Kota Ibushi expresses his interest in working for All Elite Wrestling.
Ibushi, a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, left New Japan Pro-Wrestling when his contract expired at the end of January. He had been out of action since October 2021 due to a shoulder injury, but he returned to the ring at The Collective 2023; he defeated Mike Bailey at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9, and he beat Joey Janela at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7..
Ibushi remains a buzzworthy free agent, and while speaking with Dark Puroresu Flowsion, he made it clear that AEW is his top choice.
“I don’t want to go out normally, I want to go out seriously,” Ibushi said. “I think I’m more suited to AEW than Japan. I already thought so during All In. I have many friends. There are even the best tag partners.”
Ibushi has plenty of history with AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks; he and Omega previously teamed up as the Golden Lovers, and the quartet briefly formed The Golden Elite.
Update: Dark Puroresu Flowsion subsequently noted that Ibushi expressed that he has “high interest” in competing at AEW: All In, the company’s newly-announced Wembley Stadium show. At the inaugural All In, the event that helped launch AEW, Ibushi teamed up with the Young Bucks to defeat Rey Mysterio, Bandido, and Rey Fenix.
The former world champion previously discussed his terms for a potential deal with AEW. Check out his comments here.
