The Young Bucks surprised fans with their appearance at NJPW Strong Style Evolved, and the AEW EVPs weren’t afraid to get physical. The show saw Jack Perry and Konosuke Takeshita struggle to co-exist in their tag-team match, but were able to defeat Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji.

After the match, Takeshita and Perry ganged up on Takagai until Hiromu Takahashi arrived to fight them off. The Young Bucks then blindsided Takahashi with a superkick, though Perry seemed far from happy to see his fellow Elite allies and headed to the back.

Matthew and Nicholas Jackson discussed challenging for the IWGP Tag Team Championships at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5. The duo also took aim at Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi, with Nick saying the pair are injury prone after Matt pondered what happened to the pair.

The Bucks will challenge Great-O-Khan and a mystery partner for the vacant tag team titles at Wrestle Dynasty. The titles are currently vacant after Henare suffered a knee injury, forcing him and Great-O-Khan to give up the gold. The match will be the first time the Bucks have competed since the October 20, 2024 edition of AEW Dynamite, when the brothers lost the AEW World Tag Team Championships to Private Party.

Wrestle Dynasty will be the first show of its kind and take place in Tokyo Japan on January 5, one day after NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19. The blockbuster show will feature talent from AEW, New Japan, Ring of Honor, CMLL, and STARDOM. Stay tuned for the latest on Wrestle Dynasty and The Young Bucks’ involvement with the show.

All Elite Wrestling’s Kota Ibushi is at the proverbial limit of his career, but won’t stop competing in the squared circle just yet. Speaking to Tokyo Sports this week, Ibushi discussed his career and the toll his body has taken over the years.

“My legs are at their limit and it could end at any time. I wanted to keep going before I can’t do it anymore… I’m really at the limit, but I want to contribute to the world of professional wrestling before I end my career, so I’m currently appearing in various places.”

Ibushi’s career has seen several injuries occur, including injuries to both of his ankles at a NOAH event in January of this year. While Ibushi finished the match, which saw him defeat Naomishi Marufuji, he was taken to a hospital shortly after. Ibushi returned to action in August for DDT Pro Wrestling, where he was on the losing end of an eight-man tag-team match.

Kota Ibushi Teases Retirement After Double Ankle Setback

One of the “various places” fans hope to see Ibushi compete is AEW as he signed a contract with the promotion in November of last year. Ibushi is currently 3-1 in the company, with his most recent match coming that same month. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Kota Ibushi who isn’t ready to say goodbye to the ring yet, despite the toll his body has taken.

Kota Ibushi has continued to tease fans regarding his return with fellow AEW star Kenny Omega. The Japanese star dropped hints in a social media post that he and Omega will return soon. Posting a picture in boxing gloves, Ibushi revealed that their last practice session is done and said that they are now pushing hard for their return.

Kota Ibushi stated that he has a long time to fulfill his promises. He also highlighted that the scenario in AEW has changed a lot since their absence. The 42-year-old thanked for the flexibility in his contract as well. A translated caption reads:

”Last practice is over!!! We haven’t seen each other quite a bit, but this time we’ve got a hard push. Tuned up for AEW which will be soon.

I still have a long time to fulfill my promises! The scenery sure has changed, All that’s left is to do. We’re both on fire!!

Thank you for your flexible contract even though you belong. Well, there are some things I’ve done, but basically when I’m in Japan, it’s good.”

Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega are one of the most popular tag teams and they are known as The Golden Lovers. They have been KO-D Tag Team Champions, the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.

Kota Ibushi’s last appearance in AEW took place November 15th edition of AEW Dynamite last year. He joined forces with Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight to defeat Brian Cage and The Don Callis Family in an eight-person Street Fight. Ibushi, who called AEW his home, is set to make his return to GLEAT for their show in Osaka on October 6th.

Meanwhile, Kenny Omega has been away from AEW since December last year with diverticulitis. Earlier this year, ‘The Cleaner’ returned to AEW Dynamite but he was brutally attacked by Jack Perry and The Young Bucks. Omega is also set to appear at next year’s NJPW Wrestle Dynasty.

Kota Ibushi is set to make his return to GLEAT for their show in Osaka on October 6th. GLEAT has announced on social media that Kota Ibushi will be competing at the show against an opponent to be announced soon. A (translated) GLEAT tweet reads:

Back at Edion Arena Osaka for the first time in about three years
Participation decision
Kota Ibushi’s heart is burning

This marks one of the first matches he’s had since making his in-ring return. Ibushi recently competed for GLEAT in July 2024 in an exhibition match against Daisuke Sekimoto at their Tokyo Dome City Hall show.

