Shota Umino Withdrawn From G1 Climax After Concussion Suffered vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has officially withdrawn Shota Umino from the 2026 G1 Climax tournament after the rising star sustained a concussion during the event’s opening day of competition.

Umino was injured during his match against Zack Sabre Jr., one of the most technically demanding opponents in the tournament field. NJPW confirmed the diagnosis and announced that Umino would not continue, meaning his remaining scheduled block matches will not take place as originally planned.

The news is a significant blow to what had been a highly anticipated G1 Climax run for Umino. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of NJPW’s most exciting homegrown talents in recent years, spending time honing his craft overseas before returning to Japan and steadily building toward a top-tier spot on the roster. A strong G1 showing would have carried enormous momentum-building potential heading into the latter half of the year.

Zack Sabre Jr., the reigning NJPW World Heavyweight Champion and one of the most accomplished submission wrestlers on the planet, is a notoriously physical competitor. Matches against ZSJ frequently involve intense grappling and cranking pressure on the neck and joints, making the circumstances of the injury — while unfortunate — not entirely surprising in retrospect.

With Umino out, the dynamics of his block have shifted, and whoever was set to face him in remaining matches will now receive walkovers. NJPW has not yet announced a replacement competitor. Fans will hope for a swift recovery for Umino, whose upward trajectory in NJPW makes his return a matter of significant interest.