10 Wrestlers Whose Careers Ended Suddenly

By Douglas Scarpa /

9. Hayabusa

An incredibly talented performer from Japan, Hayabusa was one of the hottest stars of the 1990€™s international scene. He got his start in FMW -- Frontier Martial Arts -- a promotion often considered the Japanese equivalent of ECW. Hayabusa even competed for the stateside Extreme promotion during the company's Heatwave 1998 pay-per-view. Sadly, Hayabusa€™s career was relatively short-lived, as he suffered a terrible injury in 2001. While competing against Mammoth Sasaki, he attempted a springboard moonsault that left him paralyzed. Hayabusa€™s feet slipped off the ropes, and he came crashing headfirst into the mat at an extremely awkward angle. Hayabusa never wrestled again and has been confined to a wheelchair since that day. However, the legendary competitor has remained active within the wrestling world despite his severe injury. Working behind-the-scenes, Hayabusa ran his own promotion for a few years and also became involved with Japan€™s Dragon Gate company.