Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2006 Taken from Green Destiny: NOAH President Mitsuharu Misawa announced to day that during a routine medical checkup on the 19th, a CAT Scan found that Kenta Kobashi had a 4-5cm tumor in his right kidney. It is unclear at this stage, pre-extraction, whether the tumor is malignant. The course of treatment is still to be decided, with Kobashi recuperating at home. Due to this condition, Kobashi has been forced to cancel all upcoming bookings he is scheduled for, including his part in Takayama's dream return tag match. Kobashi made a statement, apologizing to both the man he was going to stand beside after a 2 year hiatus from the ring, Yoshihiro Takayama, and all the fans that were looking forward to the match. Kobashi said that it was the encouragement of the fans that he has continually received that will help him rally through his current condition, and that he was grateful for the continued support of the fans and hoped the fans would continue to support Pro Wrestling NOAH in his absence. Misawa made one final footnote to Kobashi's statement, stating that Kobashi's first concern upon learning of his condition was for the effect it would have on his wrestling matches, rather than his own body. Typical words for a man who has given so much for the sport of Professional Wrestling. ---------------- Tough news to hear about one of the best in the world. Hope for a speedy recovery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masked Man of Mystery 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2006 Hope they get it out without too much trouble, and that will be the end of that. We've lost too many good men already Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wildpegasus Report post Posted June 29, 2006 Here's hoping for the best. Good luck Kobashi. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 Kenta Kobashi, one of pro wrestling's all-time greatest performers, is currently hospitalized due to kidney cancer it was announced earlier today. The 39-year-old Kobashi was diagnosed with cancer when results of tests came back after a routine medical examination. The company made the announcement on a piece of paper in front of Differ Ariake in Tokyo, its home arena, where they have a show scheduled. Mitsuharu Misawa, the group's president, was interviewed on the NTV Network sports news at midnight earlier today, saying that Kobashi's pain was such that he told Misawa he can't wrestle right now. He said that after Kobashi complained about severe pain in his waist at his examination, they gave him a CT scan last Thursday and the results showed a tumor on his kidney. Not much else is known but it is believed he will be undergoing surgery to remove the cancer. One can make a strong argument that Kobashi is the greatest wrestler of this generation. When he was elected into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame in 2002, he received a record 98% of the vote. He is second to only Ric Flair when it comes to the number of times winning the Lou Thesz/Ric Flair award for Wrestler of the Year, winning in 1996, 2003, 2004, and 2005. He has been in six winners of Match of the Year, including his match last year in New York against Samoa Joe, also an all-time record. Kobashi is known in Japan as pro wrestling's Iron Man, because he had five knee operations in 2001 that were thought to end his career. He was out for 13 months, and returned to become the standout in-ring performer in the world. Credit: WO, but found on Green Destiny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviec2k3 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 KENTA is being heavily rumored to fill Kobashi's spot in the 7/16 Budokan tag match. I think KENTA would be the perfect candidate for the match itself. You could argue that somebody like KENTA wouldn't necessarily sell tickets like Kobashi, but I don't believe anyone is not going to buy tickets because Kenta Kobashi is sick and had to pull out. If anything, Kobashi's plea to fans to support NOAH will make them come anyways. And besides, the draw is Takayama's return. That is what's going to sell the most tickets. KENTA is is the most logical choice for the position for the reasons I cited above. And honestly, is he going to sell any less tickets than Takeshi Morishima or Takeshi Rikio? You can argue that Minoru Suzuki or even Akira Taue would draw some interest, but I really don't think it matters either way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Just John 0 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 This is shitty news. Kobashi has always been my favorite puro star. I hope he can make a full recovery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ced 0 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 Here's to hoping they've caught it in time. He's put everything into his craft and it'd plainly suck to lose such a performer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Cucaracha 0 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 Amen. Rough news, but hopefully they caught it quick enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruce Blank 0 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 I hope and pray that surgery will be enough to take care of this. if they caught it in time he could probably make a full recovery without too many complications here is to hoping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviec2k3 Report post Posted June 30, 2006 A little bit ago, Kensuke Sasaki was announced as Kenta Kobashi's replacement in the 7/16 Yoshihiro Takayama return match. Also, WILD II (Rikio & Morishima) vs. Marufuji & KENTA was made official for the show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garth 0 Report post Posted July 2, 2006 Here's hoping Kobashi makes a speedy recovery. It's a feeling of awe to be in the mans presence and it would be a shame to loose something like that not just from pro wrestling but the world in general. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2006 According to ROH, Kenta Kobashi and ROH management were in talks for a rematch with Samoa Joe later this year but due the cancer situation, Kobashi will never return to America. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garth 0 Report post Posted July 4, 2006 With all due respect to Kobashi's decision, that plain sucks. Again, I hope everything turns out okay and for a speedy recovery, all the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviec2k3 Report post Posted July 7, 2006 Kobashi had the predecure to remove the tumor yesterday (I swear he's had that surgery three times in the past week.) I'm happy to announce that the operation went off without a hitch, and that the cancerous tumor was removed without fail. The best news out of this is that it appears the tumor did not spread to any other vital organs in Kobashi's body. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masked Man of Mystery 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2006 Kobashi had the predecure to remove the tumor yesterday (I swear he's had that surgery three times in the past week.) I'm happy to announce that the operation went off without a hitch, and that the cancerous tumor was removed without fail. The best news out of this is that it appears the tumor did not spread to any other vital organs in Kobashi's body. Well, that's good. Hopefully he rests and recovers fully Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wildpegasus Report post Posted July 7, 2006 This is terrific news. It's terrific to see that everything's going well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruce Blank 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2006 that's amazing news, hopefully he won't have to endure any CHemo them - AWESOME news. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Just John 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2006 Excellent news. I am a bit sad he won't return to the states, but hopefully after some time off, he can continue having great matches in Japan. Can ROH send Samoa Joe over there for a rematch? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
