Homicide says cyst on brain led to decision to retire
A medical issue led to Homicide’s decision to retire from in-ring competition.
The ROH legend will have the final match of his career tonight (March 20), teaming with Bull James against Mike Santana & Afa Jr. at a show for indie promotion Outlaw Wrestling. Before the match, Homicide made a Facebook post explaining that the reason he’s decided to step away from the ring is because doctors have found a cyst on his brain. Traveling so much and taking bumps in the ring was causing the issue to get worse.
“Can’t believe I saying goodbye, not only a job the passion the sport of pro wrestling,” Homicide (Dee Erazo) wrote. “[Reason] I’m leaving cause I went to my Doctor and found cyst my brain. Had it for months getting worst. My vision, speech is bad. Cause the hard hitting getting knock out and hitting a plane to travel.”
Homicide called himself a survivor and said he always wins his battles. He wants tonight to be a party for every fan attending the show in his hometown of Brooklyn.
“Thank you for your support,” he said. “This not a goodbye. This is I see you later.”
One of the most important figures in ROH history, Homicide won the ROH World Championship from Bryan Danielson at Final Battle 2006 and had a two-month reign as champion before losing the belt to Takeshi Morishima. He also starred for TNA during his career as a member of LAX.
CM Punk, who is currently on a European tour for WWE, took a moment last night to reflect on how important Homicide’s career has been. They came up together in ROH and helped form the foundation of the promotion.
“Homicide. One of a kind. Thinking about my friend and his career today,” Punk posted on his Instagram stories. “He will leave his fingerprints all over the wrestling landscape. I’m there in spirit my friend!”
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.