New Japan Pro-Wrestling has announced that El Phantasmo, the charismatic NJPW World Television Champion, will be missing upcoming tour dates due to a right knee injury. The unfortunate news comes as a blow to fans looking forward to seeing "ELP" in action, particularly during the ongoing "New Japan Soul" tour.
The injury was first revealed when El Phantasmo was pulled from the main event of Wednesday's New Japan Soul show in Aomori, Japan. NJPW later confirmed that the "Headbanga" would also be absent from the scheduled events on Saturday, June 21st, in Yamagata, and Sunday, June 22nd, in Fukushima.
While the severity and exact nature of the right knee injury have not been fully disclosed, the immediate withdrawal from multiple shows suggests that New Japan Pro-Wrestling is taking a cautious approach to El Phantasmo's recovery. This is particularly important given his standing as the NJPW World Television Champion, a title he successfully defended recently.
Card changes have been made to accommodate ELP's absence, with substitutions like Tomoaki Honma and Boltin Oleg stepping into his scheduled multi-man tag team matches. The company has expressed apologies to fans who were anticipating seeing El Phantasmo wrestle, and has asked for understanding regarding the situation.
The timing of this injury is particularly unfortunate for El Phantasmo, as he has been a consistent and high-profile performer for NJPW, known for his unique blend of high-flying athleticism and captivating charisma. His presence on any card adds a distinct energy, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Japanese faithful.
At present, there has been no official word regarding the impact of this injury on his future schedule beyond the weekend, including his potential participation in the upcoming G1 Climax tournament. Fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates on the NJPW World TV Champion's condition and a timeline for his return to the ring. For now, the focus remains on a safe and swift recovery for El Phantasmo.
