Interesting Facts about Mitsuharu Misawa

Interesting Facts about Mitsuharu Misawa

July 29, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

If you talk to many hardcore wrestling fans and ask them who the greatest professional wrestler of all time is, many will say one name: Mitsuharu Misawa. After originally paying his dues and improving his craft during the 1980s as the second incarnation of Tiger Mask, he eventually would shine throughout the 1990s as the top star of All Japan Pro Wrestling where he engaged in one legendary match after another to the point where many would argue he was absolute best wrestler of the entire decade. During the later part of his career, he would also become known as a promoter as he founded Pro Wrestling NOAH. Sadly, despite his achievements, Misawa also became known for tragedy. The brutal King's Road style of wrestling he participated in which it along with bad luck and the pressure to press on in the ring at a time when he shouldn't have been even wrestling anymore would lead to his sad early death due to a cervical spinal cord injury he suffered during a match in 2009 at only 46 years old. This past June marked the fifteenth anniversary of Misawa's passing and I decided to pay tribute by looking back at some interesting facts.

Note: I don't own the pictures, I found them on Google. Credit to the owners.

 

Was An Eight Time World Champion- We start with the usual. As mentioned, Misawa is a legend in professional wrestling and a man considered to have arguably been one of, if not, the greatest in all of wrestling in the 1990s. Having said that, it probably doesn't come as any surprise that Misawa has not only been a world champion in wrestling but has been world champ multiple times. Specifically, Misawa held two world titles eight times between them from 1992-2008. In all, Misawa would hold All Japan's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship five times and NOAH's Global Honored Crown Heavyweight Championship three times. His first Triple Crown win came when he defeated Stan Hansen on August 22, 1992 and he held it until losing it to Steve Williams on July 28, 1994. His second Triple Crown win came when he defeated Stan Hansen on May 26, 1995 and he held it until losing it to Akira Taue on May 24, 1996. His third Triple Crown win came when he defeated Kenta Kobashi on January 20, 1997 and he held it until losing it to Toshiaki Kawada on May 1, 1998. His four Triple Crown win came when he defeated Kenta Kobashi on October 31, 1998 and he held it until losing it to Toshiaki Kawada on January 22, 1999. His fifth and final Triple Crown win came when he defeated Vader on May 2, 1999 and he held it until losing it back to Vader on October 30, 1999. His first GHC Heavyweight Title reign came when he became the inaugural champion by defeating Yoshihiro Takayama in a tournament final on April 15, 2001 and he held it until losing it to Jun Akiyama on July 27, 2001. His second GHC Title reign came when he defeated Yoshihiro Takayama on September 23, 2002 and he held it until losing it to Kenta Kobashi on March 1, 2003. His third and final GHC Title reign came when he defeated Naomichi Marufuji on December 10, 2006 and he held it until losing it to Takeshi Morishima on March 2, 2008.

Holds the Longevity Record for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship- This one is pretty well known but deserves to be put on the list. Since 1989, All Japan's top championship is the Triple Crown: a unification of three prestigious championship. Over the last 35 years, a who's who have held the gold from native legends like Jumbo Tsuruta, Genichiro Tenryu, Keiji Mutoh, Satoshi Kojima, Kensuke Sasaki, and Suwama to foreign legends like Stan Hansen, Steve Williams, Terry Gordy, and Vader. However, out of all the legends who have held the Triple Crown, no one has dominated it the same way Mitsuharu Misawa did. His first reign would be one of wrestling's greatest world title reigns as Misawa would hold the belts for 705 days or 23 months, just short of two years. This makes Misawa the longest Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in history to date. As an added bonus, Misawa also holds the record for most combined days as champion as he held it for a combined 1,799 days over five reigns.

Won the World's Strongest Tag League Tournament More Times in a Row Than Anyone Else- If you follow Japanese wrestling, you would know that's usually a tradition for many of the top men and women's promotions to do yearly tournaments with one usually being a singles while the other is a tag team. All Japan is no different as since 1977, the promotion has held a yearly tag tournament called The World's Strongest Tag Determination League or The Real World Tag League. Many legends and many teams have competed in this prestigious tournament. Misawa would not only be one of many to compete but would make his own mark in the tournament. During his dominant run as All Japan's ace during the 1990s, Misawa would win the tournament on four occasions and on top of that, would win it four years in a row. In 1992, he won the tournament with Toshiaki Kawada while from 1993-1995 would win the tournament with Kenta Kobashi. By winning the tournament four years in a row, Misawa holds the record for most WSTL wins in a row which is impressive given the names that have won it and how long the tournament has been going.

