Yoshi Tatsu Breaks His Neck!

[ABMorales787]

Former WWE star Yoshi Tatsu was hospitalized in Japan with a broken neck, believed to be the result of a Styles Clash he took from AJ Styles at the November 8th New Japan Pro Wrestling “Power Struggle” pay-per-view. Tatsu recently returned to New Japan as one of the many fighters against the Bullet Club, but was pulled from the World Tag League after the opening round.

Ouch. Wow, the big return for Yoshi was cut short. The Poison Fist Of The Pacific Rim (Goddamn you Striker) returned to New Japan and fought Styles fresh off the end of his World title reign and seemed to be positioned to face Jeff Jarrett right after for helping AJ win. Obviously won't the case now for the poor guy who just got out a lackluster WWE run to injure himself as he was just getting hot in New Japan.

 

[jmt225]

Man, that's horrible. That Styles Clash can be the safest move in pro wrestling, but at the same time the most dangerous if the opponent doesn't set himself up correctly to receive it.

Hopefully surgery can fix everything and Yoshi can be back as good as new as soon as possible. I also hope AJ isn't beating himself up over this as well. For as horrible as this injury can be to the victim of it, the mental anguish it can take on the person who delivered the move can be life altering too, to say the least.

 

[ABMorales787]

Man, that's horrible. That Styles Clash can be the safest move in pro wrestling, but at the same time the most dangerous if the opponent doesn't set himself up correctly to receive it.

Hopefully surgery can fix everything and Yoshi can be back as good as new as soon as possible. I also hope AJ isn't beating himself up over this as well. For as horrible as this injury can be to the victim of it, the mental anguish it can take on the person who delivered the move can be life altering too, to say the least.

Yoshi's was nastier on the landing, but it's not the first time a person tucks their head instead of pulling it out for it.

I gotta agree on what that does for AJ Styles. Would he end up not using the move? It could cause him to under-perform just by the biggest show of the year while trying to shake off the frustration of it. It's just something that happens much like Owen Hart and Stone Cold.

 

[Papa Pillman]

Man, that's horrible. That Styles Clash can be the safest move in pro wrestling, but at the same time the most dangerous if the opponent doesn't set himself up correctly to receive it.

This.

Its 100% up to the wrestler taking the move. Don't tuck your head. It seems like some wrestlers just panic in the moment and tuck their head out of pure instinct or muscle memory. Its an easy way to break your neck.



I was interested to see how Yamamoto's return to Japan would play out(but clearly didn't envision anything like this) I obviously hope that he makes a full recovery. I also hope that this doesn't influence people to call for AJ to stop using the clash.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I saw it and didn't think it looked as bad as some of the previous botches I've seen.

That's two necks broken in a year with the Styles Clash. Maybe it's time for a new finishing move, A.J.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I saw it and didn't think it looked as bad as some of the previous botches I've seen.

That's two necks broken in a year with the Styles Clash. Maybe it's time for a new finishing move, A.J.

This sucks for AJ. It does seem it's an error from the recipient of the move, not a mistake from Styles but I've heard quite a few stories now of people tucking their head in (which is the normal way to protect yourself during a move) rather than going the other way which is needed during the Styles Clash.

I wouldn't complain if he decided to start using a different move. I don't think the Clash looks that devastating when the wrestler takes it correctly, I'd be interested to see what he would use if he did indeed decide to retire the Clash. I know he's already got the Spiral Tap and the Calf Killer, but a new "slam" type move would be interesting.

I doubt he'll stop using it though, if its not him that's making the mistakes.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Styles is also using Bloody Sunday and The Hollow Point as finishing moves as well now, with the Calf Killer and Styles Clash. He has other options but I'd imagine his argument could be that if people listen to how to take the move, they won't get hurt. Lionheart didn't listen. Roderick Strong has botched both Styles Clashes hes taken in his career. Tatsu botched his Styles Clash and to be fair it didn't look that bad.

I feel bad for Yoshi, but at the same time those of us who keep up with NJPW know hes not anything special anyway. He had the worst match with AJ that AJ has had since coming to NJPW. They haven't signed him to a contract, he's a freelancer, they're using him for the story because Tanahashi helped train him and they have storyline linkage. Even him missing WK9 doesn't hinder the card much.

 

[Darkshadow1234]

I saw the match with Aj and yoshi.
It was clearly yoshi fault for tucking his head in. He doesn't know how to take the move.
your not suppose to tuck your head in.

Its not AJ styles fault.
Aj is not gonna retire the move.
Yoshi should of known better.

