Tomoaki Honma is getting ready to call it a career, and this one hits hard for longtime New Japan Pro Wrestling fans.
NJPW held a non-televised event in Honma’s hometown of Yamagata on Saturday, where Honma opened the show by speaking directly to the live crowd. That’s when he announced that he has decided to retire from professional wrestling.
Honma later explained backstage that recent physical examinations raised more concerns about the condition of his neck. That is no small thing, because Honma suffered a serious spinal injury in 2017 that left him temporarily paralyzed. After the show, Honma admitted that this decision wasn’t easy for him.
“I agonized over this endlessly. I’ve decided to retire. I’ve been able to do what I love—pro wrestling—for 30 years, and I’m happy about that, but I’ve agonized over it and made up my mind. I’m retiring.”
Honma also told the Yamagata crowd that he wants to improve his physical conditioning enough to have a retirement match in his hometown next year. So this isn’t an immediate goodbye, but the clock is officially ticking.
Honma made his debut in 1997 for Big Japan Pro Wrestling and went on to become one of the most beloved underdog figures in Japanese wrestling. In NJPW, he became a former IWGP Tag Team Champion alongside Togi Makabe. The two also won World Tag League in 2015 and 2016, cementing their place as one of New Japan’s most memorable tag teams of that era.
Honma gave 30 years to professional wrestling, and after everything he has fought through physically, nobody can say he didn’t leave it all in the ring.
What do you think about Tomoaki Honma announcing his retirement after new neck concerns? What is your favorite Honma moment from his career? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
