In 2009, Ibushi started working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and eventually signed with the promotion in 2013. In NJPW, Ibushi is a formerNEVER Openweight Champion, three-timeIWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a one-timeIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He resigned from both DDT and NJPW in February 2016 and has performed in several different organizations as a freelancer, including both DDT and NJPW as well asWWE, where he participated in the 2016Cruiserweight Classic tournament.
On July 1, 2004, Ibushi made his professional wrestling debut forDramatic Dream Team (DDT), losing toKudo. In 2005, Ibushi won his first championship, when he and Daichi Kakimoto defeatedDarkside Hero! andToru Owashi to win theKO-D Tag Team Championship. On June 25, 2006, he lost toDanshoku Dino in a match for the Championship[11] and spent most of later 2006 competing in multiple tag team matches.[12] In 2007 Ibushi's fortunes fared better and he began to win more matches, including defeatingBxB Hulk at a co-promoted event held by DDT andDragon Gate.[12] Later in 2007, Ibushi defeatedMadoka to win the vacantIndependent World Junior Heavyweight Championship. In February 2008, Ibushi defeated Tanomusaku Toba to retain the Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship and win theIronman Heavymetalweight Championship. He would go on to lose the Ironman championship to Danshoku Dino.[12] On July 20, 2008, Ibushi would defeat Kudo in the NextKO-D Openweight Championship One Day Tournament finals but would ultimately lose to the KO-D championDick Togo a month later.[12]
Ibushi made his return at a DDT event on May 4, 2012, losing toEl Generico.[14] On June 24, Ibushi defeatedYuji Hino to win DDT'sKO-D Openweight Championship for the second time.[15] On August 18, Ibushi defeated Kenny Omega in the main event ofBudokan Peter Pan to retain the KO-D Openweight Championship.[16] On September 30, Ibushi lost the title to El Generico.[17] On October 3, Ibushi won the third annual DDT48 general election and, as a result, earned an immediate rematch with El Generico.[18] Ibushi received his rematch on October 21, but was again defeated by El Generico.[19] On May 26, Ibushi, Gota Ihashi and Kenny Omega defeated the Monster Army (Antonio Honda,Daisuke Sasaki and Yuji Hino) to win theKO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[20] Their reign lasted 28 days, before they lost the title back to the Monster Army, now represented by Honda, Hino andHoshitango.[21] On August 18 at DDT's annualRyōgoku Peter Pan event, Ibushi faced New Japan representative and reigningIWGP Heavyweight ChampionKazuchika Okada in a losing effort in a special non-title match.[22] On January 26, 2014, Ibushi and Kenny Omega defeated Yankii Nichokenju (Isami Kodaka andYuko Miyamoto) andKonosuke Takeshita andTetsuya Endo in a three-way match to win the KO-D Tag Team Championship.[23] On April 12, Ibushi and Omega became double champions in DDT, when they teamed with Daisuke Sasaki to defeat Team Drift (Keisuke Ishii,Shigehiro Irie and Soma Takao) for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[24] Their reign, however, lasted only 22 days, before they lost the title to Shuten-dōji (Kudo, Masa Takanashi andYukio Sakaguchi) on May 4.[25] On September 28, Ibushi and Omega lost the KO-D Tag Team Championship to Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo.[26] On February 15, 2015, Ibushi won the KO-D Openweight Championship for the third time, defeating Harashima.[27] He lost the title back to Harashima on April 29.[28] On August 23, Ibushi won the KO-D Tag Team Championship for the fifth time, when he and Daisuke Sasaki defeatedDaisuke Sekimoto andYuji Okabayashi for the title.[29] They vacated the title on November 2, when Ibushi was sidelined indefinitely with acervical disc herniation.[30]