His Signature Green Attire was Inspired by Wrestler Horst Hoffman- Just about every wrestler who enters the profession usually grew up a fan of another wrestler or would be inspired by one. Misawa would be no different. Growing up, Misawa was a fan of the All Japan product but one of his favorite wrestlers was a man named Horst Hoffman. Hoffman was a German wrestler born in 1935 and turned pro in 1957. Competing for twenty years, Hoffman was a journeyman who mostly worked throughout Europe including in England for the British Wrestling Association where he held their European Heavyweight Championship. He would also do time in the United States for the AWA and then in Japan first for the IWE and then for All Japan. Finishing his career in All Japan, Hoffman would feud with the top names in the promotion including Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, and The Destroyer while participating in the first WSTL in 1977 where he teamed with Billy Robinson. It's been said that Misawa took his signature emerald green colors for his attire from Hoffman.

Was the Only Member of The Four Pillars of Heaven to Have Been a Junior Heavyweight Champion- In case you don't know, the Four Pillars of Heaven were All Japan's top four wrestlers of the 1990s consisting of Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue. Misawa's career is very well known and the stuff of legend. As is well known, before he became one of wrestling's best talents in the 1990s, Misawa was the second incarnation of Tiger Mask from 1984-1990. Upon being given the gimmick in 1984, Misawa would spend the first two years of his run with the gimmick as All Japan's top junior heavyweight and it would be here where he first became a champion. On August 31, 1985, Misawa won his first title when he defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi for the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship. Misawa would hold the belt for ten months until vacating it in June 1986 after graduating to the heavyweight division. With this win, Misawa became the only wrestler of the Four Pillars to capture a junior heavyweight title.

Was the Last Wrestler to Challenge for the AWA World Title in an All Japan Ring- I covered this one on my Curt Hennig Interesting Facts article but it's worth bringing up here. The American Wrestling Association or AWA was one of wrestling's greatest promotions. Formed in 1960 and headed by legendary wrestler and promoter Verne Gagne, the promotion was responsible for launching or enhancing the careers of all time greats including The Crusher, Mad Dog Vachon, Jesse Ventura, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Nick Bockwinkel, Curt Hennig, Scott Hall, The Road Warriors, and Hulk Hogan. From 1980-1988, the promotion had a working relationship with All Japan which saw the AWA World Championship defended at All Japan shows or even All Japan talent like Jumbo Tsuruta and Stan Hansen getting runs with the belt. On January 2, 1988, Misawa as Tiger Mask would attempt to be the third All Japan wrestler to hold the belt when he challenged fellow legend Curt Hennig for the title. In the end, Misawa won by count out in 11:22 which did cause some controversy as titles normally change hands by count out or disqualification in Japan so the fans assumed Misawa won the title but because it was under AWA rules, Hennig retained the title as the title didn't change hands by count out or disqualification in the AWA. The match would turn out to be the final time the AWA World Title was defended in All Japan as the two promotions broke off their relationship and the AWA started one with New Japan until shutting down three years later.

Competed in a Crockett Cup- From 1986-1988, one of the big events in Jim Crockett Promotions/National Wrestling Alliance was the Crockett Cup. The Crockett Cup was a tag team tournament spanning two events with 24 teams battling it out for the Cup and a $1,000,000 check. Most modern day fans are perhaps familiar with it with Billy Corgan reviving it in 2019 for his NWA. Many all time greats and teams have competed for the Cup and as it turns out, Misawa would be one of those legends. At the inaugural tournament in 1986, Misawa (as Tiger Mask) would team with Giant Baba where the team got a bye in the first round, defeated Black Bart and Jimmy Garvin in the second round, and lost to eventual runner ups Magnum TA and Ron Garvin in the quarterfinals.