No wrestling move is dangerous.
Its the person doing or taking the move.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

The problem with the clash is that AJ himself cannot check that his opponent has adopted the correct receiving position. However, that can be easily rectified simply be having a designated person at ringside to signal him when it's safe to hit the move.

GWS Yoshi.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

It's lousy to hear. Even though the botch didn't look that bad, it doesn't have to "look" bad in order for it to be bad. The human body's a weird thing in that it's both so durable and fragile at the same time. A guy can fall out of a two story window and the difference between broken bones, concussions or death and some bumps and bruises can all come down to angles. A few degrees here or there can make all the difference in the world. The thing is, however, any move in professional wrestling can be dangerous if a wrestler doesn't know how to deliver it and/or take it properly. If a wrestler doesn't tuck his head while taking something as elementary as a body slam he could suffer significant cranial trauma.

If Styles were to decide to adopt a new finisher, I wouldn't complain or anything. At the same time, I probably wouldn't complain if he didn't adopt another finisher. As harsh as this might sound, if the wrestler receiving the move doesn't take the move properly, then it's on him. Even if he does stop using it, what's to stop somebody else from New Japan or somewhere else deciding to adopt it and use it themselves?

 

[Remix]

Styles is also using Bloody Sunday and The Hollow Point as finishing moves as well now, with the Calf Killer and Styles Clash.

And yet he's broken two necks, and botched another without making any changes to the common thread in all those incidents. He has options, but yet here we are. Again.

He has other options but I'd imagine his argument could be that if people listen to how to take the move, they won't get hurt. Lionheart didn't listen. Roderick Strong has botched both Styles Clashes hes taken in his career. Tatsu botched his Styles Clash and to be fair it didn't look that bad.

First off, it doesn't matter how it looked. Yoshi broke two vertibrae. So fucking what if Styles didn't inadvertently piledrive him, the injury's what matters not the aesthetics.

Second off, if it's your move injuring someone it's your damn fault. You are the person delivering it. If you can't guarantee that someone can take the move safely, don't fucking do it. Like, if I put a signature on a label when I'm working and it's wrong I get called on it, not the person who made the label. You doing the move means it's your responsibility.

Thirdly, saying 'do what I say or I'll hurt you' does not make you look like the good guy in this.

I feel bad for Yoshi, but at the same time those of us who keep up with NJPW know hes not anything special anyway.

Well thank god AJ didn't hurt someone you like. Have you got any idea how muck of a ******** you look saying that?

He had the worst match with AJ that AJ has had since coming to NJPW.

Which is massively important when we're discussing his broken neck. The neck AJ Styles broke. I know you're trying to deflect from that, but AJ Styles broke his neck and that's the purpose of this thread.

They haven't signed him to a contract, he's a freelancer, they're using him for the story because Tanahashi helped train him and they have storyline linkage. Even him missing WK9 doesn't hinder the card much.

Well thank god that him being injured isn't inconvenient. I mean, Wrestle Kingdom's card being OK is much more important than AJ Styles breaking someone's neck.

Dragon Saga, remove your head from Styles' anus for a moment. Yoshi Tatsu's neck has been broken. AJ Styles could have prevented it. He chose not to do so. Nothing else is relevant to this discussion.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

Unfortunately 2 in a year is enough simply from an insurance point of view for the promoters. He'll be forced to retire the move cos promoters will tell him he can't use it, just like WWE banned piledrivers. They let Taker do it and Kane, purely on the basis they'd ignore it and have the time served to do so... but remember when Cena used it a while ago? I am betting a fine was dished just like Batista getting juice... Cena could say "I'll write you a check for mine and the opponents fines now" like Batista did, cos they felt it worth it... but the risk is huge if it goes wrong.

It's natural to tuck for 90% of moves and using moves that go against the norm is always riskier. No matter how many times you can go over a move, the muscle memory/autopilot of years of tucking for most bumps will override it in the moment. Once guys are out there it's too much to expect to change what they normally do for one move when the move can simply be eliminated.

Reminds me a bit of the Austin/Owen situation where Austin repeatedly told Owen it was to be a tombstone and to go to his knees but Owen couldn't get his head round it as it was "Taker's move" and sat out, causing the injury... the spot should have been scrubbed rather than taking the risk.

Sucks for TAKFA Yoshi... hopefully he can come back and yeah, it does affect the guys causing the injury... but 2 in a year? If Styles DOESN'T change I got no sympathy if he gets sued... he's had his warnings. And the business got it's warning...

