In sad news, New Japan has announced that Kuniaki Kobayashi has passed away at the age of 68 following a long battle with cancer. While best known to fans in Japan for being the main rival of the Tiger Mask character, wrestling against Satoru Sayama and Mitsuharu Misawa, he also spent a short period working of time in the US and Mexico under the names Kid Koby and Chin Kobiashi.
Officially, Kobayashi would retire in 2020, wrestling the legendary Jushin Liger in what was believed to be his last match. However, he would return to the ring several times over the next two decades, often in battle royals, with his participation in the New Japan Rumble at 2017’s Wrestle Kingdon 11 being his actual final match.
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