Kota Ibushi Says “I Think I’ll Talk To AEW”

Kota Ibushi has discussed his free agency following his departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling and says he plans to talk to AEW.

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 has not competed in the ring since the G1 Climax final in October 2021 that had to be stopped when Ibushi suffered a bad injury, allowing Kazuchika Okada to pick up the win.

Speaking to Dark Puroresu Flowsion, discussed how he views being a free agent and says he only wants to wrestle in places that understand him:

“About money, I think it’s very much unnecessary, but for me the things I care about and what’s necessary [for me] are more important. So I don’t want to be in a match without meaning. There aren’t a lot of matches without meaning, but I think I’ll show up in places in the future that truly and fully understand me.”

On the subject of AEW, Ibushi noted that many of his best friends are in the company but he’s in no rush to become All Elite:

“A lot of my best friends are in AEW. My younger peers in Japan are also growing up [there?]. Nonetheless, I don’t think of going to AEW immediately. I want to have a ‘school’ in Japan. Once that’s been worked out, I think I’lI talk with AEW.”

Kota Ibushi will compete for Game Changer Wrestling at their shows over WrestleMania weekend and will face Speedball Mike Bailey at Bloodsport.