Vince had to pay Chuck Austin 26m dollars...cos HE botched the Rocker Dropper... not Marty Jannetty... he took it wrong... but Noun is spot on... if you can't guarantee a move is safe, or it's not in your power to make sure it is cos you're either unsighted, in unstoppable motion or you can't physically control yourself or the opponent's safety...you don't use it. If you do... you get sued....

 

[LBGetBack]

Michelle McCool never hurt anybody doing it. And none of the divas "took it wrong" either.

Just pointing it out since they're frequently destroyed by much of the IWC who pa themselves on the back for taking "piss breaks" or chanting JBL and Jerry Lawler's names during their matches.

 

[HurriKane]

While I don't think AJ Styles should change the move, as I feel he could just explain to the wrestler taking the move before the match. But if he has to change the move, I'm pretty sure AJ Styles could come up with something, considering he is one of the best wrestlers going today.

 

[Dmbfantomas]

While I don't think AJ Styles should change the move, as I feel he could just explain to the wrestler taking the move before the match. But if he has to change the move, I'm pretty sure AJ Styles could come up with something, considering he is one of the best wrestlers going today.

It's more than just explaining it. Muscle memory is key for pro-wrestlers, you've trained your body so much to do a move one way, to suddenly have to change everything you're used to, in a typically high pressure situation, is asking a lot. Two broken necks in one year is far too much to simply abide.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

If I'm a promoter and I book AJ Styles to be on my show... I'm putting it in writing that he is not allowed to do that move... and if that means I don't get AJ Styles, then so be it.

No way around it.

I don't care if some Internet guys say it's the safest move to take, and that every time he hurts someone with it, it's only because the other guy didn't know how to take the move. The fact is, too many people are getting seriously hurt by this move. Lives are potentially getting ruined because of this move. Lives could potentially end because of this move. I don't want to be the guy who put on the show where that happened. I don't want to get sued into bankruptcy because I put on the show where that happened. I don't want it on my conscience that I put on the show where that happened, and I could have prevented it.

Besides, the move itself is such a work that it's ridiculous. I understand this isn't the old days where everything needed to look believable in the ring, because the marks still weren't sure it was all legit... but that move takes me so far out of the illusion of pro wrestling it's ridiculous. It's not the type of move that draws people in. It's the type of move that makes people say to you "how can you watch that shit?"

 

[DCLXVI]

I'm a fan of AJ Styles but he should probably discontinue using the move unless he's working with a guy that is very familiar with it. That many guys getting injured in a short period of time is the writing on the wall. I know that the natural instinct is to tuck your chin, not bend your head backwards like the move requires. I also think, shit... the dude could come up with a cooler move. He's used it for a long time and I thought it was cool for a while when it was "something new", but it is kind of a silly move if you look at it from a "suspension of belief" standpoint.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Lot of people saying it's probably Yoshi's fault for not pull his head back. Look at the gif on the first page of a fuck up. That's AJ's fault. He didn't pick him up high enough for him to get his head back. He tries but he's blocked by the mat. AJ is a pretty short guy (probably 5'9" in real life I'd say). This is what the second guy AJ has done this to?

 

[rmp0012002]

I don't think the move should be banned or AJ drop it as there are a lot of moves during matches that these guys know how to do in and out. There has to be a talk or walk through of this move before the match. With the amount of high level moves done in a match they should learn this one considering its a finisher.

Sorry, new to the board and kind of rambled.

 

[HBKistheHOF]

Well first off I've never been a fan of the Styles Clash. Very rarely does it even look like it is done right, let alone when it does it still doesn't look all that devastating. Sort of like Christian & The Unprettier, the move itself isn't all that bad but it takes too long to set up & it just ends up looking sort of silly & complicated when executed, even for a pro wrestling move. Not to mention it's always struck me as more of a funky signature move to pull out on rare occasions, not a strong/cool finishing move used to end a bunch of matches. So hopefully this will once & for all convince AJ to get a new finisher.

That aside, I just feel bad for Yoshi. I always thought he was underutilized in WWE & now this happens, so sad. Hopefully he can make a full & speedy recovery & get back to doing what he loves to do!

 

[Daggdag]

Wasnt the move done from the top rope? Or am I thinking of another match? I know Styles recently did a super styles clash to end a match at a NJ event.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Yoshi's was nastier on the landing, but it's not the first time a person tucks their head instead of pulling it out for it.

I'm almost certain this one was intentional and part of the storyline, since they were talking about Stevie's neck problems beforehand.

 

[FromGlasgow]

I like AJ but its deffinently time to retire the styles clash whether its AJ's fault or not or the recipients fault for taking the move wrong, At the end of the day its injuring too many people, How many more guys need to get injured? Just use a different finisher.