Tomoaki Honma Training for Return

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Tomoaki Honma is back in the gym and taking bumps again, and is training for a return to the ring, as amazing as that is. Back in March, the “master” of the Kokeshi headbutt was put in the hospital after suffering a severe cervical vertebrae injury that had him relearning how to walk and do things that many of us take for granted.
The frequent partner of “The Unchained Gorilla” Togi Makabe, with the pair winning the World Tag League tournament last year and winning the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles, Honma was injured last March during a 6 man match against the Bullet Club. He was in the ring with Jado when the accident happened when Honma took a draping DDT from Jado and couldn’t get up or move. It was determined he took damage to one of the vertebrae in his neck and had been in recovery ever since just to be able to walk around.
While The Wrestling Observer does not say where he is training again, one would think he will have to spend some time in the NJPW Dojo before he is able to make a full-time return. As a fan of his work as a lovable goofball who seems to miss his finishing move more than he hits it, I wish him all the best in his recovery and hope to see him back in the ring someday throwing around that headbutt like no one’s business.