Was the First Tiger Mask to have No Real History with New Japan- One of wrestling's most enduring characters is Tiger Mask. Based off a manga created by Ikki Kajawara (real name Asaki Takamori), Tiger Mask would burst into the wrestling scene in 1981 when New Japan purchased the rights to the gimmick and gave it to Satoru Sayama. Sayama would become a massive star over the next two years as New Japan's top junior heavyweight as well as in appearances for the WWF. His matches with The Dynamite Kid became legendary. Over the decades, many wrestlers have donned the Tiger Mask or a variation of it and usually whenever you thought of Tiger Mask, you thought of him in New Japan. Misawa would become the second to don the mask but unlike Sayama and most of his successors, Misawa had little to no history with New Japan. In fact, not counting co-promoted shows, he only wrestled four matches for New Japan in his 28 year career. Misawa would actually be one of the few men to portray Tiger Mask that had no real history with New Japan. As mentioned, Sayama had a huge run in the early 80s in New Japan and was trained in their dojo. Koji Kanemoto, who portrayed Tiger Mask III, and Tiger Mask IV would enjoy legendary runs in New Japan while Kanemoto also came out of the New Japan dojo. Other New Japan alumni who portrayed Tiger Mask include Kota Ibushi (as Tiger Mask W) and Masakatsu Funaki (as Shinsetsu Tiger Mask) as Ibushi had a big run in the promotion during the 2010s while Funaki trained in the New Japan dojo and was the youngest graduate at 16 years old in 1984. In the end, the only other Tiger Mask with no real history was Tiger Mask V who was MMA legend Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa.

The Only Four Pillar to Have Multiple Reigns With The GHC Heavyweight Championship- Since April 2001, one of Pro Wrestling NOAH's top prizes is the Global Honored Crown or GHC Heavyweight Championship. The belt has been held by a who's who in Japanese wrestling and been contested in some of wrestling's greatest matches. To no surprise, members of the Four Pillars of Heaven would be among the roll call of champions. However, Misawa would be the only one to hold the championship for more than one reign. As mentioned above, Misawa held the GHC Heavyweight Title on three occasions from April 2001 to March 2008. Both Kenta Kobashi and Akira Taue would also wear the championship but only once each as Kobashi would have his legendary two year run with the belt from March 2003 to March 2005 while Taue would hold it from November 2005 to January 2006 in what was the final championship of his career. Meanwhile, Toshiaki Kawada would, of course, never hold the belt given the little time he appeared for the promotion in his career.

Was the First Wrestler to Hold The Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship a Full Calendar Year- As I mentioned above, All Japan's top championship for 35 years has been the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. Like the GHC Heavyweight Championship, many all time greats have held it and it's been contested in some of wrestling's greatest matches. As mentioned, Misawa is the longest reigning Triple Crown Champion as he held it for 23 months from August 1992 to July 1994. This also saw Misawa make history again as he held the championship throughout all of 1993 which meant Misawa was the first wrestler to hold the championship a full calendar year. As of 2024, Misawa is now only one of three men to have accomplished this feat. Appropriately enough, the others were former partner/rival Toshiaki Kawada who did it in 2004 and current All Japan ace Kento Miyahara who did it in 2019.

The Character K.G. Misawa In Metroid: Other M Was Supposedly Named After Him- Like a lot of Japanese wrestlers, Misawa was sort of a private man and not a lot was known about his personal life. Even long time associates of his had no idea he even had children at one point. One thing that became known of Misawa was he was a huge video game fan. So much so, he even gave a list of his favorite video games to the Japanese magazine Famitsu. Following Misawa's passing in 2009, many would pay tribute but not all the tributes came from wrestling. One may have come from the video game world. In 2010, Nintendo released the latest game from their Metroid series called "Metroid: Other M" which continued the adventures of iconic video game character and bounty hunter Samus Aran. One of the minor characters in the game was a character named "K.G. Misawa" and while I don't know if it's been confirmed, it has been said that he was named after Misawa. There's definitely weight to this as the character was originally to be named "K.G. Wong" before the change so Misawa wasn't always the choice. Second, the game did come out in 2010, a year after Misawa's passing so the events were close. If true, it's certainly a nice and fascinating tribute.