Ibushi fought back after suffering a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament injury at NOAH The New Year 2024 in January. The former IWGP World Champion had been on the shelf due to the injury and missed almost a year of in-ring action.

Kota Ibushi’s last appearance in AEW took place November 15 episode of Dynamite last year. He teamed with Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight to defeat Brian Cage and The Don Callis Family in an eight-person Street Fight.

Ibushi, who called AEW his home, remains under a contract with the promotion. Tony Khan’s promotion also allows him to compete in GLEAT as part of their collaboration.

GLEAT is a relatively new promotion that was established on August 20, 2020, by LIDET Entertainment. GLEAT combines elements of martial arts and traditional strong-style pro wrestling. AEW’s newest member Ricochet is also scheduled to compete at the show on October 6th.

Kota Ibushi recently made it clear that he is not leaving AEW and assured the fans about his return with Kenny Omega.

DDT Pro-Wrestling announced that Kota Ibushi will be returning to the promotion and compete in a trios match teaming up with Danshoku Dieno & Akito to face Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku. It will mark his first time competing for the promotion in 7 years. This led to the fans questioning whether he was done with AEW.

One fan on social media raised doubt about Ibushi’s status. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion labeled AEW as his ‘home’ and dropped hints about making his comeback with Kenny Omega.

Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega have been one of the most popular tag teams known as The Golden Lovers. They have been KO-D Tag Team Champions, the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.

The former IWGP World Champion had been recuperating from an injury and missed almost a year of in-ring action. He made his return to the squared circle at GLEAT’s event at Tokyo Dome City Hall where he faced Daisuke Sekimoto.

Kota Ibushi’s last appearance for AEW took place November 15 edition of Dynamite last year. He had joined forces with Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight to defeat Brian Cage and The Don Callis Family in an eight-person Street Fight.

Meanwhile, Kenny Omega has been away from AEW since December last year with diverticulitis. Earlier this year, ‘The Cleaner’ returned to Dynamite but he was brutally attacked by Jack Perry and The Young Bucks.

• Report: Kenny Omega Underwent Surgery for Diverticulitis

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Sunday, March 24. The weekend is never dull in the pro wrestling world, and with under 2 weeks until WrestleMania XL, things are always likely to heat up.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 13

WWE:

– 2024 Slammy Awards: WWE announced the nominees for the 2024 Slammy Awards. Fans can vote on their favorites now.

– Johnny Ace is a Dirtbag: Ronda Rousey had a lot to say about John Laurinaitis. She called him a dirtbag, among other things.

– The Rock Surprise: The Rock surprised customers at a Target in Memphis. He was there to promote his Papatui brand of men’s healthcare products:

– Top WWE Prospect: Giulia announced that she is leaving STARDOM in a matter of days, presumably at the end of March. WWE has been watching her for a while, and it is widely thought that she is coming in.

– WWE Shop Arrival: Ahead of their WrestleMania 40 collision, WWE has dropped a two-pack Usos Funko Pop set. You can click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.

Pump the music. Pop! WWE Superstar Jey Uso™ & Pop! WWE Superstar Jimmy Uso™ are entering the ring as a Fanatics exclusive 2-pack! Commemorate an iconic WrestleMania® 39 moment today. What’s your favorite WWE WrestleMania moment? #FunkoPop #WWE 🛒: https://t.co/qIGBpFvlTd pic.twitter.com/cAMWzrMYu6

— WWEShop.com (@WWEShop) March 22, 2024

– Rhea Ripley Stinkface: The Nightmare paid tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi by pulling off his signature Stinkface move at a recent WWE live event on Nia Jax.

AEW:

– AEW Streaming Deal: While speaking to Comicbook Nation, Tony Khan said that AEW is still in talks for a streaming deal with MAX. “We’re actively negotiating right now. Something I would be really excited about would be bringing AEW to Max, and it’s something I think we’ve talked about, it just needs to make sense for everybody,” Khan stated.

– Bittersweet Debut: Bayley said that Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut was bittersweet. She was there to see the former Sasha Banks’ debut for Tony Khan’s company, along with Naomi and Tamina Snuka.

– Kota Ibushi Injury Update: Ibushi updated fans with a promising message on Instagram. He posted a clip of him training for a return, with a caption in Japanese that translates to: ”1 year in and out, my ankle is still sprained, but I was able to explode with lab practice since surgery. It doesn’t take a year to come back. It will surely heal in six months. CURE !!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C41Lpv5SyaB

– Kenny Omega’s Favorite Wrestler: Omega explained why Kurt Angle is his go-to wrestler to study, because he’s his favorite. He also gave him flowers for being able to embrace the silly side of pro wrestling.

