REVEALED: Reason For AEW Rampage Title Change

On last night’s AEW Rampage, a shocking title change occurred as Wheeler Yuta of the Blackpool Combat Club dethroned Katsuyori Shibata to become the new ROH Pure Champion.

This is a move which was rushed due to Shibata needing to take time away from Ring of Honor and return to Japan, per Fightful Select. The report states that even though ROH would’ve liked Shibata to stick around for Final Battle later this year, he was unable to remain in ROH/AEW for that long, needing to “return to Japan for an extended period as soon as possible”. 

It was noted that Shibata was supportive of the angle that took place on Rampage where he lost the title and was saved from an attack by Hook - “The idea was that the attack would do just enough that ROH would be forced to give Shibata an extended No Contact period before he can return to action as a precaution.”

There isn’t much known about the reasoning behind Shibata’s absence, and it isn’t clear when he will return to ROH.