The Heartbreaking Ending To One Of Wrestling's Brightest Careers

Wrestling has always been a staple in Japan and the pseudo-sport is quite revered across the country. Professional wrestling, or Puroresu, in Japan, had its boom periods in the 1960's and 1970's, but the sport still enjoys considerable popularity and a sizeable fan base today. Puroresu is defined by the “strong-style”, which is basically a mix of stiff striking and quasi-legitimate submission holds. Simply put, wrestlers work a stiff and brutal brawl from start to finish as the action is nonstop and in your face.

The Essence Of Wrestling In Japan

This style and mixture of MMA strikes and submission hold is what made wrestling popular in Japan. The impact is noticeable, by sight and sound as the punches visibly take a toll on the wrestler and the sound of connection is audible. But as much as fans adore this violent method of wrestling, the style is unforgiving and comes along with an immense toll, sometimes far too much for performers to handle.

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Katsuyori Shibata is a recent tragedy, a veteran who was on a career resurgence until a nauseatingly impactful headbutt forced an end to his rejuvenated wrestling career. Shibata was a pro wrestler in Japan, as well as a mixed martial artist. At one point, fans thought that Shibata would be a mid-carder for life. But as AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura left for WWE in 2015, Shibata was the one to fill the void. In the absence of the aforementioned stars, Shibata’s hard-hitting style captivated fans and the aging veteran experienced a surge in popularity.

The career mid-carder finally received the push that he deserved and this culminated in a match against Kazuchika Okada, for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The match was set for Sakura Genesis 2017, on April 9th, 2017, in Tokyo, Japan.

Shibata's Stellar Last Match Was Marred By A Traumatic Injury

Okada was the top star in the company and the match was billed as the current superstar going against the old veteran who was looking to achieve true glory by finally winning the big one. The two wrestlers put on a frantic pace from the opening bell, working a stiff and grueling match to the cheers and awe of the fans. However, about 30 minutes into the hellacious brawl, one strike crumbled a building career.

Shibata withstood the impact of a stiff clothesline from Okada, and simply shrugged off his foe’s attempt to take his head off his shoulders. Shibata then slammed his head against Okada’s, elicting a thud, too sickeningly loud for comfort as even the biggest fans of strong-style winced when the sound of sick impact was heard across the arena. Shibata was well-known for his brutal headbutts even before this particular match, but the one he had connected hit far more different than in matches past. Okada slumped to the ground, but Shibata remained standing. Soon after, a trickle of blood and sweat ran down his forehead and the former MMA fighter simply shook his head to shake off the liquid running down his face.

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Okada and Shibata finished the match, with Okada retaining his title. The contest was well-received by the fans and the finish merited thunderous applause. But as Shibata walked to the back, things went horribly wrong as the wrestler collapsed backstage. He was soon taken to a hospital and was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, a severe bleeding associated with a traumatic brain injury where blood begins to pool between the skull and the surface of the brain. This life-threatening condition was caused by the clash of heads and Shibata was rushed into surgery to save his life.

The career resurgence of Shibata came to a screeching halt. The surgery was successful, but his career inside the ring was all but over. On the final day, the G1 Climax 27, Shibata walked down to the ring, his first appearance after undergoing surgery. Shibata then announced to the world, “I’m alive!” to the elation of the fans and cheering him on. Alongside the instant classic match that he had with Okada, Shibata coming to the ring on his own two feet and letting the world know that he was alive and well, was another iconic moment in his career, as well as in Japan pro wrestling history.

Shibata was on a roll and he proved himself in every second of his last match, showcasing that he had ample talent and charisma to take his career to the next level. However, one ill-timed head butt and a painful diagnosis later, the door to his wrestling career was likely forever closed. And while he continues to work at the LA Dojo to impart his knowledge on future athletes, Shibata had a heartbreaking end to what was supposed to be his time to shine.