– Not A Fraud: Eric Bischoff cleared the air about how he feels about Tony Khan. He doesn’t believe he is a fraud, but he just allegedly doesn’t know anything to do with producing television.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

Kota Ibushi put his body through a lot during his years in NJPW prior to signing with AEW. Sadly, his time in AEW started off with an injury, and now he could need even more work done.

Kota Ibushi Will Need More Work After Surgery

Kota Ibushi was set to have surgery on January 17th. He had that operation and afterward, he took to social media to give fans an update.

While posting to Twitter/X, Kota Ibushi revealed that he is recovering after his latest operation. Now, he needs to worry about what is next, which includes a pesky bad shoulder.

Sorry for the late report. It looks like the ligament was completely torn (another spot was already little to begin with) and is now completely immobilized in a cast up to about below the knee. The next step is to see what will happen to the left side, and the right side will go for 2 weeks. My shoulder is not in perfect condition and I intend to fix everything this time. I apologize for the inconvenience. I will think about the rest in various ways.

How Kota Ibushi Was Injured

Tony Khan’s roster has seen a few big names go down for an extended period of time. Pro wrestling always comes with risks, but Ibushi is one of the best in the world when he’s on his A-Game. Hopefully, AEW will get a good run with Ibushi before everything is said and done.

Kota had a match against Naomichi Marufuji at NOAH The New Year, during which he sustained an ankle injury. Following the conclusion of the match, he faced difficulty standing and was subsequently transported to the hospital. Pro Wrestling NOAH disclosed that he received a diagnosis of a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury.

Matt Cardona has been making his name ever since his release from WWE, and now the ‘Indy God’ had his name mentioned during the Emmy Awards. 

The 75th annual Emmy Awards took place this week from the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The awards covered programming from June 2022 to May 2023, with nominations announced in July of 2023.

Paul Walter Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird. 

Hauser’s acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and ‘get the tables!’

Paul Walter Hauser brings pro wrestling to the Emmy’s

If Hauser’s name sounds familiar, it’s because had a match for Pro Wrestling REVOLVER last November. 

During his acceptance speech, Hauser name-dropped Matt Cardona, saying he’s going to beat the ‘Indy God’ at the upcoming Ready or Not event on March 16. 

Kota Ibushi and Matt Cardona shoutouts during the Emmys by Paul Walter Hauser. Incredible.pic.twitter.com/JYhFMdfLqB

— Drainmaker ?? ? (@DrainBamager) January 16, 2024

It wasn’t just Matt Cardona that Hauser referenced during his rap-based acceptance speech. The actor also gave a shoutout to Kota Ibushi and referred to the ‘Wolfpac’, a nod to the NWO off-shoot faction.

WWE Hall of Famer ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was among the lengthy list of people that Hauser wished to thank. Hauser ended his speech with a “get the tables”, a nod to the legendary tag team the Dudley Boyz. 

Paul Walter Hauser won his Emmy award in a category that also included Murray Bartlett (Welcome to Chippendales, Nick De Noia), Richard Jenkins (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Lionel Dahmer), Joseph Lee (Beef, George Nakai), Ray Liotta (Black Burd, James ‘Big Jim’ Keener), Young Mazino (Beef, Paul Cho), and Jesse Plemons (Love and Death, Allan Gore).

Last time Paul Walter Hauser was in an @PWRevolver ring… He K!LLED a man!

Master of the 6 Inch Punch. https://t.co/aqgyyZnPkS pic.twitter.com/MGQ5PL3qow

— Wrestling REVOLVER (@PWRevolver) January 12, 2024

AEW’s Kota Ibushi has hit out at a clinic in the Asakusabashi district of Tokyo, Japan, which he claims is little more than a scam. 

In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ibushi speaks about being presented with a strange powder during a procedure. Ibushi added that the ‘scam’ is charging people 200,000 yen per visit, equivalent to $1384 USD. 

“As for the details of the C5 clinic scam that I mentioned before, it starts with an IV drip, but when it doesn’t work midway through, they bring a strange powder (marijuana) without permission, so isn’t this a problem for the police? This is a fraudulent clinic that operates in Asakusabashi and all over the country. Please be careful as it will take about 200,000 yen per time.”

You can see Ibushi’s deleted post below. 

