Japanese wrestling legend Hayabusa (Eiji Ezaki), known as one of the most innovative high-flyers of the 1990s, passed away on Thursday at the age of 47 according to Tokyo Sports. The cause of death for Hayabusa was said to be due to “subarchanoid hemorrhage”, or bleeding around the area of the brain.
Hayabusa made his name in the 1990s, competing for FMW and putting himself on the map after a match with Jushin Liger in the 1994 New Japan Super J Cup tournament that featured WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and others. Hayabusa rarely wrestled in the US, with his most notable match being a tag match at the ECW Heatwave 1998 PPV, teaming with the former Hakushi in WWE, losing to ECW Tag Team Champions at the time, Sabu & Rob Van Dam.
Hayabusa’s in-ring career ended in 2001 when he was forced to retire after being paralyzed in a match when he landed on his head attempting a Lionsault. Hayabusa was confined to a wheelchair for most of the rest of his life, although he was finally able to stand up and walk into a wrestling ring on his own two feet in a ceremony held in Japan last year.
On behalf of the staff at Wrestleview.com, we send out our condolences to the family and friends of Hayabusa during this tough time.