As announced last month, Hiromu Takahashi suffered a neck injury at G1 Special in San Francisco. NJPW officially revealed on its website the Champion relinquished the IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion belt, due to this injury (see video below). A new Champion will be crowned soon as a four-man tournament has been announced to crown the 82nd IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. 

Takahashi suffered a neck injury while facing Dragon Lee in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match on Saturday night’s G1 Special in San Francisco event. After the match, he was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where he underwent a thorough evaluation. He later posted messages on social media to say everything was ok and to thank his fans.

But ever since, it was revealed that due to the severity of the injury, Hiromu Takahashi may miss 9 to 12 months of action. At this year’s NJPW: Dominion 6.9 event, Hiromu Takahashi successfully captured the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship by defeating now former champion Will Ospreay. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x1KN-xrs3c]

Four former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champions – Kushida, a former 4-time Champion, Bushi, Marty Scurll, and Will Ospreay, a former 2-time Champion – will compete in the  IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship tournament. The semi-finals will take place on the upcoming NJPW: Destruction tour.

KUSHIDA vs. BUSHI will take place Destruction in Kobe show on September 23rd. Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll goes down at Fighting Spirit Unleashed event at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California on September 30th. The winner advances to the final at Sumo Hall on October 8th at King of Pro Wrestling event.

The Junior IWGP throne is vacant. KUSHIDA, BUSHI, Ospreay, and Scurll have all entered the Junior Heavyweight championship tournament!https://t.co/lxkHWGAome#njpw #njdest pic.twitter.com/oo8Ya0tASp

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) August 20, 2018