10 Darkest YouTube Wrestling Videos
2. Hayabusa's Career-Ending Injury
This one is probably the most difficult to watch, given that it ended Eiji 'Hayabusa' Ezaki's legendary in-ring career. Innovator of the Phoenix Splash used by Seth Rollins, Hayabusa nearly paid the ultimate price for his daredevil approach to the mat game.
Performing his signature springboard moonsault, Hayabusa lost his footing on the middle rope, slipping with a violent pace to the bottom, which in turn caused him to heavily under-rotate. Landing with considerable force on the top of his head from a very short distance, his neck consequently snapped back on itself horrifically, travelling a good foot across the canvas. Two of his vertebrae were cracked, and he was paralysed instantly.
The video is so wince-inducing that it's difficult not to hold your breath whenever Chris Jericho attempts to pull off the same manoeuvre.
In consolation, before his untimely death earlier this year at the age of 47, Hayabusa went on to forge a singing career and worked with Dragon Gate in a promotional capacity. More incredibly still, he regained enough feeling in his body that he was able to walk unassisted, which he did to incredibly emotional effect in 2015 to a ceremonial ten count.