Kota Ibushi Believes Weight Control Led To Shoulder Injury

Kota Ibushi comments on his shoulder injury. 

In the finals of the G1 Climax 31 tournament, Kota Ibushi suffered a shoulder injury when he attempted a phoenix splash against Kazuchika Okada. The injury led to the referee stopping the bout, awarding the finals to Okada. 

Speaking to Tokyo Sports, Ibushi said he believed his weight fluctuation played a part in the injury. 

“There is a cause for it, weight control. This time, I’ve lost or gained weight by then. I was able to practice Phoenix, but there were too many waves. If that is 100 grams different, it’s completely different (feeling). Because it’s such an advanced technique. That was 3 kilometers different on the day of the KENTA match (18th). I was intentionally increasing it for the championship deciding match, but I think I was tired … I wonder if my weight was definitely (influenced),” he said. “I also saw the video, but if you look closely, it’s still heavier than usual. Low. The position of the (set) opponent is also close. I tried to fly closer, so I tried not to jump that much.”

Ibushi was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia over the summer, causing him to miss multiple events. 

Speaking about the injury, “I knew that I had dislocated, but this time there was a lag of about 4 seconds (by the time I noticed). I don’t know if it was because I hit my face or if it was adrenaline. But the moment I moved to get up, the feeling of coming off suddenly came. I couldn’t move, I thought I couldn’t win anymore, so I made a gesture to Mr. Okada, ‘Please put in 3 counts cleanly.’ I didn’t know that the match was over, even though it was over. Is it because I hit my face? So I think (Red Shoes) Mr. Unno made an appropriate decision and stopped.”

NJPW announced that Ibushi is expected to miss two months of time with the injury. 

Okada has said that he hopes to wrestle Ibushi again once he returns.