10 Wrestlers Who Can HONESTLY Be Labelled A Genius
4. Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa's one flaw wasn't a flaw at all.
Misawa wore a stoic, blank expression on his face at virtually all times, when his eyes weren't clenched in a pained grimace. Facial expressions are crucial to project emotion. Shawn Michaels' agonised selling made it feel like he'd just clipped his spine on that casket all over again, informing his last run with serious anxiety and drama. Edge's wide-eyed lust at doing despicable deeds set him apart as a true, rare modern heel. CM Punk's smug facials in the heel role were effective enough to make crowds forget that they adored him.
But it's an aspect of psychology Misawa never incorporated into his act - to incredible, in-character effect. Misawa's blank face reflected his unparalleled, pure ability. Misawa was a puzzle box of a professional wrestler with a vast, shifting repertoire he subverted and made even more deadly when the major occasions demanded it. He was the Ace of All Japan Pro Wrestling, and thus incredibly difficult to put away. That face mirrored his dominance; his rivals could barely work him out, much less defeat him.
Misawa's real flaw was his hubris and pride.
His face helped and reckless bumping style helped put him over as invincible - which informed the near-falls of his King's Road classics with once-in-a-lifetime drama - but, tragically, he was not.