10 Great Wrestlers Whose Careers Were Cut Short
3. Hayabusa
The ace of the infamous FMW promotion, Hayabusa was a hardcore pioneer of high-flying offence throughout the '90s. Sadly for the masked man, his storied career, one that had made him a superstar in both his native Japan and Mexico, hit an abrupt end on October 22, 2001. Going for a quebrada (a.k.a Lionsault), Hayabusa's feet slipped on the rope and he broke his neck on impact.
In the months after, Hayabusa wasted away from 232lbs to a dangerously underweight 127lbs as he struggled with paralysis, pneumonia and kidney failure. His career was over at just 32. With the wrestler widely regarded as their heart and soul gone, FMW shut down soon after.
Hayabusa would eventually walk again with the assistance of a cane. He maintained a presence in wrestling via his Wrestling's Marvellous Future promotion for several years and even performed both on stage and as a singer. A beloved cult hero in wrestling, the Falcon Arrow and Phoenix Splash innovator influenced many wrestlers to come including Chris Jericho, PAC, A.J. Styles, Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy.
Hayabusa passed away from a cerebral haemorrhage in 2016 at 47. He left behind a legacy as one of the most outstanding and inventive wrestlers of all time.