Wheeler Yuta became a three-time ROH Pure Champion by stealing the title from Katsuyori Shibata on Saturday night’s episode of AEW Rampage.
Fightful Select is reporting that Shibata is expected to take some time away from Ring of Honor and the angle was meant to write him off television.
Shibata has to return to Japan at the earliest for an extended period of time, and the former ROH Pure Champion couldn’t wait until Final Battle 2023 as people in ROH had initially hoped.
Yuta attacked Shibata and attempted to injure his skull after winning the title before HOOK made the save.
Shibata was supportive of the angle to explain his absence, however, the attack wasn’t meant to put him out for good. The attack fits adequately in the storyline, as he’d be given a “no contact” period before he could return as a precaution.
The angle plays into Shibata’s real-life subdural hematoma in 2017 that forced him to hang up his boots.
Since Shibata could not stay until ROH Final Battle 2023, both sides worked out this plan and the Japanese star loved the idea presented to him.
Shibata is reportedly happy in AEW/ROH and has enjoyed teaming with the likes of Orange Cassidy and HOOK.
However, it is unknown when Shibata will return to AEW/ROH.
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Wheeler Yuta has made history in the wrestling world by becoming a three-time ROH Pure Champion. Yuta achieved this feat by stealing the title from Katsuyori Shibata on a recent episode of AEW Rampage. However, it seems that Shibata will be taking some time away from Ring of Honor (ROH) following this event.
According to reports from Fightful Select, Shibata is expected to be absent from ROH television for a while, and the angle with Yuta was designed to write him off the show. It is believed that Shibata will need to return to Japan for an extended period of time, which is why he couldn’t wait until ROH Final Battle 2023 as initially planned.
In the storyline, Yuta attacked Shibata after winning the title and attempted to injure his skull. Fortunately, HOOK, another wrestler, came to Shibata’s rescue. While Shibata supported the angle to explain his absence, the attack was not meant to permanently put him out of action. Instead, it was a precautionary measure to give him a “no contact” period before he could make his return.
This angle ties into Shibata’s real-life subdural hematoma in 2017, which forced him to retire from in-ring competition. The storyline acknowledges this history and adds depth to Shibata’s character.
Despite his absence, Shibata is reportedly happy in AEW/ROH and has enjoyed teaming up with wrestlers like Orange Cassidy and HOOK. However, there is currently no information on when he will make his return to the promotion.
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In conclusion, Wheeler Yuta’s victory over Katsuyori Shibata for the ROH Pure Championship has led to an interesting storyline that explains Shibata’s absence from ROH television. While Shibata is expected to take time away from the promotion, he remains happy in AEW/ROH and fans can look forward to his eventual return.