Katsuyori Shibata | |
|---|---|
 Shibata in November 2016 | |
| Born | (1979-11-17)November 17, 1979 (age 45)[1] Kuwana, Mie, Japan[1] |
| Ring name(s) | Katsuyori Shibata Makai #4 |
| Billed height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)}[1] |
| Billed weight | 95 kg (209 lb)[1] |
| Billed from | Kuwana, Mie, Japan |
| Trained by | |
| Debut | October 10, 1999[1] |
| Martial arts career | |
| Other names | The Wrestler |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) |
| Division | Middleweight Light Heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing |
| Team | Laughter7[3] |
| Years active | 2004, 2007–2011 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 15 |
| Wins | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Katsuyori Shibata (柴田勝頼,Shibata Katsuyori, born November 17, 1979) is a Japaneseprofessional wrestler,trainer, and formermixed martial artist. He is signed toAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Opps. He also makes appearances for AEW's sister promotionRing of Honor (ROH), where he is a formerROH Pure Champion. In professional wrestling, he is known for hishard hitting offense. He spent most of his career withNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as both a wrestler and trainer. In NJPW, he is a formerthree-timeNEVER Openweight Champion, aone-timeIWGP Tag Team Champion (withHirooki Goto), and the winner of the2017 New Japan Cup. He is also a former holder ofRevolution Pro Wrestling'sRPW British Heavyweight Championship. From March 2018 to July 2023, Shibata served as the head coach of NJPW'sdojo inLos Angeles.
Shibata attended Kuwana Kogyo High School inKuwana, Mie, where he was classmates with fellow future professional wrestlerHirooki Goto.[4] The son of formerJapan Pro Wrestling Alliance andNew Japan Pro-Wrestling competitor Katsuhisa Shibata, Katsuyori was anamateur wrestler during his school days and was competing at national level in 1997.
Shibata made hisprofessional wrestling debut on October 10, 1999, facing close friendWataru Inoue at aNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) event. Alongside fellow rookiesHiroshi Tanahashi andShinsuke Nakamura, Shibata became known as one of the "newThree Musketeers".[5] In 2000, Shibata took part in the2000 Young Lion Cup, eventually finishing 3rd place with 6 points.[6] During the tournament he was involved in a serious incident when he hitMasakazu Fukuda with an elbow drop during a match. Fukuda was in a coma and died four days later in hospital.[7] Shibata and Wataru worked their way up the junior ranks together, though Shibata was a slight step ahead of Inoue throughout their joint rise, and subsequently challenged for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship first againstKendo Kashin on October 28, 2001,[8] but lost. Shibata and Inoue also challenged for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on two occasions both againstJado & Gedo, but lost both times.[9] By 2003, Shibata graduated to the heavyweight division and joined theMakai Club wrestling as himself and as Makai #4.[10] From there, he continued to rise in the ranks. In July 2003, Shibata challenged for both theIWGP Tag Team Championship and the IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship but failed to win either title.[11] Shibata then entered the2003 G1 Climax, where he placed 3rd in his block with 5 points.[12] Shibata continued to grow in 2004. On July 19, 2004, he received his first shot at theIWGP Heavyweight Championship againstKazuyuki Fujita but lost by knockout.[13] One month later, he entered the2004 G1 Climax and won his block scoring eight points and defeated several former IWGP Champions includingMasahiro Chono, Shinsuke Nakamura, andGenichiro Tenryu but would lose in the semi-finals to eventual winner:Hiroyoshi Tenzan.[14] Following the G1, Shibata joined Masahiro Chono's new stable:Black New Japan, where he remained until eventually leaving New Japan in January 2005.
In 2005, Shibata left New Japan, becoming a freelancer and has most notably fought for Big Mouth Loud andPro Wrestling Noah. One of his more famous matches during his freelancing years was a heated confrontation with formeramateur wrestlerJun Akiyama. In Big Mouth Loud, Shibata took on several big names includingSatoshi Kojima,Kensuke Sasaki, &Taru.[15] In Noah, Shibata teamed withKenta on several occasions including challenging for theGHC Tag Team Championship[16] and defeatingGo Shiozaki andMitsuharu Misawa where Shibata pinned the future heavyweight champion: Shiozaki. On January 4, 2006, Shibata returned to New Japan atToukon Shidou Chapter 1, where he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi.[17] Shibata's final match for nearly six years took place on December 31, 2006, when he defeated Kazuhiro Hamanaka.[15] By January 2007, Shibata left wrestling to focus onmixed martial arts.
