Taichi Withdraws from NJPW Hokkaido Card Due to Illness
Taichi is forced to withdraw from the September 22 Road to Destruction show, turning an eight-man tag into a six-man bout.
Key points
- Taichi withdraws from the September 22 NJPW Battle Line Hokkaido show due to ill health.
- The scheduled eight-man tag team match is reduced to a six-man tag team match.
- Taichi is set to present a separate show at his former middle school on October 17.
The air in Sapporo hums with anticipation as New Japan Pro-Wrestling rolls into the Battle Line Hokkaido event. The red ropes of the ring wait taut and silent, a stage ready for chaos. Then the announcement lands like a cold wind: Taichi will not step through them.
Ill health has sidelined the wrestler, stripping the planned eight-man tag team match of its heaviest weight. The card reshapes instantly. What was meant to be a crowded brawl becomes a leaner six-man contest, the geometry of the fight altered by absence.
Card Adjusted For Absence
NJPW issued a statement acknowledging the change, apologizing to fans who had pinned their hopes on Taichi’s presence. The official notice details the specific shift in Match 3. El Desperado, Místico, and Shota Umino now face SHO, DOUKI, and Shun Skywalker. Dick Togo, who was originally on the opposing side, is removed from the lineup entirely.
The dynamic shifts from a four-on-four clash to a three-on-three exchange. The physical space in the ring opens up. The strategy required becomes more fluid, relying on speed and precision rather than sheer mass. It is a tactical pivot forced by circumstance.
Future Engagement Scheduled
Despite the withdrawal from the Hokkaido show, Taichi’s connection to the promotion remains active. On October 17, he will return to the ring in a different context. The event will take place at his old middle school, a venue carrying personal history and local significance.
Source Reports Health Issue
Fightful reports the news, confirming the reason for the absence is ill health. The report highlights the immediate impact on the September 22 schedule. While the specific medical details remain private, the operational consequence is clear: the roster for that specific night has been permanently altered.
