Tetsuya Naito Needs Eye Surgery & Stem Cells After NJPW Exit
Tetsuya Naito has revealed he needs plenty of medical help before he thinks about getting back in the ring following his NJPW exit.
On April 16, NJPW announced the shock departure of Tetsuya Naito. The news came as a shock to many in the industry as Naito was considered a New Japan lifer and one of the promotion’s biggest stars.
Shortly after the news broke, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi issued a statement on Tetsuya Naito’s departure, apologising to fans and saying he had asked El Ingobernable to stay with the company. Tetsuya Naito hit out at suggestions that money was behind his NJPW exit and claimed Tanahashi only turned up in the fifth round of contract talks.
Now, Naito has had his emotional farewell from NJPW at Wrestling Dontaku, with his Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate BUSHI also leaving the company.
Tetsuya Naito Needs Eye & Knee Help
Speaking to Tokyo Sports after that match, Naito confirmed he is not retiring but is looking to get some medical procedures done before taking his next step:
Some people may be under the wrong impression, but I’m not retiring or anything like that. First of all, I want to take the time to maintain my body, and then I want to move on to the next stage. I want to continue preparing for the next stage while undergoing various treatments.
Naito will be undergoing eye surgery once again as he still suffers from double vision:
Until now, I could only see to the left when looking straight ahead, but after the surgery at the end of the year, I can now see to the right as well. So I can see very well to the left and right. However, when it comes to up and down, I still see double, so the next surgery will be to improve my up and down vision. I think that once this surgery is done, I will be able to see quite well, so I’m looking forward to it.
Tetsuya Naito noted that after his eye surgery, he’ll also be getting stem cell treatment in his right knee:
My knee has been in bad condition since my debut, but since I have this much time off, I thought I could focus on getting it treated. As soon as I finish the eye surgery, I’ll have stem cell treatment on my right knee. It’s impossible for it to heal completely, but I’ve heard that it will improve my movement and pain a lot.
It remains unknown what Naito’s next step in the wrestling world will be or when he will be able to return to the ring after his procedures.