It is a headline that many wrestling fans never thought they would see, for so long “Katsuyori Shibata Announces Return” was a phrase that fans didn’t think would ever be uttered. As Kurt Angle would say “it’s real, it’s damn real” as Shibata announced during the BOSJ/WTL final that he will be returning to the ring after a four and a half year absence on day one of Wrestle Kingdom 2022.
Katsuyori Shibata Announces Return at Best of the Super Junior/World Tag League Final
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 ＆
BEST OF THE SUPER Jr.28🏆優勝決定戦🏆
＼その涙の理由とは…⁉️予告通り柴田が登場‼️
両国国技館の大観衆の前で一体何を語るのか⁉️📲 #njpwworld で配信中📡
👀登録＆視聴⏩https://t.co/Tj7UBINMhP#njpw #njwtl #njbosj pic.twitter.com/kMko0SWPG6
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) December 15, 2021
Shibata last stepped in the ring for a professional wrestling match at Sakura Genesis when he and Kazuchika Okada did battle for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Their match was regarded as an instant classic, although at the time fans didn’t know that it would be Shibata’s last match for over four years.
Shibata’s classic with Okada was a breaking point for his body as his injuries had piled up and he was left devastated following the infamous headbutt from that contest. It seemed likely that he would never wrestle again after taking on the role of the lead trainer at NJPW’s Los Angeles Dojo, that was until his sudden exhibition match with Zack Sabre Jr. at the G1 Climax Final. Following that grappling exhibition speculation was rife that Shibata could be cleared for a comeback, especially once NJPW announced that he would be making a major announcement at the BOSJ/WTL finals. That speculation has turned out to have merit as Shibata has now confirmed a return to the ring that fans have so desperately wanted for years now.
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