New Japan Pro Wrestling has suffered yet another injury to one of its top stars.
According to The Wrestling Observer, former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi was injured in Philadelphia at the latest Ring Of Honor television tapings on May 14. According to that same report, the doctor at the building was examining his biceps and NJPW and ROH officials hope that it wasn’t a full tear, which would be a major injury.
The hope is that Tanahashi suffered only a partial tear, if there is any damage done. Wrestling with a partial biceps tear is possible, but unless the injury has time to rest and heal, the partial tear will not improve. Tanahashi has a major match next month at the Dominion event in Osaka, Japan.
Tanahashi will challenge Tetsuya Naito for his IWGP Intercontinental Championship at the show, which also features Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP Heavyweight title in a rematch from their already famous match at Wrestle Kingdom 11 earlier this year. Tanahashi had to pull out of the Dominion event last year due to a shoulder injury.
It is just another injury added on to NJPW's roster, but this one is far from the worst injury blow to the promotion. Katsuyori Shibata's injuries from his match against Okada at the recent Sakura Genesis show is expected to keep him from ever wrestling again.
