Report: Katsuyori Shibata Requested Orange Cassidy Match, Also Wants To Face Bryan Danielson

Katsuyori Shibata wanted to face Orange Cassidy.

'The Wrestler' returned to All Elite Wrestling on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite in Baltimore, making the save for Orange Cassidy during a post-match attack from PAC. Shibata and Cassidy then came face-to-face following the match before the NJPW star signed a contract to face The King of Sloth Style for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship on Friday's episode of Rampage.

The match came about as Cassidy was allowed to select a 'dream opponent' for Friday's Rampage. In reality, though, Shibata requested a match with Orange and the former NEVER Openweight Champion also wants to go one-on-one with Bryan Danielson, according to Dave Meltzer. 

"He had two matches he wanted in AEW, Orange Cassidy and Bryan Danielson. They are going to work on doing both of them and obviously this was the first one. He is free this week so they made it this week," Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Shibata was previously retired following a subdural hematoma in 2017. He returned to the ring in 2021, though, and competed in his first full professional wrestling match at Wrestling Kingdom 16 in January 2022, defeating Ren Narita. 

Shibata previously appeared in AEW, attacking Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door.