William Regal asks financial help for ‘friends’ and Japanese wrestling legends Yoshihiro Takayama & Shinjiro Otani
Just days after sending out a warning about potential neck injuries in wrestling via his social media account, WWE legend William Regal has now published his ‘first and maybe only’ wrestling message for the year. Reflecting on his social media activity, Regal released a stern message asking people who made “a cent” using his name to donate money and help Yoshihiro Takayama & Shinjiro Otani.
“My first and maybe only message this year involving Wrestling. FYI, I never read anything unless it’s old wrestling or music and old comedy so save the typing time and your head space by replying. I wish you all contentment , happiness and good health. I won’t be reading anything except my x2 weekly look at old wrestling. Too many people from too many companies send me all the things I do or don’t need! I have been using this platform since 2014 at least to warn and help future talent that I can’t talk to directly,” Regal wrote.
“Over 32 years in the US and Japan showing people how to be safer if they wanted to know or listen without ever asking for a thank you. I’ll quote my dear friend of 26 year Samoa Joe and say “ it’s a laundry list” of people. I will ask this though. If you’ve made 1 cent of using my name in 2025, please send that money to the official organizations who care for my friends [@otani_shinjiro] and [@Takayamado]. Press the anonymous button as it’s not a tax right off for you or you to try and look like nice people. It’s the right thing to do. To everyone else, best wishes for 2026.”
Japanese pro-wrestling and mixed martial arts legend Takayama injured himself after landing on his head while performing a sunset flip. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a “cervical spinal cord injury due to degenerative cervical spondylosis.” After months of being bedridden, Takayama was reportedly announced paralyzed from the neck down, ending his pro wrestling career.
Meanwhile, Otani became unresponsive after taking a German suplex on the turnbuckles during his bout against Takashi Sugiura for Zero1’s World Heavyweight Championship at Zero1’s anniversary event. Once he woke up at the hospital, he was unable to move his limbs. Later underwent surgery, Otani is currently recovering from the life-threatening injury.
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
Shounak takes particular interest in soccer, closely following top clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal. Beyond sports, he enjoys fiction writing, photography, gaming, and cinema.