Katsuyori Shibata Reflects On Competing At INOKI BOM-BA-YE Event Against Tom Lawlor

Katsuyori Shibata was victorious over Tom Lawlor at INOKI BOM-BA-YE on December 28 in a UWF rules match. 

UWF rules is a hybrid of MMA and wrestling with head strikes being banned. 

Reflecting on the bout in the post-event press conference, Shibata said, “I think only the people who were called by Antonio Inoki are coming today… I didn’t find any reason why I wouldn’t come, so it means a lot to me that I was able to play a game here today. And as I said earlier, I think I was able to prove that I was injured in the same two countries, but I can come back to the middle of the ring again like this.”

Speaking about facing Lawlor, a former MMA fighter who competed in the UFC, Shibata said, “It was really good with Tom Lawlor. Tom Lawlor and this timing, this day, will never come again, this day. The first ‘INOKI BOM-BA-YE’ after the chairman’s death, there will never be a memorial service again, so I went up to the ring and played against Tom Roller. I think this is the ‘fighting soul’ that I can do now.”

Shibata closed by saying, “With this rule today, I was going to play a game that can be played at this timing, and when I did my best, it became like that. Even if I really watch it myself, I think there will be a lot of things like “I wish I had done this more”, and I always reflect on it… Well, I think it was the most meaningful that a professional wrestler would go to this tournament by one person today. I said something at the press conference, but I don’t have a place where I can participate in other martial arts competitions. However, today’s tournament is Antonio Inoki memorial service “INOKI BOM-BA-YE”, so I did it myself. Thank you very much. That’s all!”

Shibata recently challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship on the November 4 episode of AEW Rampage. 

You can find results from around the world of wrestling at Fightful’s results section.