Master Wato Sidelined With ACL Injury, Will Need Surgery

– NJPW wrestler Master Wato has suffered a left ACL tear, which has sidelined him for the time being. As a result of the injury, Wato was forced to withdraw from his scheduled match with SHO at today’s NJPW Road to the New Beginning event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Wato announced the injury during today’s show and that it will require surgery. New Japan then ran an angle, where SHO attacked Master Wato using a wrench. SHO was then chased off by IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado, who came to Wato’s aid. You can see the full announcement and a video of the Wato and SHO angle below:

Master Wato announces left ACL tear as SHO adds injury to injury

Wato on shelf as scheduled singles match cancelled

Night two on the Road to New Beginning in Korakuen hall January 23 was supposed to feature a grudge match semi main event between Master Wato and SHO, but the night kicked off with the announcement of the match’s cancellation due to a torn left ACL on the knee of Wato.

Wato addressed the public himself, appearing on crutches to declare that the injury happened during New Beginning in Nagoya on January 20 and would require surgery. Fighting back tears, Wato promised ‘I will come back better than 100% and when I do come back I will face SHO one on one’.

Before Wato could leave though, he was attacked from behind by SHO and his wrench. ‘What a shame,’ sneered SHO, who made the highly dubious statement that he was ‘ready to face you fair and square’. Saying ‘I’m just too tough that I put last year’s BOSJ winner on the shelf,’ SHO was about to do more damage before being chased off by El Desperado ahead of his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship main event defence against Yoshinobu Kanemaru.