10 Wrestling Matches That Were Difficult To Watch Live

The 18th singles match in one of the most thrilling in-ring rivals in the world, this clash guaranteed danger. Their bouts are always wild, reckless, and unhinged, with Lee and Takahashi's willingness to completely disregard their own health and safety part of what makes them so exciting. Unfortunately, it finally came back to bite them when they met on New Japan's latest G1 Special.

In a clash replete with the usual array of dives and sick bumps, Hiromu landed on his neck following a botched Phoenix-Plex. It's a move Lee has executed hundreds of times before, with Takahashi himself taking the bump on at least a dozen occasions, but the luchador couldn't get enough rotation on his release, and after bumping, 'The Ticking Time Bomb' slid across the mat on his head.

A horrific impact made worse by NJPW's insistence on showing multiple replays, it knocked Takahashi for six, and he was visibly struggling from there. Though he finished the match, the closing minutes were ropy. Hiromu could move, but he was glassy-eyed, and barely able to execute his own finisher.

It was revealed afterwards that Takahashi had been rushed to hospital with a suspected broken neck, confirming the audience's fears.