The present invention is directed toward recellularizing a devitalized cartilage graft with viable recellularizable cells in vivo, in situ, or in vitro to render the tissue vital. The present invention is also directed toward repairing a cartilage defect and implanting a cartilage graft into a human or animal by crafting a cartilage matrix into individual grafts, disinfecting and cleaning the cartilage graft, applying a pretreatment solution to the cartilage graft, removing cellular debris using an extracting solution to produce a devitalized cartilage graft, recellularizing the devitalized cartilage graft, implanting the cartilage graft into the cartilage defect with or without an insertion device, and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The devitalized cartilage graft is optionally stored between the removing cellular debris and the recellularizing steps. The present invention is directed to both recellularized cartilage grafts as well as a process for recellularizing cartilage grafts.