On December 31, 2011, Shibata returned to professional wrestling to compete on theInoki Genome Federation's (IGF)Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 year end event. At the event, Shibata teamed with fellow pro wrestler-turned-mixed martial artistKazushi Sakuraba to defeat the team ofShinichi Suzukawa and Atsushi Sawada.[18]
On August 12, 2012, Shibata, alongside Kazushi Sakuraba, returned to NJPW.[19] Shibata and Sakuraba wrestled their return match on September 23 atDestruction, defeatingHiromu Takahashi and Wataru Inoue in a tag team match.[20] Shibata and Sakuraba, collectively dubbed Laughter7,[21] continued their winning ways at the following twopay-per-views,King of Pro-Wrestling on October 8 andPower Struggle on November 11, both times defeating the team ofTogi Makabe and Wataru Inoue.[22][23] On January 4, 2013, atWrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, Shibata suffered his first defeat since his return to professional wrestling, when he was defeated by Togi Makabe in a singles grudge match.[24] On January 27, Shibata returned to Pro Wrestling Noah, once again affiliating himself with Kenta.[25] Shibata and Sakuraba returned to their winning ways at the following New Japan pay-per-view,The New Beginning on February 10, where they defeated Hirooki Goto and Wataru Inoue in a tag team match.[26] On April 7 atInvasion Attack, Shibata and Sakuraba suffered their first tag team loss, when they were defeated by Hirooki Goto andYuji Nagata via referee stoppage, when Sakuraba was injured and unable to continue the match.[27] Shibata and Goto faced off in a singles match on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2013, which ended in a draw.[28] A rematch between the two took place on June 22 atDominion 6.22, where Shibata was victorious.[4][29] A third match between the two on July 20 ended in another draw.[30] From August 1 to 11, Shibata took part in the2013 G1 Climax,[31] where he finished with a record of five wins and four losses, with a loss against Hiroshi Tanahashi on the final day costing him a spot in the finals.[32] On September 8, Shibata and Sakuraba took part in theWrestle-1 promotion'sinaugural event, defeatingMasakatsu Funaki andMasayuki Kono in a tag team match.[33] On December 7, Shibata made his in-ring return to Noah, defeatingMaybach Taniguchi in a singles match.[34]
On January 4, 2014, atWrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome, Shibata was defeated by Hirooki Goto, who was returning from an injury, which had kept him sidelined for the past five months.[35] The match ended the rivalry between Shibata and Goto and led to the two forming a tag team.[36][37] The two quickly entered theIWGP Tag Team Championship picture, defeating the reigning champions,Bullet Club (Doc Gallows andKarl Anderson), in a non-title match at New Japan's 42nd anniversary event on March 6.[38] Shibata also expressed interest in challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but was told by the reigning champion,Kazuchika Okada, to earn his title shot at the2014 New Japan Cup.[39] In order to win the tournament, Shibata announced he was bringing back his old finishing move, theoctopus hold.[39] Shibata, however, failed in his attempt to win the tournament, losing toShelton X Benjamin in his second round match on March 22.[40] On April 6 atInvasion Attack 2014, Shibata and Goto received a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championship, but were defeated by Gallows and Anderson.[41][42] From July 21 to August 8, Shibata took part in the2014 G1 Climax, where he finished fourth in his block with a record of six wins and four losses.[43][44] During the tournament final event on August 10, Shibata and Goto faced off in another singles match, where Shibata was victorious.[45][46] After entering a rivalry with Shinsuke Nakamura and becoming the number one contender to hisIWGP Intercontinental Championship, it was announced that Shibata would be working the full October to November "Road to Power Struggle" tour, his first full tour with New Japan since his return.[47] Shibata received his title shot on November 8 atPower Struggle, but was defeated by Nakamura.[48] Later in the month, Shibata and Goto entered the2014 World Tag League, where they opened with a three match losing streak,[49] only to come back and win their four remaining matches, winning their block and advancing to the finals.[50] On December 7, Shibata and Goto defeated Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson in the finals to win the 2014 World Tag League.[51] This led to a rematch between the two teams on January 4, 2015, atWrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome, where Shibata and Goto defeated Anderson and Gallows to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions.[52][53] Shibata and Goto's reign ended in their first defense on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, where they were defeated by Anderson and Gallows.[54][55]
