From the Indie Rumor Mill: Yoshihiro Takayama's medical condition reportedly deteriorates

What’s the story?

Yoshihiro Takayama, who suffered a cervical spinal cord injury back in May, has reportedly been paralyzed from the neck down. It has been reported that the 50-year-old is currently not able to make any sort of movement after suffering the devastating injury.

Mauro Ranallo recently tweeted that Takayama's condition was so critical that the wrestling legend couldn't even receive guests at the hospital.

According to @Alistairovereem Yoshihiro Takayama's condition is so critical that he can't receive guests in hospital. #PrayForTakayama ?

— Mauro Ranallo (@mauroranallo) September 25, 2017

In case you didn’t know…

Takayama is regarded as one of the biggest legends in the Japanese professional wrestling. He is one of two men who has won all three of Puroresu’s major heavyweight titles, having won the IWGP Heavyweight Title, the Triple Crown Heavyweight Title, and the GHC Heavyweight Title as well.

During his 25 year career, he worked for various promotions, including NJPW and AJPW as well. But it was in Pro Wrestling NOAH where he found most of his success. During his tenure at NOAH, he won the GHC Heavyweight belt as well as the GHC Tag Team Titles. In 2011, he also joined Minoru Suzuki’s faction Suzuki Gun and a brief stint with the group.

Outside of Pro Wrestling, Takayama also had a run in MMA where he accrued a record of 1 win and 4 losses.

The heart of the matter

On 4th May 2017 at a DDT show, Takayama landed on his head while attempting a sunset flip on Yasu Urano that led to the horrific injury. He was soon rushed to a nearby hospital and was diagnosed with a "cervical spinal cord injury due to degenerative cervical spondylosis".

Takayama has been treated in the hospital since then, but earlier it was reported that the injury paralyzed the former GHC Heavyweight champion and forced him to retire from Pro Wrestling. Reports later emerged that he was finally able to speak, after three months since suffering the injury. However, the tweet from Mauro Ranallo suggests that things have taken a turn for the worse.

What’s next?

Takayama’s former Suzuki Gun colleague and close friend Minoru Suzuki, along with DDT Wrestling, have started a foundation named “Takayamania” in order to help him and his family cover his medical expenses.

Several other promotions from Japan also came together to set up donation boxes at their events in order to collect money for the “Takayamania” foundation. The Pro Wrestling World may not be able to see him wrestle again but we can surely hope that Takayama makes it through and is fully fit again.

Author’s take

It is a great show of gratitude from all these Japanese promotions that are supporting such a legendary wrestling figure. We here at Sportskeeda also hope that Yoshihiro Takayama makes it through and our best wishes are with him and his family.

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