Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
New Japan Pro Wrestling issued the following:
New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NJPW wrestler and Bunko Ward, Tokyo councilor Osamu Nishimura on February 28, 2025. He was 53.
Part of NJPW's Third Generation of Young Lions, Nishimura joined NJPW out of high school in 1990, and made his debut in April 1991. A runner-up in the 1993 Young Lion Cup, Nishimura headed on excursion to the US, where he spent time on Detroit independents and ECW, before returning to Japan in 1995 as a regular in Tatsumi Fujinami's Muga events as well as in New Japan. In 1997, he would head to wrestle in Canada and Australia on a second excursion before returning on January 4 1998.
The discovery of a retroperitoneal tumor after the 1998 G1 would see Nishimura out of action from the summer. Returning in 2000, Nishimura went on to the biggest successes of his NJPW career, with two IWGP Tag Team Championship reigns alongside mentor Tatsumi Fujinami and contemporary Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Influenced by time spent living in Florida and friendships with Karl Gotch and Dory Funk Jr., Nishimura had a deep passion and proficiency for classic technical wrestling, highlighted in Tokyo Dome matchups in 2002 with Bas Rutten and 2004 with Minoru Suzuki.
Nishimura left NJPW in January of 2006, but was active for promotions across Japan right up to the present day. Nishimura also began a second political career, balancing wrestling with politics as a councilor in Tokyo's Bunka Ward. In 2024, Nishimura revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer and was undergoing treatment.
The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all at New Japan Pro-Wrestling go to Osamu Nishimura's family, friends and fans.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
