Kota Ibushi says he has signed with AEW.
Former NJPW star Kota Ibushi made his long-awaited AEW debut on the July 19 episode of AEW Dynamite. He reunited with Kenny Omega and teamed up with The Elite (Omega, Hangman Page, and The Young Bucks) to defeat Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta), Konosuke Takeshita, and PAC in a Blood & Guts Match. Ibushi also competed at AEW All In and AEW All Out.
"I signed the contract," Ibushi said when asked whether he had signed a contract with AEW during an interview on his YouTube channel.
Ibushi was then asked whether he will be a member of AEW. He stated that he signed a contract, but he had some conditions. Ibushi noted that he signed the deal the day of the Blood & Guts match.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. But during the discussion, they asked me how we could come to a deal. I said unless it has this and this and this, unless it has these conditions, I don’t want to sign a contract. I said if we’re just going to sign a contract, let’s do it today. That was the hardcore match, double ring, cage [Blood & Guts], on that day. That’s the day we signed the contract. We had a verbal agreement. It has to be this way for me. I’m based in Japan, and I will travel for the matches. Basically, I’m in Japan, I work in Japan. I will be active. I’ll be free to do that do. There are other things that make the contract even more flexible. Like if I could appear for another promotion. That kind of thing is normal, like can I compete in another match? We talked about all those kinds of details. I still got the OK. Tell us anything you want. We'll listen to whatever you say. Reduce the number of matches a little bit more. Because if I go too many times, my activities in Japan will be limited, so reduce the number of matches a little bit more. When I said that, that is OK too. It’s the best deal," Ibushi said.
Update: Kota Ibushi then responded to the Wrestling Observer's post about his comments. He stated that he wanted to make a slight correction. Ibushi wrote that his current contract is with AEW, he thinks AEW is the best in the world, and he wants to seize the opportunity to make it an even greater organization. In another post, Ibushi stated that even if it's not full-time, his life is dedicated to AEW. He stated that he is in Japan to attend gym and school, and his wrestling career is all about AEW.
I would like to make a slight correction. My current contract is with AEW. I think AEW is the best in the world. That's why I want to seize the opportunity in America or AEW and make it an even greater organization.
— 飯伏 幸太 (@ibushi_kota) October 13, 2023
Even if it's not full time, my life is dedicated to AEW. I don't play matches in Japan, I'm here to attend gym and school. That's why pro wrestling is all about AEW.
— 飯伏 幸太 (@ibushi_kota) October 13, 2023
As of this writing, there is no word on when Ibushi will return to AEW.
Fightful will provide more information as it becomes available.
Kenny Omega recently said it's a safe bet that Ibushi will be back in AEW. Check out his comments here.
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