By: J. Curbelo
“The Wrestler”, Katsuyori Shibata, made a surprise appearance at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s show on April 22nd in Tsu City. Attended by over 1700 fans, the show was a celebration of Hirooki Goto’s 20-year career.
The main event saw Goto leading CHAOS to a victory over House of Torture, after decisively defeating SHO with a Shouten Kai. Afterwards, the former tag team champion invited his children to the ring, however, the ring announcer explained that there was someone else in the arena that had something to do with Goto.
★メインイベント
なんと“盟友”柴田勝頼がサプライズ登場！
後藤へ熱きエールを贈る！
※4.22『後藤洋央紀デビュー20周年記念大会』
新日本プロレスのスマホサイトで詳報中！https://t.co/5VG2rWJ1RP
#njpw #GOTO20th pic.twitter.com/5YG37xfVBe— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) April 22, 2023
As Katsuyori Shibata’s entrance theme was played, the fans erupted in cheers and Goto’s face lit up as he was genuinely taken aback. The Wrestler came to the ring with a bouquet of flowers to personally congratulate his former tag team partner. Shibata and Goto go way back, as they were both classmates in high school while living in the city of Kuwana, within the same prefecture as Tsu City.
Goto was absolutely shocked by the surprise, as only a very small group of people knew that he was going to show up, and Shibata himself made Goto believe that he would be in the United States at that time, making it impossible for him to attend. The long-time friends promised to each other that they would stay healthy and do their best to face each other in the ring once again.
Date:
April 22, 2023
Category:
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