News came out of last weekend’s Ring of Honor tapings that New Japan’s resident ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, has suffered a biceps injury. The hope was that it was only a minor sprain or tear, but it looks like it is more significant than that, and NJPW will have to survive without the man who is arguably their most popular star.
PWInsider first reported that Tanahashi suffered a ruptured biceps, and that he will be pulled from New Japan events for the near future while he recuperates. Tanahashi confirmed the injury himself on Twitter, posting images of his biceps MRI or X-ray and commenting, “My biceps fractured. I am sorry for everyone who was looking forward to it.”
二頭筋が切れてしまいました。楽しみにしていてくれた皆さん、申し訳ありません。 #njpw pic.twitter.com/8sBhEugQC6
— 棚橋 弘至 (@tanahashi1_100) May 18, 2017
Tanahashi’s good friend AJ Styles was quick to send his best wishes.
Please get well soon my friend. You're one of the best that's ever stepped foot in a ring. https://t.co/jRCkZs8ZCm
— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) May 18, 2017
The Best of the Super Juniors tournament tour just kicked off this week, and Tanahashi will miss the remainder of it as he works on rehabbing his biceps. He will be replaced on the tour by Satoshi Kojima, and the current plan is for him to return on June 9 Dominion event. The worst case scenario, one imagines, would be for Tanahashi to try to make it back in time for New Japan’s July events in Long Beach.