On March 8, Shibata and Goto once again faced off in the second round of the2015 New Japan Cup in a match, where Goto was victorious.[56] On April 5, a rivalry ignited between Shibata and Kazushi Sakuraba,[57] after Sakuraba submitted Shibata in a tag team match atInvasion Attack 2015.[58] The two faced off on July 5 atDominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall in a match, where Shibata was victorious.[59] From July 20 to August 14, Shibata took part in the2015 G1 Climax,[60] where he finished in the middle of his block with a record of four wins and five losses.[61]
On January 4, 2016, atWrestle Kingdom 10, Shibata won his first singles title in NJPW, when he defeatedTomohiro Ishii for theNEVER Openweight Championship.[62][63] He made his first successful title defense on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka in a rematch against Ishii.[64] On March 3, NJPW announced that Shibata had signed a one-year deal with the promotion, ending his 11-year run as a freelancer.[65][66] Shibata made his next title defenses against NJPW veterans, defeating Satoshi Kojima on March 19 and Hiroyoshi Tenzan on April 10.[67][68] On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2016, Shibata lost the title to Yuji Nagata in his fourth defense.[69] Shibata regained the title from Nagata on June 19 atDominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall.[70] He made his first successful title defense on July 3 againstTomoaki Honma.[71] From July 22 to August 13, Shibata took part in the2016 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of five wins and four losses.[72] Shibata failed to advance to the finals due to losing toEvil on the final day.[73] Through NJPW's relationship withRing of Honor (ROH), Shibata made his debut for the American promotion on August 19 atDeath Before Dishonor XIV, where he defeatedSilas Young.[74] The following day, Shibata unsuccessfully challengedBobby Fish for theROH World Television Championship.[75] This led to a match on September 17 atDestruction in Tokyo, where Shibata successfully defended the NEVER Openweight Championship against Fish.[76] The following month atKing of Pro-Wrestling, Shibata also successfully defended the title against Fish's tag team partnerKyle O'Reilly.[77] After this, he made a brief return to Pro Wrestling Noah as part of their working relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling, teaming with Juice Robinson in a victory againstGo Shiozaki and Mayback Taniguchi on October 22 at Autumn Navigation 2016 Day 6, and defeating Go Shiozaki in a singles match on October 23, at Great Voyage 2016 in Yokohoma Vol. 2.[78][79] On November 5 atPower Struggle, Shibata lost the title to Evil.[80] On November 15, Shibata regained the NEVER Openweight Championship from Evil on NJPW's Wrestling World 2016 event inSingapore.[81] He lost the title to Hirooki Goto on January 4, 2017, atWrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome.[82]
On March 20, Shibata defeatedBad Luck Fale in the finals to win the2017 New Japan Cup. Having earned the right to challenge for any heavyweight belt of his choosing, Shibata called out Kazuchika Okada and challenged him to a match for theIWGP Heavyweight Championship.[83] On April 9 atSakura Genesis 2017, Shibata was defeated by Okada in the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match.[84] Following the match, Shibata collapsed backstage and was rushed to a hospital, where it was discovered that he had asubdural hematoma, which required emergency surgery.[85] Shibata's injury was similar to that which killed mixed martial artistTim Hague a couple of months later.[86] The injury was caused by Shibata's repeated use of aheadbutt as a signature move, something he had been doing regularly since the summer of 2016. This, combined with severe dehydration, caused Shibata to also experience some paralysis on the right side of his body. On April 13,Dave Meltzer reported that it was believed that Shibata would never be cleared to wrestle again.[87] It was later reported that while Shibata was "probably" never going to wrestle again, NJPW were looking to sign him full-time as a coach.[88] Shibata made an appearance at the2017 G1 Climax finals on August 13, tearfully stating "I am still alive! That is all."[89]
On March 4, in the midst of his recovery, it was announced that Shibata would be the head coach for New Japan's newdojo located inLos Angeles, California, where he trained the likes ofKarl Fredericks,Clark Connors andAlex Coughlin.[90] On August 12, Shibata accompaniedHiroshi Tanahashi to ringside for his G1 Climax 28 Finals match againstKota Ibushi where Tanahashi would be victorious.
On June 9, 2019, atDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Shibata returned to introduce the debutingKENTA. On August 12, on the final night ofG1 Climax 29, KENTA joined Bullet Club, resulting in Shibata rushing the ring to fight him, ultimately ending with Shibata being beat down by KENTA and other members of Bullet Club. This marked the first time Shibata had engaged in physical wrestling since his injury. AtPower Struggle, Shibata was once again ambushed by KENTA during the main event ofJay White and Hirooki Goto as he was attempting to aid his former tag partner.
