While the final night of G1 Climax ended with Kota Ibushi getting seriously injured, there was one moment that had everyone insanely happy. Before the scheduled match between Taguchi Japan & Los Ingobernables De Japón – Zack Sabre Jr. hit the ring dressed for a Grappling Rules match. His opponent was none other than Katsuyori Shibata, and the next 5 minutes were a clinic on technical wrestling. After the match, Shibata said that next time it will be a full match.
Katsuyori Shibata Was Pushed Into Retirement In 2017
What makes this so huge, is the reason why Shibata was out of action in the first place. Back in 2017, Shibata had won the New Japan Cup – and would face IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis. This was one of the best matches of that legendary reign, with Shibata’s no-nonsense offense being the perfect foil to the over the top Okada.
However, a headbutt would cause some serious damage to Shibata, and after he passed out backstage, it was discovered he had a subdural hematoma. In layman’s terms – a bleed in his brain. Since then, he’s had a few moments of getting physical with BULLET CLUB when KENTA joined them and is a trainer at the L.A & NJPW Dojos.
Wanting Some Revenge At Wrestle Kingdom
The full return of Shibata in the ring could be as early as Wrestle Kingdom in 2022. He’s been doing his best to prove that he’s healthy, and the NJPW office is starting to agree with him. One match that he pitched for Wrestle Kingdom was tagging with longtime friend Hirooki Goto to take on KENTA and someone else from Bullet Club.
That could honestly main event a Tokyo Dome card, given the huge hype by Shibata just trading submissions with ZSJ. Even a full match between ZSJ & Shibata would be a main event level match for one of the three planed Wrestle Kingdom events in January. NJPW is also out two of their main event talents in Tetsuya Naito & Kota Ibushi, so Shibata getting healthy couldn’t have come at a better time.
What is a match you would like to see from a returning Katsuyori Shibata? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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