12. Mitsuharu Misawa
Japanese icon Mitsuharu Misawa had gone from playing the second Tiger Mask to forging an identity as the top star of All-Japan Pro Wrestling and eventually forming his own promotion, Pro Wrestling NOAH. Misawa was working a tag team match on June 13, 2009 in Hiroshima, Japan when a suplex from opponent Akitoshi Saito apparently knocked him out. Misawa, who was wrestling hurt with neck and shoulder injuries is believed to have landed wrong, severing his spinal column. Paramedics attended to him, but Misawa died that night. Misawa’s family had the cause of death suppressed from the public, leading to speculation as to the exact cause of death.