Kota Ibushi’s Injury

Fans won’t be seeing Kota Ibushi in the ring for some time after suffering an injury during a recent match for Pro Wrestling NOAH.  Ibushi was seen clutching his foot after a moonsault, and reportedly walked into the match with an injury. Ibushi was rushed to hospital after the match. NOAH would later give an update on Ibushi, who suffered a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury. The Japanese wrestler has confirmed that he will have surgery to deal with this situation. There is no word on when he can be expected back in the ring. 

SEScoops wishes Kota Ibushi a speedy recovery.

New details have come to light regarding Kota Ibushi’s health issues.

The Japanese star aggravated what’s believed to be a previous injury while working a match against Naomichi Marufuji at NOAH’s New Year special on January 2.

The high-flying star was said to be in a lot of pain after this match and was taken to hospital immediately afterward. The wrestling promotion shared an update on his diagnosis with us, revealing additional injuries to his right ankle:

“Kota Ibushi, who sustained an injury at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Ariake Arena event on January 2nd, has been diagnosed with a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury as a result of a more thorough examination than his initial diagnosis.”

Ibushi is expected to undergo another detailed examination to determine further course of treatment. We will keep you updated on the matter.

Kota Ibushi’s Future In Wrestling

The 41-year-old has been dealing with persisting health issues going back to his time with NJPW. He has only wrestled a total of 8 matches since parting ways with the promotion in November 2021, and most of them have been tag team bouts.

After the latest injury setback, Kota Ibushi shared a number of heartfelt messages with his fans on Twitter. In one such tweet yesterday, he hinted at potentially retiring from the sport after fulfilling his current obligations:

“I came here with the goal of being able to do it for 20 years, and I think it’s about time. There are still a lot of things left on my contract, but I want to complete them!

“I try not to talk too darkly or think about the future, but I have to take care of my mother and other things, so I’ll talk about it when the time comes! Don’t miss a match.”

We should expect a firm update on Ibushi’s future in wrestling once a more detailed timetable for his recovery is revealed.

SEScoops wishes Kota Ibushi a speedy recovery.

The career of Kota Ibushi may be coming to an end sooner than later judging by a tweet from the Japanese wrestler. 

At the Pro Wrestling NOAH event on January 1, Ibushi was transported to a hospital after injuring his ankles. The Japanese star, who signed with AEW last year, reportedly walked into the match with a broken ankle but still wrestled the 30-minute main event against Naomichi Marufuji. This match understandably made his injury situation worse and itsbeen confirmed that Ibushi will undergo surgery. 

Kota Ibushi Teases Retirement

In a tweet translated from Japanese, Ibushi teased that his days in the ring may be numbered. 

I came here with the goal of being able to do it for 20 years, and I think it’s about time. There are still a lot of things left on my contract, but I want to complete them!

“I try not to talk too darkly or think about the future, but I have to take care of my mother and other things, so I’ll talk about it when the time comes! Don’t miss a match. 

僕も20年出来たらという目標でやってきまして現役はそろそろかなと。いろいろまだ契約が残っていたりしますがそれだけはやりとげたいと思っています！

あまり暗い話しや先のことなどは考えないようにしていますが、母の介護だったり色々とありますのでその時がきたら話します！1試合1試合見逃すな😊‼️

— 飯伏 幸太 (@ibushi_kota) January 6, 2024

Is Kota Ibushi’s Career Ending? 

This isn’t the first time that Ibushi has addressed leaving the wrestling ring behind. Last month, Ibushi said that he’d considered retirement after suffering a shoulder injury during the NJPW G1 Climax in 2021. In the interview, Ibushi said that he doesn’t know when he’ll be finished, saying it could be tomorrow, next year, or ten years from now. 

As of this writing, there is no word on when Ibushi will return to the ring. We at SE Scoops are continuing to wish him the best in his recovery. 

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. 

After more than a year of inactivity, inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi is a free agent.

The former DDT ace finally reached the pinnacle of New Japan back at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in January 2021. After winning the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships from Tetsuya Naito on Night 1, he successfully defended them against Jay White on Night 2. In the months after, Ibushi unified the belts to create one world title moving forward for NJPW.

Even with his success early on in the year, 2021 proved to be troublesome for the former Golden Lover. He shockingly dropped the new world title in his first defense before suffering severe injuries at that year’s G1 Climax.

Now, after well over a year of inactivity, Ibushi is gearing up to return, just not in NJPW.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that Ibushi’s contract with Japan’s premier wrestling promotion has expired. Given his notable issues with New Japan management, it’s hardly surprising to see him part ways with the company.

Kota Ibushi Discusses AEW And Wrestling School

In a recent interview with Dark Puroresu Flowsion, Ibushi was asked on whether or not he’d be interested in joining AEW. Ibushi was quick to point out friends of his, as well as younger stars in Japan, are in the promotion. This was likely a reference to Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Konosuke Takeshita.

