Japanese wrestling icon Eiji "Hayabusa" Ezaki died Thursday at the age of 47 after suffering a brain hemmorhage, according to the L.A. Times.
Hayabusa, a high-flying light heavyweight, spent most of his career in Japan with Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, but spent time in Mexico and the United States and appeared in an ECW pay-per-view in 1998. Hayabusa was paralyzed in 2001 when he landed on his neck attempting a moonsault off the ropes.
Many of the wrestlers on the current WWE roster grew up watching tapes of Hayabusa's matches, and his fans and former colleagues mourned Ezaki's passing Friday.
A friend and an inspiration. Unforgettable and brilliant. Thank you for everything. #RIPHayabusa pic.twitter.com/2LvL3s5Gaf
— NEVILLE (@WWENeville) March 4, 2016
Every phoenix must sadly burn out to be reborn #RIPHayabusa pic.twitter.com/GdRWltPxUQ
— Simon Gotch (@GotchStyleWWE) March 4, 2016
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Japanese ring warrior #Hayabusa. Glad to have met him. R.I.P. ?Ganbatte Kudasai?
— Bubba Ray Dudley (@BubbaRayDudley) March 4, 2016
Thoughts and prayers to Hayabusa and his family. His style of wrestling was ahead of his time. A true innovator. pic.twitter.com/Az9x20xpOc
— Nattie (@NatbyNature) March 4, 2016
RIP Eiji Ezaki (Hayabusa)). Got to work with him in FMW in 1991 pic.twitter.com/urOgOwrFEb
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) March 4, 2016
.@newjapaneng is deeply saddened by the passing of Hayabusa. He was truly one of a kind #RIPHayabusa pic.twitter.com/b4OyNgYvOJ
— NJPW (@newjapaneng) March 4, 2016
