It has been quite some time since we’ve seen Kota Ibushi in a New Japan Pro Wrestling ring. He suffered a broken wrist in the finals of the 2021 G1 Climax, and has been out of action ever since. However, things have been brewing behind the scenes, and there’s a good chance Ibushi could be done with the promotion.
Kota Ibushi Calls Out His NJPW Bosses, Calls The Company Exploitative
Early this morning, a series of tweets from Kota Ibushi would take the internet by storm. Fans with a knowledge of Japanese would be able to translate, and they would start with the following.
“I’ll expose all about the former cheaters-gun (already returned) and the sexually harrasing bosses, from the company president’s lies to his unreasonable power harrasments this time. Get prepared for this! ToSpo and TV Asahi too. I don’t care~”
Next, we’d see a conversation between Ibushi and an NJPW official named Kikuchi.
Kikuchi: “Maybe we should end your contract with NJPW.”
Ibushi: “If I’m told so from the NJPW side, I can’t complain. I’ll get things settled. It’s fine if you just fire me.”
Kikuchi: “I don’t want to do that. What happened to you?”
Ibushi: “There’s no reason whatsoever. I have no excuse either and don’t know why but I can’t align with the company’s rules. If this atmosphere is too weird, then it can be quick, so you can cut me with no remorse.”
The third and fourth relevant tweets called out NJPW for being a ‘black company’, meaning an exploitative sweatshop-type employment system in Japan.
“As we discussed, it turned out that what’s black is still black. I’m not a robot. Kikuchi stinked since he wanted me to return to Wrestle Kingdom before I was healed up. I endured it though. You know what is going on behind the scenes if you’ve been in the business for no less than 18 years. I don’t think it is a negative thing, I take it rather positively. I’m very very calm. Thanks for your concern.”
Ibushi’s NJPW Status Is Now Unclear
There is a lot of unpack here, but this isn’t the first we’ve heard of backstage issues in Japan – but to come from one of their top stars is something unheard of. We don’t know what will come of this, and it’s very much a developing situation at this time. Ibushi has yet to return from injury – but this all indicates that they tried to force him back into the ring as soon as Wrestle Kingdom.
Ibushi is coming off a tough time in NJPW, between being taken out of action with pneumonia before the G1 Climax, before suffering the broken wrist. However, this is more than your average frustrations – and could have major implications for NJPW as this year goes on.
Do you think we’ll ever see Kota Ibushi back in a NJPW ring? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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