Hiromu Takahasi doesn't want to be seen until he's able to wrestle again.
With his return not set in the stone following a neck injury, Takahashi was stripped of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title so the division can move forward. The announcement was made in a short video, which you can see above.
New Japan Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced a four man tournament with the winner becoming the new Junior Heavyweight champion. The four participants are the KUSHIDA, BUSHI, Marty Scurll, and Will Ospreay. Those four are the most recent champions, ecluding Takahashi. KUSHIDA will take on BUSHI at NJPW Destruction in Kobe on Step. 23 while Scurll and Ospreay will meet at NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed on Sept. 30. The winners will meet at a later date.
Takahashi suffered the injury in a match with Dragon Lee where he was reversed powerbombed onto his neck. Takahashi won the Best of the Super Juniors tournaments, earning him a title shot. He won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title from Ospreay at Dominion.
There is no update on when he will return to action.