On February 21, 2016, Ibushi announced his resignation from DDT.[31]
Ibushi competed in Wrestling Marvelous Future teaming withOnryo and lost to Garuda andMasa Takanashi. He would go on to compete for NJPW andBig Japan Pro Wrestling for a few months.[32] Ibushi teamed with Kudo to take onKenta andNaomichi Marufuji in the first round of Differ Cup 2005 and lost. Ibushi would go on to become Hustle Kamen Orange forHustle, teaming withHustle Kamen Red and the rest of the Hustle Kamen stable.[32] Ibushi went on to team up withFuka to win his first accomplishment in professionally wrestling, Dragon Mixture Tournament, by defeatingShinjitsu Nohashi andYoshitsune in the final.[32]
It was announced on January 26, 2008, that Ibushi would be competing forRing of Honor in the United States. On April 11, 2008, inBoston he made his debut in a match againstDavey Richards, a match in which he was cheered as a winner despite losing. During his brief tour of ROH, he wrestled againstClaudio Castagnoli and teamed withAustin Aries againstThe Briscoe Brothers only to come up on the losing end. His last appearance of his U.S. tour of ROH ended with a singles victory over El Generico. Ibushi competed for ROH during the promotion's second tour of Japan, teaming with Kenta against Naomichi Marufuji andKatsuhiko Nakajima in a tag team match. It was announced on April 6, 2008, that Ibushi would be competing forPro Wrestling Guerrilla in Burbank, CA. However, Ibushi would end up injured before his scheduled appearance, and was forced to miss the PWG event. On March 27, 2009, Ibushi made his debut for Philadelphia-basedChikara at the promotions annualKing of Trios tournament where he formed a team with Kudo and Michael Nakazawa. After his team was eliminated in the first round byEquinox,Lince Dorado andHelios,[33] he went on to wrestle in theRey de Voladores tournament over the next two days. On March 29, Ibushi defeatedPlayer Dos to win the tournament and become the 2009 Rey de Voladores.[34]
On January 16, 2010, Ibushi participated inEvolve's first show, losing to Davey Richards in the main event.[35]
Ibushi made his debut in Dragondoor on its debut show on July 19, 2005, taking part inTaiji Ishimori's babyface team along withMilanito Collection a.t. andLittle Dragon. They were pitted in a handicap match against Aagan Iisou (Shuji Kondo,Takuya Sugawara andYasshi), but they were defeated. Ibushi then teamed up with Ishimori to take part in the Aquamarine Cup tag tournament, beating at the first round a team of Aagan Iisou (Toru Owashi and Shogo Takagi) but being eliminated at the second by another (Kondo and Yasshi). After wrestling in the short-lived promotion for some months, Ibushi did a special apparition in its last show, figuring as a new member of Italian Connection (Milano Collection A.T. and Berlinetta Boxer) under the name of "Ibushino", in parody toYossino, to defeat Aagan Iisou.
After Dragondoor folded, Ibushi was revealed as a part of its new incarnation, El Dorado Wrestling. He wrestled in El Dorado debut show on April 24, 2006, teaming with Ishimori andJumping Kid Okimoto in a losing effort against Aagan Iisou and their new memberPineapple Hanai, later known as Ken45º. He got his revenge in El Dorado's first big show, teaming up withEl Blazer and Milanito Collection a.t. to defeat Kondo, Yasshi and Ken45º after a miscommunication among those. In late 2006, Ibushi teamed withMilano Collection AT to take part in Treasure Hunters Tag Tournament and reached the finals before being knocked out byDick Togo andShuji Kondo. Ibushi andKagetora won a number one condership match for theUWA World Tag Team Championship and went on to win the championships by defeatingTokyo Gurentai (Mazada andNosawa Rongai) and would later vacate the championships due to inactivity. Ibushi gained a total of four points in Greatest Golden League 2008 which was not enough to progress out of block A and to the semi-final.
