NJPW wrestler announces impending retirement
Tomoaki Honma has announced his impending retirement.
New Japan Pro Wrestling presented a non-televised event in Honma’s hometown of Yamagata on Saturday. Honma opened the show by addressing the live crowd and announcing that he has made the decision to retire.
Honma cited recent physical examinations that raised further concerns about the condition of his neck. Honma suffered a serious spinal injury in 2017 that left him temporarily paralyzed.
“I agonized over this endlessly. I’ve decided to retire. I’ve been able to do what I love—pro wrestling—for 30 years, and I’m happy about that, but I’ve agonized over it and made up my mind. I’m retiring,” Honma said backstage after.
Honma told Saturday’s crowd in Yamagata that he plans to improve his physical conditioning enough to have a retirement match in his hometown next year.
Honma made his debut in 1997 for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. He is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion with Togi Makabe. The two also won NJPW’s World Tag League in 2015 and 2016.
Up next for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the promotion will return to Korakuen Hall for events on Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday’s card featuring Tiger Mask’s retirement.
Following the Korakuen Hall events, NJPW will head to the United States for the start of G1 Climax 36. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 11 at NOW Arena just outside of Chicago.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.