Proof that anything truly is possible in pro wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling star Katsuyori Shibata has returned to the ring.
At the time of his devastating brain injury in 2017, it seemed like a guarantee that he would never wrestle again.
Four years later, Shibata is back, having wrestled a five-minute UWFi exhibition match with Zack Sabre Jr.
After the match, Shibata announced that the next time we see him will be in a match. Tears were shed.
Now, we get the fun of looking to the future with a world of possibilities. The amount of talent around the world is unfathomable and here we shall look at some of the biggest dream matches Shibata can now have.
Some of these matches have happened in the past but as we look to the future, they couldn’t be more new.
These are the 11 biggest dream matches for Katsuyori Shibata.
Jon Moxley
UPDATE: Damnit I forgot Jon Moxley.
Oh well, I’ll put him on the list anyway. Jon Moxley has been AEW’s representative against the crusaders of New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2021 and would be a perfect opponent for Katsuyori Shibata.
Moxley has done his best New Japan work against the likes of Minoru Suzuki, Tomohiro Ishii and Shingo Takagi. Hot damn if Shibata’s name does not fit in with those three perfectly.
Moxley’s rough and tough style meshing very well with the strong style approach of many of New Japan’s hardest hitters.
With more crossover taking place with AEW and New Japan, this would be an excellent way to further an already fruitful working relationship.
11. Jonathan Gresham
One of the best technical wrestlers in the world currently, is Jonathan Gresham. Gresham has spent years honing his craft and is now one of the top stars of Ring of Honor.
This is one of the biggest examples of the wrestling landscape changing in the time Shibata has been gone.
Four years ago Gresham wasn’t on the national radar like he is now. Now, he is one of the best prospective opponents for Katsuyori Shibata.
Their styles would mesh better than almost anyone on this list and with Gresham still on the rise, this could be a very beneficial match for both men.
10. Minoru Suzuki
This is a match that has happened before but who wouldn’t want to see it again on a big stage?
Minoru Suzuki and Katsuyori Shibata only wrestled one singles match after Shibata’s return to New Japan in 2012.
A first-round match in the 2017 New Japan Cup, there is no question that a match of this caliber deserves a bigger stage.
Suzuki has continued to redefine himself in 2021, wrestling some of AEW’s best. If his recent match with Bryan Danielson is anything to go off of, Suzuki can still throw down with the best.
9. Jeff Cobb
Since he started performing for New Japan more regularly, Jeff Cobb has only gotten better and better.
Now heavily pushed as the promotion’s top foreign star, Cobb could be a perfect heel to work opposite the heroic Shibata.
Cobb also works a brilliant style combining high-level amateur wrestling with immense power. Seeing him try to outwrestle Shibata would be an absolute treat.
Given his performance in the 2021 G1 Climax, Cobb could be put in a big position to seize an opportunity within New Japan very soon. Why not this one?
8. Kota Ibushi
Kota Ibushi suffered an arm injury in the G1 Climax 31 Final so his current status is in doubt but when he is healthy? This match would be something else.
Because Katsuyori Shibata’s injury occurred at the start of New Japan’s explosion of popularity in 2017, he missed out on matches with many of the new and emerging stars of the promotion.
Kota Ibushi was one of those stars. The two have had one singles match, taking place in the 2015 G1 Climax, and Ibushi has come a very long way since.
Now a committed member of New Japan’s roster and one of their biggest stars, this would be a match worthy of a major event and would undoubtedly deliver a classic performance.
7. Jay White
Another star that Shibata missed was Jay White. White made his return from excursion in 2017, just months after Shibata was sidelined.
Since then, White has become the foreign heel of the future for New Japan, developing into one of the world’s most complete wrestlers.
Shibata has an unresolved beef with Bullet Club over what happened at the 2019 G1 Clima Final, and Shibata could find himself looking at White across the ring if he wants to take on the stable.
I know I would like to see it.
6. Tomohiro Ishii
Tomohiro Ishii is perhaps Shibata’s most prolific rival. The two had insane chemistry together and wrestled on the biggest stage possible.
Why is it a dream match then? Well, because I want to see it again, obviously.
That being said, Shibata would almost certainly have to adjust his wrestling style going forward. The days of Shibata and Ishii hitting clunking ram headbutts need to be behind us.
It was such a move that appeared to end Shibata’s career in 2017 after all.
These two are extremely versatile wrestlers and would have no trouble adjusting which is good because these two are the kind of “destined to do this forever” rivals that shouldn’t be held apart.
5. Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre Jr. and Katsuyori Shibata have a storied history that continues to evolve to this day.
Sabre made his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut against Shibata, wrestling for the British Heavyweight title in 2017.
They also worked matches in the UK before Shibata was forced to leave the ring. Now, Sabre worked as Shibata’s first opponent in over four years, wrestling to a draw in their exhibition match at the 2021 G1 Final.
Sabre’s technical wrestling ability is unmatched in 2021 and he remains a perfect opponent for Shibata.
It may not be a brand new match, but after seeing them wrestle for five minutes, sign me up for a full 30.
4. Kenny Omega
What can be said about Kenny Omega that hasn’t been said before? The man has evolved into one of the most elite wrestlers in the world and most dream matches seem to involve him these days.
Omega is the top dog of AEW now but during his rise to the top of New Japan Pro Wrestling, he only wrestled Katsuyori Shibata in one singles match.
The two battled in the 2016 G1 Climax but Omega has grown immensely during the five years since that match.
Omega and Kazuchika Okada had just had their first legendary match when Shibata suffered his injury. Had Shibata remained healthy, there is no doubt he and Omega would have had a legendary clash of their own.
It couldn’t happen then, so why not now? You know what they say, better late than never.
3. Shingo Takagi
There is no one on the New Japan roster currently performing at a higher level than IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi.
Throw in that his style would mesh perfectly with Shibata’s and the fact that they have never wrestled before and you have the formula for one of the biggest dream matches possible in New Japan today.
Takagi is one of the wrestlers who brings an unbelievable amount of explosiveness and dynamic energy to his matches. Very similar to the likes of Tomohiro Ishii and Shibata himself.
Takagi has a strong claim of being the best wrestler in the world today and if that doesn’t scream dream match I don’t know what does.
2. Bryan Danielson
Since Bryan Danielson arrived in All Elite Wrestling he has been on an incredible roll.
His matches with Kenny Omega and Minoru Suzuki have been match of the year candidates and he seems like the perfect person to clash with a newly healthy Katsuyori Shibata.
Danielson is wrestling again after a decade of working as a sports entertainer. That is not said with disrespect but you can see a clear switch has been flipped with his work in his limited matches in AEW.
He is one of the very best wrestlers of his generation and his desire to work with New Japan talent has been well-documented.
Shibata was one of the best in the world four years ago. A match with Bryan Danielson is as good a measuring stick as you will find in wrestling today.
1. KENTA
If unsettled business was a person, it would be named KENTA.
Wrestling fans haven’t forgotten about KENTA’s shocking betrayal of Katsuyori Shibata at the 2019 G1 Climax Final. Now, we may finally get to see a resolution.
KENTA turned on Tomohiro Ishii that night and joined Bullet Club only for Shibata to try and fight him off. Shibata had been the one to walk KENTA through the doors of New Japan just two months earlier.
Their history is thick as they worked as a tag team during their time in Pro Wrestling NOAH before KENTA’s eventual betrayal in 2019.
It would be a shock if Shibata has moved on from this moment. If we are going to look forward to one major match between former friends and rivals, Katsuyori Shibata vs. KENTA tops that list by far.
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