Eiji Ezaki was an exciting high-flyer on the Japanese pro wrestling scene for years. Making his debut in 1991, he would adopt the Hayabusa name in 1993. It was with that moniker that he started earning a reputation for his exciting matches and matches against the likes of Jushin Thunder Liger. Just over a decade after his debut, his career was sadly ended. In October, 2001, Hayabusa was facing Mammoth Sasaki for the Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling promotion. One of the group's top stars, Hayabusa attempted a Springboard Moonsault move from the top turnbuckle. The stunt went horrifically wrong, and he landed flush on his neck. The man's body contorted in a gruesome way, and he lay motionless in the middle of the ring. Paralysed by what had happened, Hayabusa never wrestled again. Making matters worse, his life was threatened by a consequential high fever, as his body started to shut down. There were real fears that Ezaki wouldn't make it, but he was eventually stabilised. Incredibly, he still holds out hopes of one day returning to the ring, something that seemed impossible when his neck was shattered.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
