Kota Ibushi will be in action at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9.
The former NJPW star had already been announced for the show on March 30, but in an update, Game Changer Wrestling announced that he will face Mike Bailey at the event, which will be held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California, as part of The Collective 2023.
Bailey is currently signed to IMPACT Wrestling, and he continues to compete throughout the independent scene. He recently won PWG's Battle of Los Angeles 2023 tournament by defeating Konosuke Takeshita in the finals.
Ibushi, a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury he suffered in his match against Kazuchika Okada in the finals of the G1 Climax tournament in October 2021. He later expressed his frustrations with the company on social media, and NJPW held a press conference to announce punishments for both Ibushi and others who were involved in the incidents. NJPW issued a statement and confirmed Ibushi's departure after GCW announced him for The Collective 2023.
THE DREAM MATCH
— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) February 1, 2023
BLOODSPORT
3/30/23 - LA
Tix:https://t.co/JwxCrIM4jD
Watch LIVE on @FiteTV! pic.twitter.com/a7aQh4QkYs
Timothy Thatcher has also been announced for the show.
The announced card for Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9 is below.
Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9 (3/30)
- Kota Ibushi vs. Mike Bailey
- Timothy Thatcher vs. TBA
Fightful will provide more information as it becomes available.
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