Tomoaki Honma has announced that he plans to retire from professional wrestling.
The 49-year-old made the announcement before New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Road to G1 Climax event in his home prefecture of Yamagata on Saturday.
NJPW later confirmed the news in an official post, stating that Honma had decided to end his in-ring career after receiving unfavorable results from recent neck examinations.
Honma said he had struggled with the decision, but had reached the point where he felt he had to retire.
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.
NJPW stated that Honma intends to improve his conditioning enough to have a retirement match at an event in Yamagata next year, to mark 30 years of an in-ring career.
Honma suffered a serious cervical injury during a match in March 2017 after taking a rope-hung DDT from Jado. NJPW announced at the time that Honma had injured his cervical vertebrae, and he later underwent surgery before returning to the ring in June 2018.
Honma began his career in Big Japan Pro Wrestling in 1997 and became known for his hard-hitting style and his signature Kokeshi headbutt. He later became a regular in NJPW, where he was often paired with Togi Makabe as part of Great Bash Heel.
Honma and Makabe won the 2015 and 2016 World Tag League tournaments together. They also captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in January 2016, defeating Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson at the Tokyo Dome.
Honma remained active for NJPW after returning from his 2017 injury, primarily appearing in tag team matches and undercard roles.
His announcement comes three days before Tiger Mask is scheduled to have his own retirement match at Korakuen Hall.
