AEW Star Banned From NJPW Show

Kenny Omega lashed out after his big win at Wrestle Dynasty but it seems his assertion about another AEW star being banned by NJPW was completely true.

Kenny Omega defeated Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty as he returned to the Tokyo Dome, the venue where Omega became an international sensation. But he didn’t have total crowd support as Kidd donned the NJPW logo on his trunks and they got firmly behind their star rather than the former AEW World Champion.

After the show, Kenny Omega took part in a press conference where he shared his frustration over being booed by the crowd but also seemed to lift the lid on some backstage politics that continue to plague the industry. Omega alluded to a friend he wanted at ringside that was banned from the building by NJPW and it seems that friend was another AEW star.

NJPW Don’t Want AEW’s Kota Ibushi At Their Show

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed the person in question was Omega’s long-time tag team partner Kota Ibushi:

He brought up – he didn’t mention the name Kota Ibushi – but he did mention his friend was banned from the building that he wanted at ringside. And it is Kota Ibushi, I think everyone knows that but just to clarify it was Kota Ibushi. He was not allowed into the building – it’s so weird, I don’t think they even wanted [Omega] to mention his name which is why he didn’t mention his name.

Kota Ibushi’s time with New Japan Pro Wrestling came to an end at the end of January 2023, following an acrimonious spell between the two camps. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion last competed in NJPW in the G1 Climax final in October 2021 but that had to be stopped when Ibushi suffered a bad injury, allowing Kazuchika Okada to pick up the win.

Problems then became public between Ibushi and NJPW’s office with accusations being thrown both ways but New Japan was said to be very unhappy that Ibushi appeared live at a JTO event promoted by Taka Michinoku. After becoming a free agent in 2023, Kota Ibushi eventually signed with AEW but his time in Tony Khan’s company has also been plagued by injury.

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