 In January 2003, Shiga would suffer a serious neck injury that would keep him out for over two and a half years.After two and a half years, Shiga returned to the ring at NOAH's September 18, 2005 Nippon Budokan show where he lost to Tamon Honda.One year after returning from injury, Shiga defeated Scorpio on September 3, 2006 to win the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship, his first championship.