RIP: Samson Kutsuwada

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Samson Kutsuwada, who was one of the original All Japan members, passed away on 2004/10/12 at the age of 57.

All Japan will hold a ceremony for him during the card on 2004/10/16 in Iida, Nagano.

Kutsuwada, a former All Asia tag champ, is also known as the first wrestler ever to use the "Tiger Mask" gimmick. He used the gimmick in South Korea as a heel when the cartoon was popular there.

RIP.

[edgehead1984]

RIP Mr. Kutsuwada, I hope you find a place up in the great ring in the sky.

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

RIP.
BTW, wouldn't that make him the REAL Tiger Mask I?

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Technically, yes, but it was only a short-term heel gimmick and doesn't have much to do with the stye/character made famous by Sayama. I guess it would still be ok to say Sayama was the "I" or "original" because of that.

[Sliced Bread #2]

RIP Kutsuwada

[Tradewynd]

It is always sad when one of the boys leaves us. May he find peace putting Baba over in that great Egg Dome in the Sky.

[ToXiK_James]

RIP Kutsuwadea, you were and forever will be a great wrestler and a wrestling Icon for Japan.

[Luds]

RIP Samson Kutsuwada.

It's been a very bad year for wrestling related deaths this year...