Hiromu Takahashi Vacates IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, Tournament Announced

Hiromu Takahashi has officially vacated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Takahashi won the title earlier this year after also winning the 2018 Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

Takahashi was injured at last month’s G1 Special in San Francisco show. He was dropped on his head by Dragon Lee during a cradle-suplex spot. Takahashi finished the match but collapsed backstage and was taken to a hospital.

He suffered a broken neck but is believed to be on track to return to the ring in 9-12 months. Takahashi has now vacated the title due to his injury.

NJPW has scheduled a 4-man single-elimination tournament to declare a new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. All 4 wrestlers have held the title on at least 1 occasion previously.

The tournament will begin on September 23rd from Beppu.

• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Semi-Final
  Kushida vs Bushi

The next semi-final will be held in Long Beach at Fighting Spirit Unleashed on September 30th.

• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Semi-Final
  Will Ospreay vs Marty Scurll

The finals of the tournament will be held at King of Pro Wrestling on October 8th, 2018. No other matches have been announced for the show thus far.

The announcement of the tournament comes at the same time the promotion has released the full cards for the Destruction tour. Just two matches have been announced thus far for Fighting Spirit Unleashed.