Katsuyori Shibata

is a Japanese professional wrestler, trainer, and former mixed martial artist. He currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and their sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). He is a member of The Opps stable.

Shibata has also best known for his time competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where he also worked as a trainer. Other promotions he has wrestled for include Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) and Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro).

Shibata has won many Championships over his career. In AEW, Shibata was the winner of the FTW Contender Series with Hook. In ROH, he is a one-time ROH Pure Champion. In NJPW, he was a one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, three-time NEVER Openweight Champion, winner of the New Japan Cup in 2017, co-winner of the World Tag League with Hirooki Goto, and the Fighting Spirit Award in 2004.

While in New Japan, Shibata faced Kazuchika Okada in the main event of Sakura Genesis 2017. During the match, Shibata delivered a headbutt to Okada and afterwards collapsed backstage. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a subdural hematoma with some paralysis on his right side. It was widely believed that he was never going to wrestle again but he eventually returned.

Career
All Elite Wrestling
At Forbidden Door, Shibata made his AEW debut, helping save Orange Cassidy from being beatdown by the United Empire. On the November 4 episode of Rampage, Shibata made his AEW in-ring debut, losing to Orange Cassidy in a match for Cassidy's AEW All-Atlantic Championship.

On March 31, 2023, Shibata made his debut for Ring of Honor (ROH). He defeated Wheeler Yuta at Supercard of Honor to become the new ROH Pure Champion.

At Forbidden Door, Shibata competed in a four-way match for the AEW International Championship but lost. At WrestleDream, Shibata challenged Eddie Kingston for his ROH World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship but lost. On the November 25 episode of Rampage, Shibata lost his ROH Pure Championship back to Wheeler Yuta. On December 23, it was announced by Tony Khan that Shibata had officially signed a contract with AEW to become a member of the roster.

On the March 16, 2024 edition of Collision, Shibata made his return to AEW and lost to Bryan Danielson. At WrestleDream, Shibata challenged Jack Perry for his AEW TNT Championship but lost. He began to team with Samoa Joe and Hook and they began to call their stable The Opps.

 References 

Other websites

Category:1979 births
Category:Living people
Category:All Elite Wrestling people
Category:Japanese mixed martial artists
Category:Japanese professional wrestlers
Category:Kickboxers
Category:People from Mie Prefecture