{"id":115003,"date":"2022-08-03T12:10:22","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T16:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=115003"},"modified":"2022-08-03T12:10:22","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T16:10:22","slug":"kenta-calls-out-shibata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2022\/08\/03\/kenta-calls-out-shibata\/","title":{"rendered":"NJPW: KENTA Calls Out Katsuyori Shibata"},"content":{"rendered":"

KENTA<\/strong> and Katsuyori Shibata<\/strong> have a storied history. They went from soulmates to rivals, from closest friends to bitter enemies.<\/p>\n

After his recent G1 Climax<\/em><\/strong> win over Hirooki Goto<\/strong>, KENTA made some interesting backstage comments.<\/p>\n

“Every time I face Hirooki Goto, I can’t help but think of Shibata. What are you doing, Shibata?<\/p>\n

Hurry up and step up to me. I have no idea where you are. Come on. You’ll be forgotten about if you don’t act soon.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hirooki Goto was once the tag team partner of Shibata. They won the IWGP Tag League<\/em><\/strong> in 2014 and would also win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.<\/p>\n

However, the real story is between KENTA and Shibata. The pair used to be tag partners in Pro Wrestling Noah in 2005.\u00a0Their careers took them to different places, however they would reunite in 2019 before a shocking betrayal.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at how the careers of KENTA and Shibata unfolded over the years and what led to their rivalry.<\/p>\n

KENTA and Katsuyori Shibata<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Different Paths<\/h3>\n

Shibata’s final match for nearly six years took place on December 31, 2006, when he defeated Kazuhiro Hamanaka<\/strong>. By January 2007, Shibata left wrestling to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. Shibata returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling<\/strong> in 2012, where he would go on to become one of its most popular wrestlers. During his third run in NJPW, Shibata won several championships. Having earned the right to challenge for any heavyweight belt of his choosing, Shibata called out Kazuchika Okada<\/strong> and challenged him to a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The match occurred on April 9, 2017, at the Sakura Genesis<\/em><\/strong> event. Okada defeated Shibata.<\/p>\n

Following the match, Shibata collapsed backstage and was rushed to a hospital. It was discovered that he had suffered a head injury that required emergency surgery. The injury, combined with severe dehydration, caused Shibata to also experience some paralysis on the right side of his body. It was believed that he would never be cleared to wrestle again. Shibata appeared at the 2017 G1 Climax<\/em><\/strong> finals on August 13, tearfully stating:<\/p>\n

“I am still alive! That is all.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Shibata soon became the coach of NJPW’s Los Angeles DOJO<\/a>, where younger wrestlers trained.<\/p>\n

KENTA would go on to become a staple of NOAH. He won many championships, including the GHC Heavyweight Championship and the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. In 2014, KENTA signed a contract with WWE<\/strong> where he would be featured on the company’s development brand, NXT<\/em><\/strong>. He would work in WWE under the ring name Hideo Itami. Itami made his in-ring debut at the following day’s tapings of NXT<\/em>, defeating Justin Gabriel<\/strong>. In November 2017, Itami would be moved from NXT<\/em> to the main roster as part of the cruiserweight division on 205 Live<\/em><\/strong>. Failing to achieve the success he wanted, it was reported in January 2019 that Itami requested and was granted his release from the company after a five-year run.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>