Since signing with AEW in 2023, Kota Ibushi’s had an injury plagued couple of years. But the former IWGP World champion seems to be healthy right now, having made three appearances for AEW since June. On Dynamite last night (Aug. 14) he was just for a 10-man Lights Out Steel Cage match at next Sunday’s Forbidden Door PPV from London, too.
To celebrate (or coincidentally), Ibushi flew in a private jet recently. He shared about it on Instagram during this week’s Dynamite. The 43-year-old doesn’t say
whose PJ it was, so it may have been Tony Khan’s. The Golden Star happens to mention signing a two-year contract extension with AEW in the same post…
The post’s captioned reads:
これは凄かった‼️人生の分岐点。プライベートジェットなんか生まれて乗ることないよね！そして、２年の再契約にサインしてきました🖋️まだ生きたいけど生きるしかないけど。45歳までプロレスやってる想像が付かない。あと何が欲しいか。わからない。
#プロレスの知識
#メンタルコントロール
#体の仕組み
#AEW
#飯伏幸太これ以外分からず生きて来てこんなプロレスって夢あるんだ！昔、小さいとき思っていた通りだった。
ただ、良いことだけではない99%地獄をみないとたどり着かない。その99%の地獄がどれだけきついかは想像の遥か上だった。トレーニングや日々の暮らし方まで。ただ、下を向いたらダメ。上を上を。まだまだ足りないよこんなもんじゃない‼️これから。
We ran the Japanese caption through a number of translator apps. DeepL seemed to do the best job:
This was incredible! A turning point in my life. I never thought I’d get to ride in a private jet! And I just signed a two-year contract renewal. I still want to live, but I have no choice but to keep going. I can’t imagine still wrestling at 45. What else do I want? I don’t know.
#WrestlingKnowledge
#MentalControl
#HowTheBodyWorks
#AEW
#KotaIbushiI’ve lived my life without knowing anything else, but pro wrestling is such a dream! It’s just like I imagined when I was a kid. But it’s not all good—you have to endure 99% hell to get there. The 99% hell was far beyond what I could have imagined. From training to daily life. But you can’t look down. Look up, look up. I’m still not enough! This is nothing! From here on out.
Ibushi and AEW said that his initial deal allowed him to remain a free agent in Japan, where he’s been a main event-level talent for both New Japan and DDT. No word if that’s also the case for this extension, but we should hear more about it soon.
Funnily enough, it seems Ibushi found out about his match next weekend after announcing his new deal!
今、気づいたけど。何にも連絡無かったけど決まったみたいだ‼️なんだこれは❗イギリスあるかもとは言われていたけど。棚橋さん、あ、棚橋社長いるし！！久々のゴールデン☆エースからのゴールデン☆ラバーズだし、オスプレイとはよく戦ったし組むのはまさか初めてかな？相手もヤバイ。あれ？ゲイブ？違うかな。
#ビックリした
#ゴールデン☆エース
#ゴールデン☆ラバーズ
#棚橋さんまた盗撮しよう
#ケニーオメガ
#ウィルオスプレイ
#棚橋社長
#新日本プロレス
#AEWオカダ戦から日本へ帰ってきてしばらく休んでしまっていた。まだ間に合う‼️明日からじゃなく今からトレーニング！楽しみすぎる👊
In English, the caption reads:
I just realized something. I didn’t hear anything, but it seems to have been decided! What is this? They said it might be in the UK. Mr. Tanahashi, oh, Mr. Tanahashi is there too! It’s been a while since Golden Ace and Golden Lovers, and I’ve fought Ospreay many times, but is this our first time teaming up? The opponent is also dangerous. Wait, is that Gabe? Maybe not.
#Surprised
#Golden☆Ace
#Golden☆Lovers
#Mr. Tanahashi, let’s try to take some more photos
#KennyOmega
#WillOspreay
#Mr.Tanahashi
#NewJapanPro-Wrestling
#AEWAfter the Okada match, I came back to Japan and took a break for a while. But it’s not too late! I’ll start training now, not tomorrow! I’m so excited! 👊
