New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Tomoaki Honma will be hanging up his boots for good in 2027, as confirmed by the veteran wrestler himself.
At the start of NJPW’s July 4th event in Yamagata, Honma appeared in front of his hometown crowd and confirmed that he will be retiring next year.
Honma plans to have his retirement match in his hometown. A statement from New Japan Pro Wrestling reads:
“Saturday July 4’s non-televised event in Yamagata started off with Tomoaki Honma greeting his hometown crowd.
“The 29-year veteran, who underwent a phenomenal recovery from a devastating spinal injury that left him temporarily paralysed in 2017, announced that after recent physical examinations raised more concerns about his neck and that he has taken the decision to retire. Honma said that he would work to improve his condition enough for a retirement match in his home town next year, ending his career at 30 years in the business.”
Honma is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion. He began his pro-wrestling career in 1997 and signed with New Japan full-time in 2007.
