Katsuyori Shibata Feels He's Closer To Match With Bryan Danielson Following ROH Pure Title Win

During a weekend chock full of surprises, few were more shocking than Katsuyori Shibata comprehensively defeating Wheeler Yuta to become the new Ring of Honor Pure Champion at Supercard of Honor XVI.

The win solidified Shibata’s return to pro-wrestling, with the NJPW LA Dojo head having a handful of matches over the past year since retiring in April 2017 due to life threatening injuries. During the post-PPV media scrum, Shibata stated that this title win has brought him closer to a dream match against former Pure Champion Bryan Danielson:

"By winning this title, I feel like I got one step closer to making the chance to wrestle Bryan Danielson. Step by step," said Shibata (via translator Michael Nakazawa).

Shibata and Danielson have never wrestled, but both are heralded as amongst the finest technical wrestlers of their generation. Both men were also forced to retire due to brain issues before staging comebacks against the odds, and a match between the two is long overdue. Now with both men working under the Tony Khan umbrella in some capacity, it seems a match is more likely than ever.

H/T: Fightful