On June 1, 2010, Ibushi entered his secondBest of the Super Juniors tournament. After winning his block with six victories out of seven matches, Ibushi defeatedRyusuke Taguchi to advance to the semifinals of the tournament, where he was once again defeated by Prince Devitt.[44][45][46] On October 11, 2010, Ibushi returned to New Japan atDestruction '10 and teamed with his regular DDT partnerKenny Omega to defeatApollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, after Ibushi pinned Devitt.[47] As a result of the pinfall victory, Ibushi was granted a shot at Devitt'sIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at New Japan's biggest event of the year,Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2011.[48][49] At the event Ibushi was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the title.[50][51] On January 23 atFantastica Mania 2011, a New Japan andConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre co–promoted event in Tokyo, Ibushi and Omega lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship back to Devitt and Taguchi.[52][53] On May 26, Ibushi entered New Japan's2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. After losing his first two-round robin stage matches, Ibushi came back with a six match win streak to finish first in his block and advance to the semifinals of the tournament.[54] On June 10, Ibushi first defeated Davey Richards in the semifinals and then Ryusuke Taguchi in the finals to win the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament and earn a shot at Prince Devitt's IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[55] On June 18 atDominion 6.18, Ibushi defeated Prince Devitt to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time.[56][57] Ibushi made his first defense of the title on July 24, defeating Devitt in a rematch atRyōgoku Peter Pan 2011, and his second on August 1, defeating Devitt's tag team partner Ryusuke Taguchi.[58][59] Ibushi then attempted to repeat Devitt's feat of holding both of New Japan's Junior Heavyweight Championships simultaneously, but on August 14, the Golden☆Lovers failed in their attempt to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from Apollo 55.[60] On September 12, Ibushi was stripped of both the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the KO-D Tag Team Championship, after he was sidelined with a dislocated left shoulder.[61]
Ibushi returned to New Japan on June 16 atDominion 6.16, when he, Daisuke Sasaki and Kenny Omega defeatedBushi,Kushida and Prince Devitt in a six-man tag team match. Later in the event, Ibushi challengedLow Ki to a match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[62] On July 29, Ibushi defeated Low Ki to also win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the second time.[63] Ibushi made his first successful title defense on September 7, defeating Kushida.[64] Ibushi followed up by also successfully defending the title against Ryusuke Taguchi on September 23 atDestruction.[65][66] On October 8 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, Ibushi lost the title back to Low Ki.[67][68] On January 4, 2013, atWrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, Ibushi unsuccessfully challenged Prince Devitt for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in a three-way match, which also included Low Ki.[69][70] On July 5, Ibushi was announced as a surprise participant in the2013 G1 Climax.[71] He increased his weight from 84 kg (185 lb) to 88 kg (194 lb) to prepare himself for the heavyweight-level tournament.[72] Ibushi finished the tournament with four wins and five losses, failing to advance from his block.[73]
Ibushi in March 2015
On October 7, 2013, Ibushi, along with Naoki Sugabayashi andSanshiro Takagi, representatives of both DDT and New Japan, held a press conference to announce that he had signed a dual contract with both promotions; three years with DDT and one year with New Japan, making him the first wrestler to have such a contract and officially have two home promotions.[74] Ibushi wrestled his first match under a New Japan contract on October 14 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, where he,Togi Makabe andTomoaki Honma were defeated in a six-man tag team match byBullet Club (Prince Devitt,Bad Luck Fale andKarl Anderson).[75] Returning to the junior heavyweight division, Ibushi then began chasing Devitt for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[76] On January 4, 2014, atWrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome, Ibushi defeated Devitt to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the third time.[77] Ibushi made his first successful title defense againstEl Desperado on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka.[78] On March 6, Ibushi main evented New Japan's 42nd anniversary event, losing to Kazuchika Okada in the annual non-title match between the IWGP Junior Heavyweight and IWGP Heavyweight champions.[79] On April 3, Ibushi made his second successful defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship againstNick Jackson.[80] Three days later atInvasion Attack 2014, Ibushi and El Desperado unsuccessfully challenged Nick and his brother Matt,The Young Bucks, for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[81] Ibushi's third defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship took place on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2014, where he defeated Ryusuke Taguchi.[82] On May 25 atBack to the Yokohama Arena, Ibushi unsuccessfully challengedTomohiro Ishii for theNEVER Openweight Championship.[83][84] On June 21 atDominion 6.21, Ibushi successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the2014 Best of the Super Juniors,Ricochet.[85] On July 4, Ibushi lost the title to Kushida in his fifth defense.[86] During the match, Ibushi suffered a concussion, which forced him to pull out of the2014 G1 Climax.[87]
