Keiji Muto wrestled his final match as The Great Muta on January 22, teaming with AEW’s Sting and Darby Allin.
The match would see the trio defeat the team of AKIRA, Hakushi and Naomichi Marufuji at Pro Wrestling Noah’s The Great Muta Final “Bye-Bye”.
Muto has now spoken about his physical condition as he builds up to the final match of his career on February 21 against Tetsua Naito at Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling “Last-Love”.
Speaking at the K-1 MMA Awards (via Tokyo Sports and translated by Deepl), Muto said:
“I’m going to have a good match [final match against Tetsuya Naito], but I had a match 10 days ago and tore a muscle in my thigh. I’m in a pinch, but I’ll do my best.
“Actually, I was in bad shape before I went in that day [Great Muta Bye Bye]. I had back pain. I don’t know what triggered it, but I was out of shape.
“Knee pain and such is chronic pain and I’m used to it, but muscles hurt like hell. I think I put extra strain on my knee and hip joints by protecting them.
“I feel like I’ve been given a test by the wrestling Gods. I don’t know what to do. I train only my upper body, but it’s really hard to do that too. It’s stressing me out.”
Fight Four Online provided additional insight, stating that the issues were making it difficult for Muto to stand.
The 60-year-old has been forced to pull out of an appearance at a Setsubun Tsuinashiki ceremony scheduled for Friday.
Following the match on January 22, he was reportedly seen being pushed in a wheelchair.
He was also in a wheelchair at the K-1 MMA Awards on Wednesday.
Muto announced his retirement tour in June 2022 saying that it was the doctor’s decision for him to retire.
Transcript from Fightful.
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