Kota Ibushi is now a free agent, and a new report shines some light on the situation.
Ibushi had been working with New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2009. He left the company in 2016 and later returned in October that year. Ibushi won a number of titles during his time with the company, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He also won the G1 Climax in 2019 and 2020. He has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since October 2021, when he lost to Kazuchika Okada in the finals of the G1 Climax 2o21
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, Ibushi entered free agency at midnight Tokyo time, so he is now on the open market. Sapp cited sources who indicated that there is “major interest” in Ibushi from a number of companies, ranging from potentially signing him full-time to bringing him in for a one-off appearance. Other sources believe that Ibushi will want to remain a freelancer, as he was happy with that approach before he signed with NJPW. However, Ibushi has not confirmed that.
Ibushi previously expressed his frustration with NJPW management. Sapp reports that Ibushi’s relationship with NJPW “devolved” because of a “significant private matter” that he was dealing with, and the company wanted ho, to work through it. NJPW had also asked him to wrestle with an injured shoulder.
Ibushi has been announced Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9 and Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7. Both events are part of The Collective 2023.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
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