Kota Ibushi Receives Pay Reduction For Breach Of NJPW Contract

New Japan Pro-Wrestling have announced Kota Ibushi's penalty for breaching his contract with the promotion.

Relations between Ibushi and NJPW have been strained in recent months after The Golden Star publicly expressed his frustrations with the promotion, alleging Yakuza involvement in New Japan among other issues. Ibushi also blamed NJPW President Takami Ohbari and Kikuchi, an assistant booker in New Japan who threatened to fire him, for his mother's attempted suicide.

NJPW previously announced Ibushi will remain a member of the promotion but it was noted he would likely receive a salary deduction for attending a Just Tap Out event in March without authorisation and for disclosing the company's internal affairs publicly.

New Japan announced today that Ibushi will receive a 10 percent pay reduction for three months between July and September 2022. The official, believed to be Kikuchi, also received a 10 percent pay decrease during the same period and he has been moved to a different position.

NJPW President Takami Ohbari's salary was also reduced by 10 percent between July and September 'as a result of executive responsibility.'

Ibushi has been out of action since he suffered a shoulder injury during the G1 Climax 31 final in October of 2021.