20-year veteran announces his return, but not in AEW
Wrestlers from all over the globe have performed in AEW since its formation and a large number of these talents have been from Japan. Names such as Hikaru Shida, Riho, Katsuyori Shibata, Konosuke Takeshita, Tetsuya Naito, and more have made their presence felt in the company.
Furthermore, the longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada, currently holds the AEW Continental Championship. Another one of the most popular Japanese wrestlers who has performed in All Elite Wrestling is Kota Ibushi.
Besides the Jacksonville-based promotion, Ibushi has wrestled in companies such as NJPW, WWE, Pro Wrestling Noah, and more. Interestingly, he had a memorable run in a Japanese promotion named DDT Pro-Wrestling. He debuted in DTT in 2004 and actively wrestled for them till 2016 and won several titles. The team Golden Lovers (Ibushi and Kenny Omega) was notably formed in this very company. Since 2016, his appearances here have been limited, however, his social media bios recently read that henceforth, he will actively perform for them.
In DDT Pro-Wrestling, Kota Ibushi has held titles such as the IMGP World Heavyweight Championship, the Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship, the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, and more.
AEW star Kota Ibushi wants to open a wrestling school
In a 2023 interview with Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine, Ibushi revealed that he wants to open a wrestling school and revealed some ideas for it.
"I am now 40 years old, which is also a milestone for me. I want to train pro-wrestlers. A professional wrestling school. It would be for a period of six months, and I would provide a dormitory and all meals. I’m thinking about 800,000 yen for six months of tuition, which would be about 130,000 or 140,000 yen per month," said Kota Ibushi. [H/T Post Wrestling]
He further stated that he wants to broadcast the happenings of his school on YouTube.