On October 3, it was announced that Ibushi, now billed as a permanent heavyweight wrestler, had signed a one-year extension to his NJPW contract.[88]Ibushi would make his return after the G1 and atPower Struggle on November 8, attackedShinsuke Nakamura after his match, issuing a challenge for theIWGP Intercontinental Championship.[89] Ibushi received his shot at the title on January 4, 2015, atWrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome, but was defeated by Nakamura.[90][91] On March 5, Ibushi entered the2015 New Japan Cup, defeatingIWGP Tag Team ChampionDoc Gallows in his first round match.[92] After defeatingToru Yano in the second round on March 8,[93] Ibushi first defeatedTetsuya Naito in the semifinals and thenHirooki Goto in the finals on March 15 to win the tournament and earn the right to challenge for the singles heavyweight title of his choosing. Following the final match, Ibushi announced he had decided to challengeA.J. Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[94] The match took place on April 5 atInvasion Attack 2015 and saw Styles retain his title.[95][96] From July 20 to August 14, Ibushi took part in the2015 G1 Climax.[97] He failed to advance from his block with a record of four wins and five losses, scoring big wins over former IWGP Heavyweight Champion A.J. Styles and reigning NEVER Openweight Champion Togi Makabe.[98][99] As a result, Ibushi received a shot at the NEVER Openweight Championship on September 23 atDestruction in Okayama, but was defeated by Makabe.[100] On November 2, NJPW announced that Ibushi was sidelined indefinitely due to cervical disc herniation.[101] In February 2016, Ibushi announced his resignation from NJPW.[31]
On February 21, 2016, Ibushi announced that while he had been cleared to return to the ring from his herniated cervical disc, he had decided to resign from both DDT and NJPW and continue his career as afreelancer due to feeling he could not handle the burden of working two schedules. As a freelancer, he is billed as a representative of Ibushi Puroresu Kenkyujo ("Ibushi Pro Wrestling Research Institute").[31][102] He wrestled his return match and his first match as a freelancer at DDT's 19th anniversary event on March 21, where he and Gota Ihashi defeatedJun Kasai and Sanshiro Takagi, andKenso and Michael Nakazawa in a three-way tag team match.[103] In April, Ibushi returned to the United States to take part in events held by Evolve andKaiju Big Battel, while also appearing in the audience atWWE'sNXT TakeOver: Dallas event.[104][105] On May 29, Ibushi made his debut forInoki Genome Federation (IGF), defeating Tanomusaku Toba.[106] On August 11, Ibushi made his debut forWrestle-1, defeatingJiro Kuroshio.[107]
On June 13, 2016, Ibushi was announced as a participant in WWE'sCruiserweight Classic tournament.[108] The tournament kicked off on June 23 with Ibushi defeatingSean Maluta in his first round match.[109] On July 13, Ibushi made hisNXT in-ring debut, defeatingBuddy Murphy at theNXT tapings.[110] The following day, Ibushi defeatedCedric Alexander in his second round match in the Cruiserweight Classic in a critically acclaimed match.[111] On July 15,Pro Wrestling Torch reported that Ibushi had signed a developmental contract with WWE.[112] In an interview published July 25, Ibushi admitted he had been offered a contract, but denied having signed it.[113] On August 26, Ibushi defeatedBrian Kendrick to advance to the semifinals of the Cruiserweight Classic.[114] On September 14, Ibushi was eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals by eventual winnerT. J. Perkins.[115] Afterwards,Pro Wrestling Torch went back on their earlier report and stated that Ibushi had not agreed to a WWE contract beyond the tournament, which was a factor in him losing the semifinal match.[116] On September 29, WWE announced that Ibushi would be teaming up with NXT'sHideo Itami in the upcomingDusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.[117] When Itami was injured, Ibushi was paired up with T. J. Perkins. The two entered the tournament on October 13, defeating Lince Dorado andMustafa Ali in their first round match. Later that same day, they were eliminated from the tournament in the second round bySanity (Alexander Wolfe andSawyer Fulton).[118]
On October 10, 2016, Ibushi returned to NJPW, taking part in adark match prior to theKing of Pro-Wrestling event. Ibushi wrestled the match as the masked character "Tiger Mask W", based on theanime series of the same name, defeatingRed Death Mask.[7] The following day, NJPW announced that Tiger Mask W would return to the promotion in January 2017.[119] Tiger Mask W returned on January 4, 2017, defeatingTiger the Dark atWrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome.[120] On February 5, after successfully defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship againstMinoru Suzuki, Kazuchika Okada brought up Tiger Mask W as his next possible opponent,[121] leading to a program between the two heading into NJPW's 45th anniversary show. On March 1, Tiger Mask W teamed withTiger Mask to defeat Okada andGedo in a tag team match.[122] On March 6 at the 45th anniversary show, Tiger Mask W was defeated by Okada in a non-title main event.[123]
