Kota Ibushi Recalls Talks With Tony Khan In 2018

With his NJPW run over, all eyes are on Kota Ibushi’s future, with the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion arguably the hottest free agent on the market.

Whilst reports have suggested that WWE could be making a play to sign Ibushi, Ibushi’s relationship with AEW shouldn’t be discounted, due to his friendship with Kenny Omega, and his appearance at pre-AEW PPV All In in 2018.

During a conversation with Dark Puroresu Fusion on Twitter, the ‘Golden Lover’ revealed he held talks with AEW President Tony Khan back in 2018, saying:

“I spoke to Tony on Skype in 2018. Contract talk. But my dream was not money, my dream was to win the IWGP Heavyweight belt. This was because Shinya Hashimoto, who I liked [had won it], was my goal.

“I was offered an enormous amount of money. At that time, my feelings did not move. Now I’m on my way to my next dream,” said Ibushi.

Ibushi would indeed follow in Hashimoto’s footsteps, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 2021, before combining it with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to become the first ever IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.