While Katsuyori Shibata has not been given medical clearance to resume his pro-wrestling career, it is believed he is hoping that will happen eventually. His status was addressed recently in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
“(Shibata) hasn’t been cleared, but he will be attempting to get cleared,” wrote Dave Meltzer. “He trains with his students, but the issue in question is whether it can ever be healthy for him to take head shots and if he were to return as Katsuyori Shibata, can they work around that issue within the New Japan style.”
Speculation as to whether Shibata would be returning to the ring began after an angle where KENTA joined Bullet Club and beat down Shibata with his new teammates took place on the final night of the G1 Climax tournament.
Katsuyori Shibata’s Injury
After winning the New Japan Cup in 2017, Shibata was scheduled to take on Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. They met at Sakura Genesis that year. After Okada won the match, Shibata collapsed backstage. He was taken to the hospital with a subdural hematoma which required surgery. MMA fighter/boxer Tim Hague would die of the same injury just two months later.
It has previously been reported that doctors will likely never clear him to return to the ring.
