New Japan Pro Wrestling has confirmed that Kota Ibushi is no longer part of the organization. Ibushi’s contract officially ended on January 31, making him a free agent.
The official statement reads:
“Kota Ibushi Leaves New Japan Pro-Wrestling
With his contract period concluding on January 31, 2023, Kota Ibushi has departed from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Ibushi has been recovering from an injury since October 2021.
We apologize for the sudden announcement and extend our best wishes to Ibushi for his future endeavors.”
According to Fightful, several major wrestling promotions have shown strong interest in Ibushi, whether for full-time contracts or special appearances. Reports suggest that Ibushi is content with his free-agent status, viewing his previous experience with NJPW as a learning opportunity.
The report also mentions an unspecified “serious private matter” that strained Ibushi’s relationship with NJPW, which had hoped he would continue working through the issue.
Ibushi is scheduled to participate in several GCW events during WrestleMania 39 weekend, including a singles match against Mike Bailey at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9.