Unfortunately, former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Manabu Nakanishi will be hanging up the wrestling boots very soon. The 1999 G1 Climax winner announced his retirement during a press conference on Tuesday, citing a neck injury as the cause.
Nakanishi has been an active in-ring competitor since 1992, competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah, and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Since his return to NJPW in 1996, Nakanishi has gone on to win the G1 Climax, which resulted in him capturing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
The 52-year-old also held the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships three times and the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship once. Nakanishi will have his final match on February 22 at the Korakuen Hall. His opponent has yet to be determined.