Katsuyori Shibata
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
2
Records
Katsuyori Shibata's career is defined by his championship victories and his influence as a trainer. His three NEVER Openweight Championship reigns helped establish that title as a symbol of strong-style wrestling. Winning the 2017 New Japan Cup was a career highlight, as he defeated top competition despite a broken orbital bone. His later success in AEW and ROH, winning the AEW World Trios and ROH Pure Championships, showcased his adaptability. Beyond titles, his five-year tenure as head coach of the LA Dojo produced a generation of wrestlers who carry his philosophy forward. Shibata's return from a life-threatening injury in 2021 is one of the most inspiring comebacks in wrestling history.
Records & Feats
First wrestler to win the New Japan Cup with a broken orbital bone
Shibata won the 2017 New Japan Cup while wrestling with a broken orbital bone, a fact that emerged only after the tournament.
Return from subdural hematoma to active competition
After suffering a life-threatening subdural hematoma in 2017, Shibata returned to in-ring competition in 2021, a rare comeback from such a severe brain injury.