Late last week, New Japan Pro Wrestling star Tomoaki Honma was stretchered from the ring during an event in Okinawa. The six-man tag match he was participating in was stopped immediately when he was motionless after a draping DDT spot he took from Jado on the Friday, March 3 show.

The promotion issued an update, but there were precious few details in the days that followed on an injury many feared could leave Honma paralyzed or possibly even threaten his life.

Some good news finally came today (March 6). According to the Japanese press and Wrestling Observer, Honma has movement in all extremities. Though he’s described still being very weak, he’s gripped objects with his hands and moved his legs.

The reports indicate he suffered an injury to the C-3 and C-4 vertebrae in his neck, but doesn’t disclose the nature of the injury. The man himself says he’s getting better, and vows to return to the ring. Things were apparently touch-and-go due to the location of the injury possibly effecting his ability to breathe on his own.

We’ll keep you posted, but it looks like Honma - and the wrestling community - have avoided a tragedy here.

Thank goodness. Dude's a solid wrestler.

The injury recently sustained by Tomoaki Honma is serious, but New Japan’s trainer says the wrestler is moving his limbs again and talking about an eventual return.


According to a statement from NJPW trainer Takeshi Misawa on Monday, Honma is slowly regaining motion in his limbs following a nasty injury at a New Japan house show on March 6.

Misawa stated, “Honma suffered an injury to his spinal column. There was swelling between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae, which led to some paralysis. The following day, he was gradually able to regain some motion in his hands and feet. Now he is able to move his feet a fair amount, and he can grip objects and bend his elbow. He is making progress day by day.”

Takeshi said there are cases where people don’t recover from this kind of spinal injury, but stated he’s happy with Honma’s progress.

And like any dedicated pro wrestler, Honma is already talking about his return to the ring. Takeshi explains, “He’s (Honma) saying that he’ll get better, that he’ll absolutely be in the ring again.”