On the final night ofG1 Climax 31 on October 21, 2021, Shibata wrestledZack Sabre Jr. in a 5-minuteUWF rules exhibition which ended in a draw. Afterwards, Shibata spoke to the crowd and said that he feels good, and the next time he steps in that ring it will be a proper wrestling match. On December 15, 2021, Shibata made the announcement that he would wrestle at the January 4, 2022,Wrestle Kingdom 16 event, his first official match since April 2017. In this event, Shibata defeatedRen Narita. Shibata departed from NJPW in December 2023 after signing with AEW, ending his 11-year tenure the promotion.
In October 2024, it was revealed that the relationship between Shibata and NJPW had soured due to Shibata "going into business for himself" by audibling his Wrestle Kingdom 16 match with Narita into a proper wrestling match, when it was scheduled to be under "catch wrestling rules" with no strikes being allowed.[91]
In addition to the United States, through their working relationship with NJPW, he debuted for UK-basedRevolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) at their Summer Sizzler 2016 event on July 10, unsuccessfully challengingZack Sabre Jr. for theBritish Heavyweight Championship.[92] In November 2016, Shibata returned to RPW at Global Wars UK, a cross-promoted show with NJPW. On first night, he defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to win the British Heavyweight Championship,[93] and then successfully defended the title againstChris Hero on second night.[94] On January 21, 2017, Shibata made another successful title defense againstMatt Riddle at RPW's High Stakes event.[95] He lost the title back to Sabre at NJPW's 45th anniversary show on March 6 thanks to an assist fromMinoru Suzuki and Suzuki Gun.[96]
Shibata made his return to RPW at the company's 11th anniversary show on August 26, 2023, teaming withEl Phantasmo to defeatBullet Club War Dogs,David Finlay andGabriel Kidd.[97]
On June 26, 2022, Shibata appeared atAEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door to saveOrange Cassidy from a post-match beatdown fromUnited Empire.[98] Later, on the November 2 episode ofDynamite, Shibata once again saved Cassidy from an attack byPac, and signed for a match against Cassidy for theAEW All Atlantic Championship, on the November 4 edition ofRampage.[99] In hisAEW in-ring debut, Shibata was defeated by Cassidy, the duo shook hands and posed after the match.[100]
On March 31, 2023, Shibata made hisRing of Honor debut, in which he defeatedWheeler Yuta atSupercard of Honor for theROH Pure Championship. Shibata made his televised AEW return on the June 2, 2023 edition ofRampage, defeatingLee Moriarty to retain his ROH Pure Championship.[101] In November, since he returned to Japan, Shibata dropped the title back to Yuta atRampage.[102] On December 23, 2023, it was announced that Shibata was officially signed to AEW.[103]
On the March 16, 2024 edition ofCollision, Shibata returned to AEW in a losing effort againstBryan Danielson. Later on in the show, Shibata saved theBlackpool Combat Club from a post-match attack fromLance Archer and The Righteous. On the May 1 episode ofDynamite, Shibata failed to win theFTW Championship from"The Learning Tree" Chris Jericho after interference fromBig Bill.[104] Shibata would then find himself aligning with the newly formed tag team ofSamoa Joe andHook. During the duo's feud with the Premier Athletes Shibata would often act as a cameraman for their attacks. The trio would go on to defeat Jericho, Bill, andJeff Cobb in a trios match atForbidden Door. AtWrestleDream, Shibata unsuccessfully challengedJack Perry for theAEW TNT Championship.
On the February 12, 2025 episode ofDynamite, the trio of Shibata, Hook, and Samoa Joe were named "The Opps."[105]
Shibata returned to NJPW on January 4, 2025 atWrestle Kingdom 19, where he came to the aid ofHiroshi Tanahashi from an attack byHouse of Torture. Shibata then challenged Tanahashi to a match the next night atWrestle Dynasty, which Tanahashi accepted.[106] At Wreslte Dynasty, Shibata wrestled Tanahashi in a 5-minute exhibition which ended in a draw.[107]
Shibata debuted in mixed martial arts on May 15, 2004, at JF Jungle Fights 2 where he defeated Webster Dauphiney by an arm triangle choke in Round 1. Shibata returned to MMA in 2007 where he joined theFighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) promotedK-1 Hero's, in his K-1 Hero's debut on March 12, 2007, atHero's 8, he defeatedYoshihisa Yamamoto by TKO in 9 seconds. After two victories, Shibata went on a five fight losing streak. He lost toRalek Gracie at K-1 Hero's: Middleweight Tournament Opening Round by submitting to an armbar. Shibata then lost to Kazushi Sakuraba at K-1 Hero's Tournament Final once again submitting to an armbar. Shibata fought his last K-1 Hero's fight at K-1 Olympia Hero'S 2007 in Korea on October 28, 2007, against Heo Min Seok. Shibata lost the fight by TKO in the 2nd round.