Regardless, Ibushi would like to focus on opening up his own wrestling school first.

“[A] lot of my best friends are in AEW. My younger peers in Japan are also growing up [there]. Nonetheless, I don’t think of going to AEW immediately. I want to have a ‘school’ in Japan. Once that’s been worked out, I think I’ll talk with AEW.”

Ibushi will make his long-awaited return to the squared circle against ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9. The now former NJPW star is touring the US this year. In Japan, his future remains unclear though it’s likely promotion such as Pro Wrestling NOAH, AJPW, and his old stomping grounds in DDT could be interested in booking him given his popularity with puroresu fans.

• Update: Tony Khan on Kota Ibushi in AEW: “I Really Want to Work With Him”

Kota Ibushi is officially touring the United States in the summer of 2023.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion and longtime leader of ‘Bloodsport’, Josh Barnett announced quite the matchup for his latest installment of the event.

IMPACT star ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey will face none other than former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi at Bloodsport 9.

Kota Ibushi Is Now a Free Agent

Following an historic run in New Japan Pro Wrestling from 2009 through 2023, Kota Ibushi would collect nearly every accolade and title possible. Ibushi would hold the IWGP World Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Intercontinental, Junior Heavyweight, Junior Heavyweight Tag, and World Tag Team Championships.

Kota Ibushi officially became a free agent on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 following a near 15-year run with the company both before and after a brief run in WWE in 2016 where he competed in the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic, where he was defeated by the tournament’s eventual winner TJ Perkins in the event’s semifinals.

GCW Collective 2023 Schedule

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9 takes place on Thursday, March 30 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California at 4:00 p.m. local time. The event will be part of GameChanger Wrestling’s annual ‘GCW Collective’ during WrestleMania 39 weekend.

Thursday, March 30

• Santino Bros Wrestling (11:00 a.m. PDT)
• Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9 (4:00 p.m. PDT)
• DDT Pro-Wrestling (8:00 p.m. PDT)
• For The Culture (11:59 p.m. PDT)

Friday, March 31

• Jimmy Lloyd’s Degeneration-F (11:00 a.m. PDT)
• DDT vs. GCW (3:00 p.m. PDT)
• Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7 (8:00 p.m. PDT)
• Emo Fight (11:59 p.m. PDT)

Saturday, April 1

• Effy’s Big Gay Brunch: LA (11:00 a.m. PDT)
• Gringo Loco’s The WRLD on Lucha (9:00 p.m. PDT)

Sunday, April 2

• The Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame (12:00 p.m. PDT)

SEScoops will continue to provide any updates on Kota Ibushi’s free agency status as they become available.

Game Changer Wrestling has announced that New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kota Ibushi will return to the ring and debut for GCW next month. It all goes down over ‘WrestleMania Goes Hollywood’ weekend from Los Angeles as part of GCW’s The Collective 2023.

Ibushi last competed on October 10, 2021 when he faced (and lost to) Kazuchika Okada in the G1 Climax 2021 Final. He’s been out of action with a shoulder injury and also had a public falling-out with NJPW during that time.

Ibushi will be appearing for GCW on two shows:

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9
Thursday March 30, 4pm

Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7
Friday, March 31, 8pm

Both events will stream live on FITE+ from the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California. If you’ll be in town WrestleMania weekend, visit Eventbrite to buy tickets for the GCW events.

Click here for more information on additional talent announced for GCW The Collective 2023.

Despite the issues, Kota Ibushi has remained with New Japan Pro Wrestling, but that will change soon. 

Kota went public about his issues with the promotion via social media as Ibushi stated that he was going to expose the “cheaters-gun and sexually harassing bosses.” He also shared conversations between himself and New Japan higher-up Yusuke Kikuchi where he alleged Kikuchi threatened to terminate Ibushi’s contract for making an appearance accompanying wrestlers to the ring at TAKA Michinoku’s Just Tap Out promotion.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave an update on the status of Kota Ibushi as it was noted that Ibushi’s NJPW contract is scheduled to expire at the end of January 2023. 

Kota’s Upcoming Free Agency

Meltzer wrote: “Kota Ibushi has been in light training in the ring of late and thus far the shoulder has held up well so that’s a good sign. His New Japan contract expires at the end of January and he made a tweet hinting at that. There was a lot of bad feelings over the past year but nothing is definite regarding staying or leaving at that point past he brought it up in a cryptic way about being a free agent in two months.”

Ibushi hasn’t wrestled since his match with Kazuchika Okada in the 2021 G1 Climax finals which ended in a stoppage when Ibushi injured his shoulder.

