Tomoaki Honma was injured earlier today in a match in Okinawa and carried out of the ring, seemingly immobile after taking a DDT off the middle rope from Jado.
About 9:00 into the match at the Okinawa Prefectural Budokan Gymnasium, with Honma, Togi Makabe & Michael Elgin vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Jado, Jado delivered the move. Honma couldn’t get up and the match was immediately stopped.
Evidently in coming off the ropes, Honma’s foot got caught on the ropes, changing the trajectory of his landing.
The match was immediately stopped and medical personnel came into the ring. They removed the top rope and carried him out of the ring on a stretcher. He was able to talk to doctors but did not appear able to move.
Honma, 40, is known for an extremely physical style including diving head-butts, which when used as often as he has done them, including sometimes off the top rope to the floor, is going to do significant wear-and-tear on the neck.
Honma & Makabe were scheduled to face Ishii & Yano for the IWGP tag team titles on Monday’s New Japan 45th anniversary show at the Ota Ward Gym in Tokyo.
We will update when more information is available.