Brutal Bad Timing: Francesco Akira Of NJPW Suffers Injury

Well, here’s a story that’ll make you wince harder than watching someone attempt a moonsault off the top rope. Francesco Akira, the Italian high-flyer who’s been tearing up New Japan Pro Wrestling’s junior heavyweight division, just got served a brutal reminder that professional wrestling doesn’t care about your career momentum.

Francesco Akira Suffers Career Setback in London

Last Friday night at Revolution Pro Wrestling’s Anniversary Event in London, and it was during his match against TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, something went terribly wrong, and now the 25-year-old Italian sensation is staring down the barrel of surgery for a fractured right wrist.

The Injury That Nobody Saw Coming

Akira isn’t exactly known for taking shortcuts in the ring. This guy has been putting his body on the line since joining NJPW in 2022, and it’s finally caught up with him in the worst possible way. NJPW’s official statement was the following

“Francesco Akira sustained a fracture to his right wrist and will be missing action to allow the injury to heal.” Thanks for the medical bulletin, guys. Really captures the emotional devastation of watching a rising star’s momentum come to a screeching halt.

Francesco Akira’s Rise Through NJPW’s Ranks

Before we get too deep into the pity party, let’s remember what made this injury so frustrating for fans. Akira hasn’t just been another body filling out the junior heavyweight division—he’s been one of its brightest stars.

Since 2022, the Italian wrestler has carved out a legitimate place for himself in NJPW’s competitive landscape. As one-half of the tag team “Catch 22” alongside TJP, he’s captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship not once, not twice, but three times. That’s not luck—that’s talent backed up by an insane work ethic.

And it wasn’t just NJPW where Akira was making waves. Earlier this summer, he worked seven shows for CMLL in Mexico, including appearances on Fantastica Mania cards that featured collaboration between AEW and NJPW. The guy was literally wrestling on three different continents, building his reputation one match at a time.

The Harsh Reality of Professional Wrestling Injuries

These athletes put their bodies through hell every single night, and sometimes the house always wins. What makes Akira’s situation particularly brutal is the timing. The junior heavyweight division has been absolutely on fire lately, with fresh matchups and compelling storylines. This was supposed to be his moment to step into that next tier of stardom. Instead, he’s trading wrestling boots for surgical scrubs.

What’s Next for the United Empire Member?

Surgery is never fun, but wrist injuries in professional wrestling are particularly nasty. Your hands are literally your tools of the trade—they’re how you grab opponents, break falls, and execute the intricate moves that make crowds lose their minds. Akira didn’t provide a timeline for his return, but he will be out for a while now, undergoing surgery.

Francesco Akira’s Fighting Spirit Shines Through Adversity

The wrestling business has a way of weeding out the weak-hearted pretty quickly. The fact that Akira is already thinking about his comeback before he’s even had the surgery tells you everything you need to know about his mindset. This isn’t a guy who’s going to let a fractured bone derail years of hard work. Francesco Akira will be back. The question isn’t if—it’s how much hungrier he’ll be when he steps through those ropes again.