Report: Update On Kota Ibushi In NJPW

Kota Ibushi’s situation with New Japan shows no signs of being resolved any time soon. 

Issues between the two sides arose in Spring 2022, with the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion accusing NJPW of many wrongdoings, even alleging there was a Yakuza influence on the organisation.

Earlier in June it was announced that Ibushi and two NJPW executives would have their pay docked for several months, and a report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter suggests that Ibushi is ‘conflicted’ about his current standing in the company:

“As far as Ibushi goes, he’s said to be conflicted. At some point you have to work and make money and for him New Japan is the best option unless he moves to the U.S., which he doesn’t want to do and also wants to take care of his mother. There are still bad feelings, but not as bad as before. There is also damage that has been done and there are questions about how he would be accepted in the locker room,” Meltzer reported.