The world of professional wrestling was saddened today as former NJPW & AJPW star Yutaka Yoshie passed away on March 10th following a match at the All Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Dream Power Series 2024 event. At the show, Yoshie teamed with Ryo Inoue as they were defeated by Hokuto Omori & Ryouji Sai. Backstage after the match, Yoshie’s health condition suddenly changed and took a turn for the worse. He was promptly transported to a nearby hospital where Yoshie sadly passed away. The cause of death is unknown as of this writing.
Yoshie made his professional wrestling debut on December 9th 1994 for NJPW against Satoshi Kojima. He would spend the next twelve years with NJPW. Yoshie decided to become a freelancer in 2006 and spent much of his time competing for AJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH and Pro Wrestling Zero1.
Yoshie is a former IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Hiroshi Tanahashi back in 2003. He has also held the AJPW World Tag Team Titles with Akebono in 2015.
Here is an IWGP Tag Team Title defense by Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yutaka Yoshie against Makai Club (Makai #4 & Makai #5) on September 7, 2003.
Bodyslam.net offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Yutaka Yoshie.
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