Antonio Inoki Provides Update On Health, Talks Shinjiro Otani’s Injury

NJPW

WWE Hall of Famer and Japanese wrestling icon Antonio Inoki has provided an update on his health, after he was hospitalised throughout most of 2021.

Last year, it was reported that Inoki was in hospital for a large portion of 2021, due to issues with his lower back, diabetes and systemic transthyretin amyloidosis, which impairs blood circulation. In the summer of 2021, Inoki had to undergo emergency surgery due to a volvulus, a twisting of the intestines.

In a recent interview with Tokyo Sports, Inoki said that, although he appears to be doing fine, he can not exert energy unless he is in very strong health. Inoki also revealed that he nearly died four times.

He said:

“As you can see, I can’t fake it… I’ve almost died about four times, to the surprise of even the doctors, but I’m still alive. That ‘you look fine’ was the selling point. I can’t exert energy unless I’m really healthy, so I take care of myself every day. Hospitalization? I’ve been in and out of the hospital for about three years now (laughs).”

Another Japanese wrestling legend, Shinjiro Otani, recently underwent surgery for a spinal cord injury suffered in a match last month. Inoki spoke about Otani’s injury, saying that it is very scary and he can’t sugarcoat the severity of it.

He said:

“I heard the details a couple of days ago. I can’t say, ‘Accidents like this can’t be helped,’ but I guess a wrestler’s neck is the most important thing. I used to bridge with hundreds of kilograms of weights, and I was probably the heaviest man in the world. Conversely, wrestling is sometimes seen as a very lenient sport, but on the other hand, it has its own harsh side. I’ve been sent to the hospital several times in my nearly 60 years, and there are many bad places…

“I can’t say sweet words. I can’t say anything sweet, like, ‘Please get better soon.’ I heard that he is very seriously injured. Cervical vertebrae injuries are scary, you know. Even though I exercise my neck, it still depends on the angle at which I catch myself.”

AEW’s William Regal recently announced that any proceeds he makes from sales of shirts on his ProWrestlingTees store will be donated to help Otani’s surgery.

transcription via Fightful

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• Shinjiro Otani
• health
• Antonio Inoki
• Injury

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