Kota Ibushi Suffered Dislocated Shoulder In NJPW G1 Climax 31 Final

NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi has provided an update on Kota Ibushi following the G1 Climax 31 Final.

Winner of the A Block, Ibushi faced winner of the B Block Kazuchika Okada in the G1 Final on Thursday, October 21. The match ended abruptly after 20 minutes by referee stoppage, though, after Ibushi landed awkwardly on his right arm during a Phoenix Splash attempt.

Ibushi remained down following the move and referee Red Shoes Uno quickly called for the bell after checking on the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Ibushi then received medical attention for several minutes and he left the ring holding his elbow.

In an update in NJPW's post-G1 Climax 31 press conference today, Naoki Sugabayashi announced Ibushi suffered a dislocated right shoulder during his match with Okada. More about when Ibushi could return will be announced after The Golden Star's shoulder has received a thorough assessment.

Thursday was just the latest injury Ibushi has suffered in 2021. The 39-year-old suffered a foot injury in his Wrestle Kingdom 15 match against Tetsuya Naito and Ibushi wrestled with the injury throughout his run as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion despite a doctor telling him not to move the foot for three months. Ibushi then suffered from aspiration pneumonia in July and he eventually returned in September at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.