Kota Ibushi To Be Out Of Action For 2 Years

Kota Ibushi has announced it will be two years until he is able to return to pro wrestling, putting the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion out of action until 2027.

"My current condition. One year to fully recover. Two years until I can step into the ring again. I believe in myself more than the doctors. I absolutely don't believe in that. I know I have amazing DNA that gives me the ability to heal!!" Ibushi wrote on Instagram.

Ibushi suffered a broken femur at the October 9 taping of AEW Collision after he fell from the top rope to the outside during a match with Josh Alexander. Ibushi was quickly counted out, handing the win to Alexander, and the 43-year-old was taken to a local hospital soon after.

Ibushi has suffered from several injury issues in recent years since he sustained a serious shoulder injury during the G1 Climax 31 final in 2021. That injury kept him out of action for 18 months and he wrestled with a broken ankle and hand for Pro Wrestling NOAH in January 2024, which would keep him out of action for several months.

Should Ibushi be out of action until 2027, Ibushi will have only wrestled 23 matches in the six years since the G1 final injury.