Kota Ibushi is on the way to AEW according to talent.
Later this month, AEW will once again host their Blood and Guts match later this month between The Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite and both teams will have a surprise fifth member.
After AEW Rampage this week, Kenny Omega teased The Elite’s fifth man as someone near and dear to him.
Fightful Select are now reporting that AEW talent believe Ibushi will be the fifth man for The Elite at Blood and Guts.
Fightful has confirmed that conversations have taken place between international star Kota Ibushi and All Elite Wrestling. Most of the talent we spoke to this week are of the belief that he would be joining the company in some capacity, specifically for the upcoming Blood & Guts show. AEW hasn’t made an official announcement and he’s not been nearly as public of late. Ibushi’s management has reduced media obligations, citing that his schedule is picking up in the near future, with a source close to Ibushi in Japan saying he’s planning to work the upcoming AEW show. Ibushi wrestled for GCW during WrestleMania week, but otherwise has been out of action since October 2021 for a variety of reasons. There were some talent that worked both NJPW and AEW who wondered in the past if Ibushi being involved with AEW would strain the relationship with NJPW. Ibushi and New Japan had a series of issues that led to his departure, however, Ibushi claimed that those have since been resolved, and a contract offer from New Japan has been made.
Fightful Select
We will have to wait and see if Kota will indeed be the final member of Team Elite.
Follow Corey at @CoreyBrennanBS on Twitter
If you enjoy Bodyslam’s content, you can help donate to the site here. You can also visit our PWTees store and buy Bodyslam official merchandise here.
You can listen to all of Bodyslam’s podcasts by following us on Spotify and subscribing to our YouTube Channel, or any of your favorite podcast platforms.ⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘ
