KENTA Describes Teaming with Katsuyori Shibata Like Getting Back Together with an Ex-Girlfriend

By: Noah Leatherland

KENTA and Katsuyori Shibata have had a tumultuous relationship over the past few years. However, it was Yoshiro Takayama that brought the two warring sides together, in a reunion that KENTA has compared to reconnecting with a former lover.

Korakuen Hall was the host of TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE IV, the latest in the series of charity events in support of Yoshihiro Takayama. Takayama suffered a cervical spinal cord injury back in 2017, with the resulting paralysis cutting short his in-ring career. Ever since, the TAKAYAMANIA events have served as a way for the wrestling community to help Takayama and his family with the medical costs of his injury.

It was Takayama himself that booked the odd-couple main event for this most recent event. On one side of the ring, current DDT Universal Champion Minoru Suzuki teamed with Naomichi Marufuji. Opposite them was the former-partners-turned-enemies duo of GHC Heavyweight Champion KENTA and AEW World Trios Champion Katsuyori Shibata. The all-star main event ended up as a thirty minute time limit draw.

The match marked the first time KENTA and Shibata had teamed since September 6th, 2006, where they defeated Akira Taue and Go Shiozaki. Since then, KENTA was welcomed into NJPW by Shibata in 2019, before later stabbing him in the back to join the Bullet Club.

Tokyo Sports captured Shibata’s thoughts after the match, where he said:

‘(KENTA) was someone I hoped to fight. I brought KENTA to New Japan, he betrayed me, and time just stood still. I believe wrestling is about clashing souls. During the match, we exchanged blows and something resonated between us. That’s probably why it ended up like that.’ (Translated by Deepl)

KENTA and Shibata shook hands after the half-hour affair, seemingly ending the bad blood that had brewed between them. Posting on X after the fact, KENTA noted:

‘Thanks to Takayama-san, I got back together with my ex-girlfriend.’ (Translated by Deepl)

It may be a while before KENTA and Shibata cross paths again. But who knows, now that the wounds have healed, perhaps this rebuilt relationship will appear again somewhere.