May 21 is Kota Ibushi’s birthday, and he appears to be setting his sights on building a pro wrestling venue.
Ibushi posted a video on Instagram, admitting that a comeback doesn’t seem likely in the near future. In the meantime, he announced plans to build a replacement for Shinjuku FACE, which will close in September this year due to the expiration of its fixed-term building lease agreement.
Thank you all so much for everything up until now. I’m Kota Ibushi, a professional wrestler who has been active for 22 years. I was able to fulfill many dreams in the world of professional wrestling and I truly had a wonderful life as a wrestler. I am currently sidelined due to a right leg injury sustained last November. To be honest, a comeback seems unlikely for now. I turned 44 today. So, I decided. Kota Ibushi, I want to give back to the professional wrestling world.
The professional wrestling world is currently facing a serious crisis. Shinjuku FACE is closing down. This venue, where I’ve had many matches, is a place that professional wrestling organizations have been grateful to. In particular, it was the perfect venue for independent wrestling promotions to hold regular shows. I believe that the disappearance of such venues is equivalent to a crisis for the culture of professional wrestling. Therefore, Kota Ibushi will put his body on the line. I’m putting my body on the line to earn money. I am going to build a pro wrestling venue. So, please cooperate with me. Please give me work, no matter how small the project may be.
Ibushi previously posted optimistic updates on his recovery from his leg injury, but the typical one-two year recovery, as is typical for these types of injuries, could be the expected timeline for Ibushi in the ring.