In June, NJPW announced Ibushi, Kikuchi, and NJPW president Takami Ohbari were being penalized by having their pay reduced by 10 percent for three months. Also, Kikuchi was also transferred to a different position within the company.

Kenny Omega got the opportunity to reunite with Kota Ibushi recently in Japan.

Omega is currently dealing with a suspension from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) due to his involvement in the backstage altercation that took place after the All Out pay-per-view (PPV). However, he’ll still be making an advertised appearance in Japan soon.

“The Cleaner” is slated for the Tokyo Games Show and was spotted in Japan recently ahead of the event. During his time there, Omega apparently got the chance to reunite and hang out with his friend and former Golden Lovers tag team partner, Kota Ibushi.

Ibushi posted the following photos of himself and Omega out enjoying themselves. Check them out here:

As noted, Omega is currently dealing with a suspension after being involved in a brawl that broke out after the All Out PPV earlier this month. Omega and The Young Bucks confronted CM Punk backstage following Punk’s comments about them in his post-show press conference.

That apparently led to a physical altercation in which Kenny Omega found himself getting physical with Ace Steel. It was later reported that Omega and The Young Bucks were all handed suspensions for their involvement.

As for Punk, who has since been forced to vacate the AEW World Title, it remains to be seen if he’ll even remain with the company moving forward.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) star Kota Ibushi is looking for a potential run with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

Ibushi recently took to Twitter to respond to a fan asking him about potentially showing up in AEW. The Japanese star responded by saying, “At least once.” In another tweet on the subject, Ibushi said he’d like to show up to AEW more than once, and believes Golden Lover teammate Kenny Omega can make it happen.

“I’m going because there are kind of a lot of AEW expectations, maybe three times. I can’t promise that the card will be set up correctly, but Lovers can.”

At the moment, Ibushi is nursing an injured shoulder that has kept him sidelined as of late. In addition to his injury, Ibushi is also dealing with some pretty heated issues with NJPW at the moment.

Ibushi has called out NJPW executives as “cheaters-gun and sexually harassing bosses.” He also claims that NJPW executive Yusuke Kikuchi tried to get him to return from his shoulder injury earlier than he felt comfortable doing.

He suffered the injury at the G1 Climax Final last August. Ibushi was also allegedly reprimanded by Kikuchi for appearing at a Just Tap Out event. Kikuchi allegedly threatened to release Ibushi over the ordeal.

Ibushi has stated that he wants a release from his contract with NJPW, indicating he doesn’t believe he can to back after the comments he’s made. While he wasn’t released from his contract, NJPW did announce financial penalties on Ibushi for his comments.

With everything going on between Ibushi and NJPW, it’s no surprise that he wants out of the promotion.

Kota Ibushi is struggling with the rehabilitation of his shoulder injury and may be a long way from returning.

Ibushi & NJPW

Ibushi has been out of action since the G1 Climax Finals in the Fall of 2022. In his match against Kazuchika Okada, he suffered a shoulder injury. Kota was announced for the New Japan Cup, but was pulled from the tour.

In May, Kota took to social media to speak out about his frustrations with NJPW management. This led to NJPW holding a press conference addressing the comments and announcing punishments dealt to Kota and others involved.

Ibushi Injury Update

Though it is unknown when Ibushi will make his in-ring return, he did take to social media (translations via @thfeelite) to address his current injury.

When speaking about his shoulder injury, Kota said, “Sadly, my shoulder [injury] is getting worse. I have done my rehab according to the instructions and guidance [of my doctors and trainers] too. I’m not risking anything this time. 

Physically, it’s been 8 months and I still can’t do a single push-up, so. I’m making a calm decision. I’ll say it again and again, but I’m not giving up.”

Ibushi shared that his shoulder won’t move at all, and he “probably overdid it for many years.” Unfortunately, Kota also stated that he was doing better in December than he is now.

“If I wrestled now, [my shoulder] would dislocate in less than a minute. I’m sorry that it’s gotten worse and made daily life difficult, instead of having rested again for a little under a year. I will do everything I can to take care of my mother,” he added.

Kota Speaks On NJPW

Kota also made sure to once again express his issues with NJPW and the promotion’s handling of him. He says that the company announced that he would return on March 1 knowing it would be “impossible” for him to return so soon, labeling the move as a “scam.”

He also added that he never spoke to President Takami Ohbari. He also said that he thought it was “shady” of NJPW to upload photos of him while things are bad between them.

You can view the entire translated thread of Ibushi’s posts by clicking here.

