NJPW's Hiromu Takahashi Out For 6 Months With Injury

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion dealt major injury blow ahead of NJPW Castle Attack.

Hiromu Takahashi
NJPW

New Japan Pro Wrestling's Hiromu Takahashi is set to miss the next six months after tearing his left pectoral muscle.

The promotion posted the following to Twitter earlier today:-

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The reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion was hurt while teaming with Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate Shingo Takagi to face Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma on the 19 February Road to Castle Attack show. He hasn't wrestled since, but was scheduled to put the belt on the line against El Phantasmo at this Sunday's Castle Attack event. This must now be off the card.

There's currently no word on what, exactly, NJPW will do with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight strap, though the promotion still has one Road To show (25 February) to get through before Castle Attack. Perhaps something will be announced there.

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Takahashi is currently in his fourth reign as Junior Heavyweight Champion, having taken the belt from Taiji Ishimori at Wrestle Kingdom 15 on 5 January. Considered the division's ace, Hiromu's loss will be severe, particularly as he could now miss the Best of the Super Juniors tournament traditionally held in Spring.

All the best to Takahashi for a speedy recovery.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.