Muto and Marufuji are vacating the GHC Tag Team Titles.
Keiji Muto and Naomichi Marufuji were the focus of a press conference hosted by Pro Wrestling NOAH today and Muto revealed that he is going to be stepping away from the ring due to a hip injury. He and Marufuji are relinquishing the GHC Tag Team Championships as a result.
Muto stated that since NOAH’ January 1st event, his left hip has been hurting and he’s been having trouble walking. He does not plan on undergoing surgery. He shared that the gap in his hip joint is decreasing, so he’ll be taking hyaluronic acid and oil as a form of treatment.
Marufuji spoke highly of his tag partner and says it takes courage to make the decision that Muto is making.
Marufuji: It takes more courage to make a decision like this than to challenge something. Muto’s home is NOAH. We are all waiting for him to come back with peace of mind. It’s a shame that he’s giving up his belt, but Muto and Marufuji were never beaten by anyone. That’s what I think.
At the NJPW versus NOAH show on January 8th, Muto teamed up with Kaito Kiyomiya to take on Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada. Muto said that he was in no condition to be competing in that match. He took painkillers prior to the match and got through it, but once the painkillers wore off, he couldn’t move.
📢武藤敬司&丸藤正道緊急会見 配信中‼5https://t.co/mtr4FNjqp7
武藤敬司
「今年は還暦。還暦には赤いちゃんちゃんこを着るわけだが、ノアには赤いベルトがあるからね。それを獲りに行きたいなというのが夢の一つでありますね」#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/T1QMuKr3rD— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PROWRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) February 8, 2022
📢武藤敬司&丸藤正道緊急会見 配信中‼4https://t.co/mtr4FNjqp7
武藤敬司
「（現役続行について医師は？）そんなことは医者が決めることでなくて、俺が決めることであるわけで。痛みが少し収まってきたら、また"夢"の続きを見たいなと思っております」#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/QbmG1CZdAa— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PROWRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) February 8, 2022
📢武藤敬司&丸藤正道緊急会見 配信中‼️3https://t.co/mtr4FN1haZ
武藤敬司
「1月8日（新日本対抗戦）にはもう試合ができない状態だった。痛み止めの注射を打ってなんとかこなして。痛み止めが切れた途端、本当に動かなくなってしまってそれが続いている状態」#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/hiLQGYjdEl— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PROWRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) February 8, 2022
📢武藤敬司&丸藤正道緊急会見 配信中‼https://t.co/mtr4FNjqp7
丸藤正道
「何かに挑戦するよりこういう決断をする方が勇気がいる。武藤さんにとってのホームはノア。安心して戻ってこられるよう皆で待ってます。ベルト返上は残念だが、武藤・丸藤は誰にも負けなかった。そう思ってます」#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/FLE4RJkFiR— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PROWRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) February 8, 2022
Muto added that he is turning 60 years old in December and is hoping to become GHC National Champion.
Four years ago, Muto had artificial joint replacement surgery on both knees. He said his knees are fine now, but doctors informed him that all the pressure is going to his hip joints. The discomfort he’s been feeling dates back to October.
