Kota Ibushi Teases AEW Run

Ever since All Elite Wrestling was founded, fans have speculated about when Kota Ibushi will show up in the promotion. Any appearance was unlikely to happen during the promotion's first couple of years but AEW have since forged a working relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and the two companies work together regularly, including holding the joint Forbidden Door pay-per-view in June 2022. 

Kota Ibushi was unable to perform at the event, though, due to a serious shoulder injury he suffered almost a year ago in the G1 Climax 31 final. 

That doesn't mean Ibushi does not want to perform in AEW and The Golden Star revealed on Twitter that he plans to wrestle in the promotion at least once. He then noted that, ideally, he would have at least three matches, signalling that 'Lovers' could ensure his matches were booked correctly. 

"I have high expectations for AEW, so I'll go three times. I can't promise that the card will be assembled correctly, but Lovers can," Ibushi wrote. 

While not stated outright, 'Lovers' would seemingly point to Ibushi's Golden Lovers tag team with Kenny Omega that was active from 2009 until 2014 before a reunion in 2018. 

When asked who he would like to face, Ibushi named Hangman Page, another of Kenny Omega's former tag team partners. The Golden Star and Page have already faced each other once in singles action in Ring Of Honor, with Ibushi picking up the win at 2018's Supercard Of Honor XII.