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Missing AEW Star Announced For International Show

By Lyle Kilbane • Published 7th August 2024
Tony Khan AEW

One AEW star has not been seen in the company for nine months but despite that, they’ve been announced for a match overseas.

By 2021, Kota Ibushi had cemented his place as one of the best wrestlers in the world and looked set to dominate New Japan Pro-Wrestling for years to come. However, disaster struck during that year’s G1 Climax Tournament when the star sustained a serious shoulder injury while attempting to hit a Phoenix Splash during his match in the finals against Kazuchika Okada.

Ibushi wouldn’t return to the ring for 18 months, stepping back into competition at Bloodsport 9 before eventually signing a deal with AEW in late 2023.

Ibushi has not been seen in AEW since he was part of a street fight on the 15th of November edition of Dynamite where he teamed with Paul Wight, Kenny Omega, and Chris Jericho to defeat Brian Cage and The Don Callis Family. Kota Ibushi has competed since then, however, defeating Naomichi Marufuji in Pro-Wrestling NOAH in early January 2024 but The Golden Star was hospitalised after that match and has not been seen in an AEW ring since.

Ibushi was part of a five-minute exhibition match for Japanese promotion GLEAT on July 1st to celebrate his 20 years in the wrestling business but now it looks like he’s getting in the ring again in a more meaty proposition.

Kota Ibushi Still Missing From AEW But Heading Back To DDT

DDT Pro-Wrestling has announced that Kota Ibushi will be returning to the promotion for the first time in 7 years as part of a trios match that sees him team with Danshoku Dieno & Akito to take on Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku.

The last time Kota Ibushi competed in DDT Pro-Wrestling was all the way back in March 2017 but the promotion was where Ibushi made his name and formed his popular Golden Lovers tag team with Kenny Omega.