The Golden Star, Kota Ibushi is one of NJPW’s most popular wrestlers with superhuman physical ability and an unparalleled sense for pro-wrestling.

After debuting on July 1, 2004 with DDT Pro Wrestling, Ibushi joined NJPW in 2009 during the “BEST OF THE SUPER Jr.16”, and quickly made a lasting impression. He owns the unprecedented record of a tournament grand slam (Best of the Super Juniors, New Japan Cup, G1 Climax twice in a row) as well as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team, IWGP Junior Heavyweight, NEVER Openweight, IWGP Intercontinental, IWGP Tag Team and, after January 4 2021, IWGP Heavyweight Championship reigns.

Wrestling for over 79 minutes across two nights at Wrestle Kingdom 15, Ibushi first defeated Tetsuya Naito to become the third individual to hold IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental gold on January 4, before unifying the titles and starting NJPW’s 50th year as its first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Yet his reign was brief, crashing to an end at the hands of Will Ospreay at Sakura Genesis. Bouncing back, Ibushi beat Jeff Cobb at Dominion but a bout with aspiration pneumonia put Ibushi on the shelf through July and August. 

Ibushi would return in time for g1 Climax 31, where he reached an unprecedented fourth consecutive final, but his tournament ended in heartbreak. A missed Phoenix Splash saw Ibushi suffer an arm injury, and the Golden Star now seeks a path back to action.