El Phantasmo will be out of action for a while.
Monday night, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that former NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champion El Phantasmo would be taking an indefinite hiatus due to a health concern. Phantasmo has since addressed his upcoming leave, revealing that doctors had unfortunately discovered a cancerous tumor. Despite that, Phantasmo asserted that he has upheld a positive attitude.
“The last 2 weeks I’ve had a bunch of scans and tests done, and doctors have found a little tumour of cancer,” ELP wrote on Twitter). “Things are thankfully happening really fast, but I have amazing family, friends, and fans by my side, and I’m so grateful to have the support of warriors who have gone through the same thing before, and I look forward to help those going through it next. Believe me when I say I’m in good spirits, and I’m not nervous, worried or scared.”
With El Phantasmo out of action for the foreseeable future, NJPW has made some adjustments to a pair of its upcoming show, November 2 and 4, respectively. On November 2, Phantasmo was slated to wrestle alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Ryusuke Taguchi and Dragon Dia in tag team action. Boltin Oleg will now step up in his place.
On November 4, Phantasmo and Tanahashi would have taken on EVIL & Ren Narita. Instead, Boltin Oleg will replace Phantasmo on this occasion as well.
According to Phantasmo, wrestling alongside Tanahashi is a “dream,” one that will now have to wait. Nevertheless, Phantasmo remains hopeful that it will happen at some point.
“My fighting spirit has never been stronger and I promise once I’m ready, I’ll be back stronger than ever!” he added.
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