On June 20, NJPW announced Ibushi, under his real name, as a participant in the2017 G1 Climax. NJPW billed this as Ibushi's return to the company after two and a half years, not acknowledging his stint as Tiger Mask W.[124] Ibushi finished the tournament on August 11 with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance from his block.[125] On November 5 atPower Struggle, Ibushi unsuccessfully challengedHiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.[126] On January 4, 2018, Ibushi defeated Cody at Wrestle Kingdom 12. It had been previously billed as a title match for Cody'sROH World Championship, but Cody lost it toDalton Castle, before he had the chance to defend it atWrestle Kingdom 12.[127] At New Year Dash!! 2018, Ibushi was attacked by Cody after losing a match toBullet Club, but leaderKenny Omega stopped him from doing so.[128] AtThe New Beginning in Sapporo, Ibushi returned the favor, saving Omega, who was involved in an altercation with other Bullet Club members Cody andHangman Page. In doing so, they reunited theGolden☆Lovers tag-team for the first time since 2014.[129]
On night two ofHonor Rising, the Golden☆Lovers won their return match as a team against Cody andMarty Scurll. After the match, Ibushi and Omega were confronted by the Young Bucks and challenged to a match atStrong Style Evolved on March 25.[130] At the event, the Golden☆Lovers defeated the Young Bucks. Although Ibushi would later become a regular in Bullet Club tag matches during the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour in April and May 2018, he was not considered a member of the faction. On June 9 at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall, Ibushi was in Omega's corner, as he defeated Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Ibushi, Omega and the Young Bucks all embraced in the ring, and formed a new sub-group called The Golden☆Elite.[131]
Ibushi then participated in the 2018 G1 Climax, finishing with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, tied for top of his block. He proceeded to the finals due to a victory in his final block match against IWGP Heavyweight Champion and Golden☆Lovers partner Kenny Omega. This would make Ibushi the first professional wrestler to proceed to the final of the New Japan Cup, Best of the Super Juniors and the G1 Climax. However, he lost the final to Hiroshi Tanahashi. On December 9, Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto for theNEVER Openweight Championship, but lost it one month later againstWill Ospreay atWrestle Kingdom 13.
G1 Climax and final IWGP Heavyweight Champion (2019–2021)
On February 11, 2019, Ibushi announced that he was staying in New Japan. He also said, that he will be first competitor in2019 New Japan Cup. This came after speculation he was going to follow Omega to American promotionAll Elite Wrestling.[132] Since this announcement he has wrestled exclusively in NJPW.[133] It was later revealed to be a two-year deal.[134] In the first round of the New Japan Cup on March 10, he defeated Tetsuya Naito to advance to the next round but lose to Zack Sabre Jr in the second round. Due to defeating Naito, he was granted anIWGP Intercontinental Championship match against Naito at April 2019'sG1 Supercard. Ibushi successfully defeated Naito and became the IWGP Intercontinental Champion for the first time in his career.[135]
AtDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Ibushi lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship back to Naito.[136] Ibushi went on to compete in the2019 G1 Climax winning the A block, finishing with 14 points, defeatingLance Archer,Bad Luck Fale, Will Ospreay,Zack Sabre Jr,Sanada,Hiroshi Tanahashi, and IWGP Heavyweight ChampionKazuchika Okada. His only two losses came toKENTA atG1 Climax in Dallas and toEvil.[137] He went on the defeat the winner of the B Block,Jay White, in the finals to win the tournament.[138] This made Ibushi the first wrestler to win the G1 Climax, the New Japan Cup and the Best of the Super Jrs, the three main singles tournament in NJPW, in their career. He received his G1 Climax title shot on Night 1 ofWrestle Kingdom 14, where he was defeated by Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, before losing to White in a singles match on Night 2.[139][140][141]
On February 21, 2020, on the New Japan Road event, Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi, dubbing themselves Golden☆Ace, defeated theGuerrillas of Destiny to win theIWGP Tag Team Championship, Ibushi's first time winning the title and first tag team title win in NJPW since 2010. In June, Ibushi entered the New Japan Cup, where he defeated Zack Sabre Jr in the first round, before losing toTaichi in the second round. On July 12, atDominion, Ibushi and Tanahashi lost theirIWGP Tag Team Championships to Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. On September 19, Ibushi enteredG1 Climax 30, where he scored his first win in A Block againstKazuchika Okada. He only lost two matches during the whole tournament, againstShingo Takagi and the man he beat to win the previous year's G1, Jay White. On October 18, Ibushi won the tournament by defeating B Block winner, Sanada.