In 2008, Shibata began fighting for FEG's new organization:Dream. His first fight at Dream was a loss toJason "Mayhem" Miller at Dream 3 by TKO. His next fight was againstYoshihiro Akiyama losing to him by Submission. Shibata then fought atDeep where he drew withYasuhito Namekawa at Deep: 38 Impact. He then lost toHayato Sakurai by TKO atDynamite!! 2008. In a shocking start, Shibata charged across the ring and almost fell through the ropes when Sakurai dodged him, and then unloaded all his offensive with the intention to end the fight early, but Hayato took him down and punished him methodically until the stoppage.
After going winless for two years, Shibata would score his biggest victory to date atDream 8 when he defeatedIkuhisa Minowa by Unanimous Decision. Later that year atDream 12, he defeated fellowNew Japan Pro-Wrestling alumni:Tokimitsu Ishizawa by TKO. AtDynamite!! 2009, Shibata lost to Hiroshi Izumi by unanimous decision.
Shibata returned to Deep for two appearances in 2010. On June 6, 2010, he lost to Young Choi by unanimous decision. On October 24, he then facedDeep Light Heavyweight Champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi at Deep: 50th Impact which he lost by TKO.[108]
His most recent fight was a defeat to Ryuta Sakurai via TKO on August 26, 2011, atDeep: 55 Impact.
| 0 wins (0 KOs),1 loss,0 draws | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-11-03 | Loss | Hiromi Amada | NJPW: Yokohama Dead Out | Yokohama, Japan | KO (left knee to the body) | 2 | 2:08 | 0-1 |
| Legend: Win Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
| 16 matches | 4 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 5 |
| By submission | 1 | 4 |
| By decision | 1 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 4–11–1 | Ryuta Sakurai | TKO (punches) | Deep: 55 Impact | August 26, 2011 | 2 | 3:04 | Tokyo, Japan | Middleweight bout. |
| Loss | 4–10–1 | Satoshi Ishii | Submission (kimura) | K-1 World Max 2010 World Championship Tournament Final | November 8, 2010 | 1 | 3:30 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–9–1 | Yoshiyuki Nakanishi | TKO (punches) | Deep: 50 Impact | October 24, 2010 | 1 | 4:06 | Tokyo, Japan | Catchweight (189.6 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 4–8–1 | Young Choi | Decision (unanimous) | Deep: Cage Impact 2010 in Osaka | June 6, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 4–7–1 | Hiroshi Izumi | Decision (unanimous) | Dynamite!! The Power of Courage 2009 | December 31, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | Return toHeavyweight. |
| Win | 4–6–1 | Tokimitsu Ishizawa | TKO (punches) | Dream 12 | October 25, 2009 | 1 | 4:52 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 3–6–1 | Ikuhisa Minowa | Decision (unanimous) | Dream 8 | April 5, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Nagoya, Japan | Catchweight (194 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 2–6–1 | Hayato Sakurai | TKO (punches) | Fields Dynamite!! 2008 | December 31, 2008 | 1 | 7:01 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Draw | 2–5–1 | Yasuhito Namekawa | Draw | Deep: 38 Impact | October 23, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Catchweight (189.6 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 2–5 | Yoshihiro Akiyama | Technical Submission (ezekiel choke) | Dream 5: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round | July 21, 2008 | 1 | 6:34 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 2–4 | Jason Miller | TKO (punches) | Dream 3: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round | May 11, 2008 | 1 | 6:57 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 2–3 | Heo Min Seok | TKO (punches) | Hero's 2007 in Korea | October 28, 2007 | 2 | 1:31 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Kazushi Sakuraba | Submission (armbar) | Hero's 10 | September 17, 2007 | 1 | 6:20 | Yokohama, Japan | Middleweight debut. |
| Loss | 2–1 | Ralek Gracie | Submission (armbar) | Hero's 9 | July 16, 2007 | 1 | 3:05 | Yokohama, Japan | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | TKO (punches) | Hero's 8 | March 12, 2007 | 1 | 0:09 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 1–0 | Webster Dauphiney | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Jungle Fight 2 | May 15, 2004 | 1 | 0:52 | Manaus, Brazil |
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