Katsuyori Shibata Officially Signs With AEW

Katsuyori Shibata is officially All Elite! Although Shibata has been wrestling for AEW and ROH exclusively in 2023, pen has only just been put to paper on a full deal between the two sides, with Shibata still technically being a NJPW talent the entire time, though they had not cleared him to compete, unlike in AEW.

It was announced prior to AEW Collision last night that NJPW had granted Shibata permission to sign with Tony Khan’s promotion. Khan shared a statement from Shibata on X to announce the signature. 

“Today, I have signed the contract with AEW under a permission from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In the past year, I worked for AEW/ROH and I learned how wonderful the AEW is. This is the best environment where wrestlers can focus only on fighting in the ring. And the love for professional wrestling is overflowing from Tony and all the people who work for him. I want to make AEW’s ring the last end point of The Wrestler’s career. I dedicate my wrestler life to Tony Khan, and AEW. Thank You.”

NJPW also offered their best wishes to Shibata. Shibata has had a strong year under Tony Khan, becoming ROH Pure Champion and holding it up until recently.