On January 4, 2021, atWrestle Kingdom 15, Ibushi pinned Tetsuya Naito in the main event to win the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, becoming only the third man to win the IWGP Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight Championships in history (the first two beingNobuhiko Takada and former Golden Lovers tag team partnerKenny Omega).[146][147] He went on to successfully defend both titles against Jay White the following night on Wrestle Kingdom 15 Night 2.[148] Ibushi would later declare his intentions to unify the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships.[149]
Inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, injury and departure (2021–2023)
After several months of Ibushi claiming that he wanted to unify his Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles into one, NJPW announced on March 1, 2021, that the championships would officially be unified into the newIWGP World Heavyweight Championship at theNJPW 49th Anniversary Show on March 4, with the winner of Ibushi's match againstEl Desperado for the Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles being crowned the inaugural champion; at the event, Ibushi won the match, making him the final IWGP Heavyweight Champion, the final IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.[150] On April 4 atSakura Genesis, Ibushi dropped the championship to2021 New Japan Cup winnerWill Ospreay in his first defense, ending his reign at 31 days.[151][152] Ibushi would go on to make his fourth consecutive G1 Climax final, but would lose to Kazuchika Okada after suffering an arm injury, causing a referee stoppage.[153] On February 1, 2023, Ibushi's contract with NJPW expired, rendering him a free agent.
On the July 13, 2023, episode ofDynamite, Ibushi was announced as the mystery partner ofThe Elite in theirBlood And Guts match against theBlackpool Combat Club, thus reuniting with Omega and reforming the Golden Lovers, now under the "Golden Elite" name (since Hangman Page and the Young Bucks are also competing). The team then won the match the following week.[154] On November 15, he signed a contract with the promotion.[155]Ibushi once again teamed with Omega and Page to faceKonosuke Takeshita andBullet Club Gold (Jay White andJuice Robinson) atAll In in a losing effort.[156] He again wrestled atWrestleDream, teaming once again with Omega and with Chris Jericho in a losing effort against Takeshita,Sammy Guevara and Will Ospreay.[157] On the November 15, 2023 episode ofDynamite Ibushi aidedChris Jericho, Omega, andPaul Wight in defeatingThe Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs,Konosuke Takeshita, andKyle Fletcher) andBrian Cage in a street fight.[158] As of January 2025, this was Ibushi's latest appearance in AEW, despite remaining signed to the company.
On November 2, 2023, at Noah the Best, Ibushi made his return to Pro Wrestling Noah after eleven years, confrontingNaomichi Marufuji after his match, challenging him to a match atNoah The New Year. Marufuji accepted, stating that he was "waiting for him in the ring at Ariake Arena", before both shaking hands, with the match being billed as "Destiny". Afterwards, NOAH announced that the match would be the main event of NOAH The New Year. Afterwards, the announcement for the main event mixed reactions among fans, including criticism, mainly on social media, leading NOAH's Executive Officer Narihiro Takeda to reveal that he attributed them the main event, due to the popularity of both wrestlers over theGHC Heavyweight Championship match. At the event, on January 2, 2024, Ibushi faced Marufuji. Prior to the match, Ibushi had sustained a broken ankle but decided to work the match. During his entrance, Ibushi visibly struggled walking to the ring. In the match itself, Ibushi reportedly suffered injuries to both of his ankles which included the already injured left ankle, however, he managed to win the match. Afterwards, Ibushi was taken to a hospital by an ambulance. Shortly after, NOAH's Executive Officer appeared backstage to announce that Ibushi would not be making any post-match comments.[159][160]
On August 25, 2024 at Summer Vacation Memories, Ibushi made his return to DDT for the first time since 2016, where he teamed withAkito andDanshoku Dino in a losing effort to Burning (Tetsuya Endo,Yuki Iino, and Yuya Koroku). In November 2024, it was reported that Ibushi's DDT return was cut short due to "backstage issues".[161]
Prior to the start of his professional wrestling career, Ibushi practicedkarate, winning a shinkarate K-2 tournament in 2003.[162] In 2006, Ibushi was planning on making hisK-1 MAX debut, but it was cancelled after his opponent was injured.[162] On November 11, 2014, Ibushi announced he would be making hisshoot boxing debut in an exhibition match on November 30.[162] The match with Ibushi's fellow DDT wrestlerMichael Nakazawa ended in a draw.[163]
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