Kota Ibushi remains with New Japan Pro Wrestling and has not been fired, but he is being punished for being vocal about his issues with the promotion of late via social media.  

Ibushi has stated that was going to expose the “cheaters-gun and sexually harassing bosses.” He also shared conversations between himself and New Japan higher up Yusuke Kikuchi.

One included a conversation with Kikuchi about him returning from a shoulder injury he suffered in the G1 Climax Final last August. Ibushi called the company out for abusing its power because they wanted him to return before he felt ready.  He also shared that Kikuchi chewed him out for making an appearance at a Just Tap Out event where Kikuchi indicated that NJPW could potentially release Ibushi because his appearance was a breach of his exclusive contract.

He wants his release from the company and he doesn’t feel he can go back following his recent comments.

NJPW Reveals Ibushi’s Punishment

NJPW sent out the following statement on Sunday night: 

“During a press conference on May 27 2022 regarding events concerning Kota Ibushi and a member of NJPW staff (henceforth “The Official”), it was announced that both Mr. Ibushi and The Official would be subject to penalties as a result of their actions. Upon consideration, these penalties have been determined, and in the interest of transparency, are outlined below. 

 KOTA IBUSHI: A ten percent (10%) reduction in pay for the three month period between July and September 2022 as a result of a breach of contract.

Representative Director TAKAMI OHBARI: A ten percent (10%) reduction in pay for the three month period between July and September 2022 as a result of executive responsibility.

THE OFFICIAL: A ten percent (10%) reduction in pay for the three month period between July and September 2022, as well as a transfer to a different position as a result of inappropriate comments toward a wrestler representing a breach of duty.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling would like to once again apologise for the concern and inconvenience caused by these events, and humbly ask for your continued support.”

Kota Ibushi may very well be out of New Japan Pro Wrestling soon after expressing dissatisfaction with the promotion in a series of tweets recently on May 10.

Ibushi has cited reasons such as unfair treatment and other issues with booking and management with NJPW.

His tweets seemed to target NJPW workers such as Kikuchi, Taichi, and TAKA. He alleged that there’s backstage politics at play involving these names. Ibushi even mentioned Yakuza having links with the promotion.

Now, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has reported that NJPW’s parent company, Bushiroad, plummeted when links with the crime syndicate were alleged by Ibushi (as transcribed by WrestlePurists):

“Nothing major has changed on the Kota Ibushi front. The only major stuff is that there is the belief that Ibushi’s statements and bringing up the Yakuza have hurt the stock price of Bushiroad, so that has become a serious company issue. Because Ibushi went after Takami Ohbari, the President of New Japan, this may take Bushiroad President Takaani Kidani to intervene.”

Apart from that, a wrestler familiar with the situation said that Ibushi is just waiting to be released from NJPW.

“Another wrestler very close to the situation who knows Ibushi said that he is just waiting to be released and isn’t going to say any more right now. But he said Ibushi has a lot more he could say but doesn’t want to hurt the wrestling industry in Japan by doing so. There is a basic feeling in New Japan that the wrestlers care about the other wrestlers and people like Gedo in management do, and the doctors there very much do, but a lot of management treats them like pieces of meat. They believe they don’t care about the wrestlers themselves and that leads to problems.”

A fan asked Ibushi if he would return to DDT Pro Wrestling, to which the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion replied, “I don’t have even 1% intention of going back. Sorry.”

In his tweets, Ibushi complained about being pressured by Kikuchi to return to Wrestle Kingdom even before he recovered from the injuries he suffered in the G1 Climax final last October.

He also called NJPW a “black” company (burakku kigyou), which is a Japanese term for an employment system that is considered sweatshop-like. A black company often forces employees to do large amounts of overtime without appropriate overtime pay. Working conditions are also poor in such places, with bullying by seniors being common.

Kota Ibushi could be on his way out of New Japan Pro Wrestling following a series of tweets in which he expressed his displeasure with the company.

On Twitter, Ibushi has said that unfair treatment is just part of the problem with New Japan at the moment.

In a series of screenshots of messages between himself and Kikuchi, a New Japan booker seemingly threatens to fire Ibushi.

During the latest Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alverez said that a source close to the situation believes Ibushi will be gone from the company soon after publicly revealing info regarding NJPW business.

“The exact wording I was told is, ‘he’s burned his bridges.'”

Bryan Alverez.

Alverez added that this could have major ramifications for Ibushi and that other promotions in Japan may be hesitant to work with him.

“The culture of Japan is you don’t do stuff like this… There’s kind of this feeling that he may be done.”

