It has been reported by the official New Japan Pro Wrestling website that there have been a further 7 COVID-19 cases among the wrestlers in the company, adding to the 2 already confirmed wrestler cases.
The news has come after NJPW had to cancel a number of shows, including 3 Korakuen Hall shows in May due to the pandemic, and have suffered a number of casualties from their own wrestlers.
The wrestlers testing positive have not been named, but it has been rumoured that the 2 original cases were Kazuchida Okada, ace of the company and the longest reigining IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history, and Yoh. The pair were pulled from shows as well as 5 others as a precuation, but now that 7 more wrestlers have tested positive, the shows have been cancelled due to health and safety reasons.
It is not yet known when NJPW will continue touring, but it will take at least two weeks for the isolating wrestlers to be safe enough to travel outside again, and potentially longer based on the effects of COVID on the affected wrestlers.
Hamish is a writer and podcaster and wrestling fan who is a key part of the Atletifo team.
After playing countless hours of WrestleMania X8 on the Gamecube, he discovered Rey Mysterio getting his head crushed by The Great Khali, and thus a love for professional wrestling was born.
He is also a Media Graduate, as well as writing for multiple sites about Premier League football and the culture of Wales – his home country.
