Popular wrestler, Katsuyori Shibata, joined AEW last year after being a significant persona in NJPW. Yet, due to several reasons, he was pulled out from the Japanese promotion, leaving issues unsettled between both sides.
During Wrestle Kingdom 16, Shibata staged his second performance post-recovery from an injury that nearly ended his career. He was initially scheduled to fight against Ren Narita in a bout with “catch wrestling rules” that excluded strikes. However, upon entering the ring, Shibata altered the terms, indicating now it would be a full-scale pro wrestling match, including strikes.
This sudden change reportedly made NJPW officials nervous as Shibata hadn’t gotten the medical green light to engage in such a match from NJPW’s medical team.
Post this event, Shibata discontinued his performances for NJPW. In December 2023, NJPW allowed him to move to AEW, with reports indicating that NJPW had effectively ended their association with Shibata.
At a recent media briefing, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi stated his desire to go up against Shibata as part of his farewell tour.
Nonetheless, Tanahashi expressed his doubt over the match materializing, attributing his skepticism to the persisting tension between Shibata and NJPW.
As per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Shibata continues to be in hot water with NJPW officials. The problem is rooted in Wrestle Kingdom 16, where his decision to go against the agreed upon match stipulations led to NJPW withdrawing Shibata from competitive fights and consequently breaking off ties with him.
Furthermore, Shibata lost his role as Head Trainer at NJPW dojo due to the same incident.
Meltzer stated, “The issue is the Japanese doctors won’t clear Shibata, number one, the New Japan doctors. Number two, they’re still pretty hot on Shibata for double-crossing them in that match with Ren Narita a couple of years ago when they’re supposed to go out there and do a grappling match and then Shibata called an audible in the ring when he was not cleared to do an actual match with striking and went and did an actual match with striking. Because he double-crossed them, they have never put him in the ring since. Eventually, he was no longer the head trainer at the dojo or anything, they cut all ties with him and that’s when Tony Khan picked him up.”
In April 2017, Shibata was forced to take a break from his career due to a severe subdural hematoma. He was out of the ring until his short-lived comeback in 2021.
Despite the circumstances, it appears highly unlikely that Shibata will once again wrestle for NJPW.