If many fans were to name one of their favorite Japanese professional wrestlers, Kota Ibushi is definitely on the list. He is one of the most talented wrestlers in the ring. He started out in Japan and has been with AEW for a few years. Well, he is not going to be going anywhere anytime soon. He has signed a new contract extension with AEW.
The Terms Of the Contract
The amount of money he signed for has not been revealed, but the length has. Ibushi on his Instagram page confirmed that he signed a two-year extension with the company. He also filmed himself entering a private jet, as well, which is where he likely put pen to paper on the deal.
Can He Stay Healthy?
Now this is a solid extension to give, but there is one tremendous risk: injuries. Ibushi has had a tough time staying healthy the past few years, especially with his ankles and legs. That is terrifying, with the amount of pain that he was in at that time. Ibushi is also 43 years old, and if he gets hurt, the injury will likely take longer to recover from. While he is not in his prime, AEW feels the risk is worth the reward here with him. It is easy to see why they feel that way when watching his matches. It is sort of like what is going on with Adam Cole.
His Close Friendship With Kenny Omega Is a Money Maker
It has been known that Kenny Omega and Ibushi have had a close friendship throughout their wrestling career. Especially in Japan, where they wrestled in a tag team called the Golden Lovers. They both even wrestled a match in AEW in 2023 before Ibushi got hurt. However, they are both money-making opportunities ready to happen. If AEW wants, they could even set up a feud between the two. There are options and money to be made as the sky is the limit with Ibushi.
When Is Ibushi’s Next PPV Match?
Ibushi will be back to wrestling on TV soon, but he will be back on AEW’s Forbidden Door PPV. Ibushi will team with Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, and Hiroshi Tanahashi to take on the Deathriders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Gabe Kidd) and the Young Bucks (Nick Jackson and Matt Jackson). The match will take place in a Lights Out Steel Cage match. To watch the match, it will be available via stream on August 24, 2025, on Amazon Prime. It will be interesting to see how AEW tries to counter WWE’s plans to counter AEW All Out 2025 PPV.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not a long-term deal, getting Ibushi locked up contract-wise is a really smart move by AEW. Ibushi, when healthy, is a talented wrestler, and there are plenty of ways that he can be utilized. On paper, this is a great signing, and he could even be used as a coach/trainer when the time comes for him to retire. For more pro wrestling content, check out Total Apex Sports.
