RIP Kuniaki Kobayashi

[PeteF3]

https://x.com/miruhon/status/1833239234175775165?s=46&t=jd8qInMnXwQK1iDk12oCWw Per Weekly Fight Twitter.

Hot take, maybe (less of one in these parts) but I thought he was Sayama's best opponent. Also had an incredible brawl with Masanobu Fuchi that I still think is slept on despite making the old AJPW '80s set.

[PeteF3]

Well, now apparently Kuniaki's daughter is denying the story. I guess we'll have to wait and see if this is an outright falsehood or an Afa/Joe Paterno/Mae Young/Tom Petty situation.

[G. Badger]

Unfortunately it seems that the news of his passing is true. A Google search now shows multiple sources reporting his death. One of my favorites. Thank you Kobayashi!!