generations"

Championships and accomplishments
All Japan Pro Wrestling
AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kenta Kobashi (1) and Yoshinari Ogawa (1)
AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Toshiaki Kawada (2), Kenta Kobashi (2), Jun Akiyama (1) and Yoshinari Ogawa (1)
NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jumbo Tsuruta
Champion's Carnival (1995, 1998)
World's Strongest Tag Team League (1992) – with Toshiaki Kawada
World's Strongest Tag Team League (1993, 1994, 1995) – with Kenta Kobashi
January 2nd Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (1987) 

Pro Wrestling Noah
GHC Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
GHC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Yoshinari Ogawa
Global Tag League (2009) – with Go Shiozaki
One Day Six Man Heavyweight Tag Team Tournemant Winner (2008) - with Takeshi Morishima & Mohammed Yone 

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked him #2 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997
PWI ranked him #37 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
Rookie of the Year (1982) 
Wrestler of the Year (2007) 
Fighting Spirit (1985, 1990) 
Performance Award (1997) 
Tag Team of the Year (1991)- with Toshiaki Kawada 
Tag Team of the Year (1993, 1994)- with Kenta Kobashi 
Match of the Year (1995)- with Kenta Kobashi vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on June 9, 1995 
Match of the Year (1997)- vs. Kenta Kobashi on October 21, 1997 
Match of the Year (1998)- vs. Kenta Kobashi on October 31, 1998 
Match of the Year (2003)- vs. Kenta Kobashi on March 1, 2003 
Match of the Year (2007)- with Jun Akiyama vs. Kenta Kobashi and Yoshihiro Takayama on December 2, 2007 

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
5 Star Match (1985) vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi on March 9
5 Star Match (1990) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta on June 8
5 Star Match (1990) with Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue and Masanobu Fuchi on October 19
5 Star Match (1991) with Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue and Masanobu Fuchi on April 20
5 Star Match (1992) with Kenta Kobashi and Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue and Masanobu Fuchi on May 22
5 Star Match (1993)  with Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue and Yoshinari Ogawa on July 2
5 Star Match (1993) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada on December 3 
5 Star Match (1994) with Kenta Kobashi and Giant Baba vs. Masanobu Fuchi, Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on February 13 
5 Star Match (1994) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada on May 21 
5 Star Match (1994) vs. Toshiaki Kawada on June 3 
5 Star Match (1995) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada on January 21
5 Star Match (1995) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Steve Williams and Johnny Ace on March 4
5 Star Match (1995) vs. Akira Taue on April 15
5 Star Match (1995) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada on June 9
5 Star Match (1995) with Kenta Kobashi and Satoru Asako vs. Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue and Tamon Honda on June 30 
5 Star Match (1996) with Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on May 23
5 Star Match (1996) with Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams and Johnny Ace on June 7
5 Star Match (1996) with Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on December 6
5 Star Match (1997) vs. Toshiaki Kawada on June 6
5 Star Match (1997) with Jun Akiyama vs. Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue on December 5
5 Star Match (1998) vs. Kenta Kobashi on October 31
5 Star Match (1999) vs. Kenta Kobashi on June 11
5 Star Match (1999) with Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama on October 23
5 Star Match (2003) vs. Kenta Kobashi on March 1
Best Flying Wrestler (1985, 1986)
Best Wrestling Maneuver (1985) Topé con Giro
Feud of the Year (1990, 1991) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta
Match of the Year (1985) vs. Kuniaki Kobayashi on June 12, Tokyo, Japan
Match of the Year (1996) with Jun Akiyama vs. Steve Williams and Johnny Ace on June 7, Tokyo, Japan
Match of the Year (1998) vs. Kenta Kobashi on October 31, Tokyo, Japan
Match of the Year (1999) vs. Kenta Kobashi on June 11, Tokyo, Japan
Match of the Year (2003) vs. Kenta Kobashi on March 1, Tokyo, Japan
Most Outstanding Wrestler (1997, 1999)
Most Underrated Wrestler (1988)
Tag Team of the Year (1991) with Toshiaki Kawada
Tag Team of the Year (1995) with Kenta Kobashi
Tag Team of the Year (1996, 1997) with Jun Akiyama
Wrestler of the Year (1995, 1997, 1999)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Other websites

1962 births
2009 deaths
Deaths in sport
Japanese professional wrestlers
Sportspeople from Hokkaido