23 Wrestlers Who Have Died In 2019

14. Kōji Kitao

WWE historians will recall that sumo wrestler turned pro Kōji Kitao teamed with Genichiro Tenryu to beat Demolition at WrestleMania VII in 1991. Aside from that brief flirtation with North America, Kitao wrestled primarily in New Japan.

He famously broke kayfabe during his match with John 'Earthquake' Tenta in Japan one week after 'Mania VII. Footage of that remains online.

Kitao died aged just 55 on 10 February.