Bryan Alverez

On the most recent Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Ibushi had not been fired yet, and Gedo had been trying to “save the deal” with the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Ibushi in the United States

If Ibushi’s actions have cost him work in Japan, then the 39-year-old wrestler may take his talents to the U.S.

In 2016, Ibushi briefly worked with WWE, competing in the Cruiserweight Classic but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner T.J. Perkins.

With WWE ending their Cruiserweight Championship division, a role in WWE may seem unlikely for Ibushi, who could join his former tag-team partner Kenny Omega in AEW.

This too has its problems, as AEW and New Japan will be working closely together ahead of the Forbidden Door event on June 26, and signing Ibushi could possibly strain this relationship.

• Kenny Omega Thinks He Will Cross Paths With Kota Ibushi Again (September 2021)

There is an update on recent drama between Kota Ibushi and NJPW.

Ibushi recently posted a series of tweets in Japanese, which left many foreign fans confused due to mistranslations. While some alarming terms were seen through the translation tool on Twitter such as, “sexually harassing bosses,” things just didn’t seem to add up.

It looks like we now know what has Ibushi peeved.

What’s Going On With Kota Ibushi?

Bryan Alvarez took to Wrestling Observer Live to discuss what’s really at play here. Alvarez noted that he received this bit of info from Ibushi’s camp.

Apparently, Kota Ibushi is none too pleased with NJPW as he feels the company is trying to rush him back to the ring. Ibushi suffered a shoulder injury after landing hard on a Phoenix Splash during his G1 Climax finals match against Kazuchika Okada back in Oct. 2021.

Ibushi was initially planned to participate in this year’s New Japan Cup. He ended up being pulled from the tournament as he wasn’t ready to return to action.

Bryan said he wouldn’t go as far as to say Ibushi blew his stack but he did say the “Golden Star” is simply frustrated with the situation. He doesn’t feel his injuries have fully healed but he’s being asked to return.

Back in 2019, it was reported that Ibushi signed a “lifetime contract” with NJPW. Ibushi reportedly said he wanted to be with the promotion until he dies.

Ibushi realized his dream of becoming the IWGP Heavyweight Champion back in Jan. 2021. He defeated Tetsuya Naito in the main event of night one of Wrestle Kingdom 15.

Kota Ibushi believes he knows why he suffered a dislocated shoulder against Kazuchika Okada.

Ibushi and Okada did battle in the finals of the G1 Climax 31 tournament. Things went south when Kota Ibushi missed a Phoenix Splash and landed hard on his arm. The match was stopped immediately and Ibushi was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder. He’s expected to be out of action for about two months.

During an interview with Tokyo Sports, Ibushi shared his take on why he ended up suffering the injury (rough translation via Google).

“There is a cause for it, weight control. This time, I’ve lost or gained weight by then. I was able to practice Phoenix, but there were too many waves. If that is 100 grams different, it’s completely different (feeling). Because it’s such an advanced technique. That was 3 kilometers different on the day of the KENTA match (18th). I was intentionally increasing it for the championship-deciding match, but I think I was tired … I wonder if my weight was definitely (influenced).”

Ibushi has had a string of bad luck as of late. This year for the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion has been riddled with injuries and illness. Ibushi was hospitalized earlier this year due to Aspiration Pneumonia.

Ibushi was out of action from July until September. He was able to return just in time for the G1 Climax. In the tournament, Ibushi had a highly praised match with current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi. Ibushi went over 25 minutes with Okada before the injury occurred.

Last week, the G1 Climax Final match between Kota Ibushi and Kazuchika Okada was stopped early after Ibushi suffered an injury. After missing a Phoenix Splash attempt, Ibushi was attended to by ringside physicians and the match was stopped and Okada was declared the winner.

NJPW1972.com released an update on Ibushi’s condition today.

“The evaluation revealed a right anterior dislocation of the shoulder, and joint lip damage. Recovery is expected to take two months,” reads NJPW’s update.  

If all goes well in his recovery, Ibushi will be able to return in time for 3-night Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, January 5, and January 8, 2022.

NJPW Power Struggle Lineup

The next big event for NJPW in Japan will be Power Struggle in Osaka on November 6th. Below are the announced matches for the card.

• Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
• Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask vs. Tanga Loa, Gedo & Jado
• Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
• NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships
  Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (c) vs. EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi
• KOPW Trophy
  Toru Yano (c) vs. Great-O-Khan
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
  Robbie Eagles (c) vs. El Desperado
• IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship
  Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. KENTA
• Title Shot at Tokyo Dome
  Kazuchika Okada (G1 Winner) vs. Tama Tonga
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
  Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.