During The New Beginning USA tour stop in Raleigh, North Carolina on January 27, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) shared a special moment with a young fan. Instead of throwing t-shirts to the crowd with tag team partner Toru Yano, Colt Cabana called young Raleigh Townsend to the ring to share his story with those in attendance.
I was just playing with friends from church one day on the trampoline, and I broke out into a 16-hour seizure caused by autoimmune encephalitis …and I was in coma for three weeks, and put in a children’s hospital in Michigan. Then I woke up and I’m on the recovery back to wrestling.
Moments like this are likely why NJPW decided a long-term approach and become a part of the wrestling community in the United States, rather than rely on ‘fly-in’ shows several times during the year. After sharing his story Cabana and Yano let Raleigh throw shirts to the crowd before surprising him with a visit from Hiroshi Tanahashi. The former 8x IWGP Heavyweight Champion presented Raleigh with a t-shirt signed by every NJPW roster member on The New Beginning USA tour. The crowd broke into a standing ovation prior to the group posing for several photos.
Autoimmune encephalitis is described as, “a type of brain inflammation where the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues in the brain or spinal cord. It is a rare, complex disease that can cause rapid changes in both physical and mental health.”
Raleigh was able to return to the Pure Pro Wrestling Junior Grapplers program several weeks ago, reaching a monumental point in his recovery.
First training since August. Was still using a wheelchair until December. @PPWPower #Jrgrapplers pic.twitter.com/bH1WWvrSRD
— Revved Up RT (@RevvedRt) January 10, 2020
After The New Beginning USA event, Raleigh’s father shared the heartwarming event on Twitter.
Thank you to @NJPWofAmerica and especially @ColtCabana @YTR_CHAOS & @tanahashi1_100 for letting our hero meet his heroes. He is on a long road to recovery and moments like this make the journey easier. Thank you, Raleigh’s Family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/OUJGJyRPB9
— Revved Up RT (@RevvedRt) January 28, 2020
You can watch Raleigh’s moment in an NJPW ring below, shared on his YouTube channel Revved Up RT.
