AEW star Kota Ibushi will not linger in the ring if he feels he’s no longer required.
In an interview with Pro Wrestling NOAH, Ibushi discussed his retirement and various other topics.
Ibushi mentioned that he’s not sure about when he’ll retire. He’s not someone who sets specific years to retire. His only consideration is if he can’t do it anymore or if there’s no more demand from his fans for his matches, then he’ll stop wrestling on his own.
Ibushi sees himself as someone who doesn’t want to stay longer than necessary and will leave when he realizes he’s not needed anymore.
“I am not the type to set my own time frame, so I want to do as much as I can,” Ibushi said. “But… well… if I can’t do it anymore, if there is no more demand, I think it’s the end. If there is no more demand, I ask them to cut me off immediately. I’m the type of person who says that if I find out, I’ll quit immediately.”
Ibushi reflected on the shoulder injury he sustained during the NJPW G1 Climax in 2021, admitting it made him contemplate retirement. He felt restricted in his movements compared to his usual performance level, which concerned him regarding fans’ expectations. Ibushi mentioned that if fans no longer wish to see him perform in that capacity, then it could mark the “end of the road” for him.
“So in my case, it could end tomorrow. It could be a year from now, or it could be ten years from now. I don’t know. When there is no more demand, it’s the end.”
Ibushi has also been involved as a commentator in martial arts broadcasts. He mentioned being a martial arts enthusiast and mentioned receiving frequent offers to provide commentary from the martial arts community.
Ibushi openly discussed his affection for junk food, evident from his social media posts. Despite being 41, he sees himself as still exploring and experimenting with his body, believing there’s more yet to be discovered.
“The body and mentality are connected. People can’t live in a harsh environment all the time. You have to loosen up somewhere. That’s the only thing that everyone picks up on. That’s why people tend to think that I eat only hamburgers, or that I love junk food, but I eat only junk food,” he added.
Ibushi was last seen in the AEW ring in a Street Fight at AEW Dynamite on November 15, where he teamed up with Paul Wight and The Golden Jets to defeat The Don Callis Family.
