5 Pro Wrestlers Who Beat Cancer

#1) Kenta Kobashi

Kobashi turned Kyoko Inoue's Victoria Driver into the even more devastating Burning Hammer

The iconic Japanese puroresu star Kenta Kobashi, a GHC triple crown winner with 23 separate Wrestling Observer-rated 5 star matches under his belt (and who also happens to be the mentor of NXT and 205 Live star KENTA, aka Hideo Itami) temporarily left wrestling in June 2006 after being diagnosed with kidney cancer. Following a successful 546-day battle with the condition, he returned to his NOAH home promotion in one of the most memorable moments in the history of Japanese wrestling.

Kobashi, one of the influential "Four Pillars" of 1990s All Japan Pro Wrestling who partially innovated the infamous Burning Hammer maneuver, cemented his legacy as one of the toughest, most enduring figures in the history of his respective medium by climbing out of the grips of death and standing tall over cancer, treating it like a deposed nemesis at the end of a long war saga. Kobashi is the embodiment of the Japanese wrestling philosophy of fighting spirit and through his triumph over cancer, we are reminded that though wrestling isn't "real" in the literal sense, its in-ring purveyors still personify a seemingly superhuman attribute in their incredible ability to stretch the boundaries of human endurance and physicality.

Roman Reigns may have been a polarizing figure in WWE, but no one doubts his hard work and tenacity

Perhaps one day Roman Reigns will return to RAW in similar a triumphant fashion and finally receive the adoring applause WWE has always wanted for him. Regardless of what happens long term, our thoughts and prayers are with him!