Kota Ibushi
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 21, 1982 (age 44)
- Birthplace
- Aira, Kagoshima, Japan
Biography
Kota Ibushi is a Japanese professional wrestler and former martial artist who signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2023. Widely praised by fans and critics for his explosive athleticism, striking ability, and willingness to take extreme physical risks, he built a reputation for delivering some of the highest-rated matches of his era, particularly through his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). His accolades include the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Best Flying Wrestler award in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013, Pro Wrestling Match of the Year in 2015 against Shinsuke Nakamura, and induction into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2022. Ibushi began his career in 2004 with DDT Pro-Wrestling, where he became one of the company’s top stars. During his time there, he won the KO-D Openweight Championship three times, the KO-D Tag Team Championship five times, and the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship twice. Two of those tag title reigns came alongside Kenny Omega as the Golden☆Lovers, whose combined 351 days as champions remain a DDT record. He first appeared for NJPW in 2009 before officially signing in 2013. Across his time with the promotion, he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship three times, the NEVER Openweight Championship once, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Ibushi later won the Best of the Super Juniors in 2011 and the New Japan Cup in 2015. After leaving both NJPW and DDT in 2016 to work as a freelancer, he competed for multiple promotions and took part in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. Returning to NJPW full-time in 2019, Ibushi won the G1 Climax in 2019 and 2020, becoming the first wrestler to win the tournament in consecutive years since Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 2003. Those victories made him the only wrestler to win all three of NJPW’s major singles tournaments. In 2021, he captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and unified it with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to become the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, while ranking No. 5 in the PWI 500.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
Movie · as Kota Ibushi (Appearance)
AEW All In 2025: Texas
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2025
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NOAH: The New Year 2024
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
AEW All In 2023: London
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
AEW: WrestleDream 2023
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
All Elite Wrestling: Collision
TV · as Kota Ibushi · 2 eps
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 11
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 17
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 15
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 19 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall 2021
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15: Night 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15: Night 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2021
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 - Night 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Nagoya
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 - Night 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Castle Attack 2021 - Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2021
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome: Night 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW 49th Anniversary Show
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 - Day 13 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2021 - Day 12
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2020
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 19 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Sengoku Lord in Nagoya
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Best Bout Collection Vol. 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi (archive footage)
NJPW Best Bout Collection Vol 1.
Movie · as Kota Ibushi (archive footage)
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 15
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 11
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 17
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Summer Struggle In Jingu
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2020
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Dominion 7.12 in Osaka-Jo Hall 2020
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2020 - Day 9 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Best of the Super Junior XXVII & World Tag League 2020 - Day 17 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Power Struggle ~ Super Junior Tag League 2019
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
Omega Man: A Wrestling Love Story
Movie · as Self
NJPW Best of the Super Junior 26 - Day 15 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 2019
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 6
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 8
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 10
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Royal Quest
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 11
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 12
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 14
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 15
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 19 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 17
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 18
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 16
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2019
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2019 - Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2019 - Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
ROH & NJPW: G1 Supercard
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2019
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2019 - Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2019 - Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2019 - Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2019 - Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
The Wrestlers
TV · as Himself · 1 ep
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
TV · as Kota Ibushi · 3 eps
NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 11
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 12
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 14
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2018 - Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 6
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 10
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 8
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 15
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Honor Rising: Japan 2018 - Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Honor Rising: Japan 2018 - Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Strong Style Evolved 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
ROH: Supercard of Honor XII
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Night 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Night 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
All In
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
Wrestlecon Supershow 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2018
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Power Struggle 2018 ~ Super Junior Tag League 2018 Final
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW World Tag League 2018 Finals
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
CEOxNJPW When Worlds Collide
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 16
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 17
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 18
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 19 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2018 - Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2018 - Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2018 - Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2018 - Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Japan Cup 2018 - Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2017
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Power Struggle 2017
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2017
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017
Movie · as Tiger Mask W
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2017
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2017
Movie · as Tiger Mask W
NJPW 45th Anniversary Show
Movie · as Tiger Mask W
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2017
Movie · as Tiger Mask W
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 18
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 19 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 11
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 12
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 14
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 15
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 16
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 17
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 6
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 8
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 27: Day 10
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
WWN Supershow: Mercury Rising 2016
Movie · as Himself
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2016
Movie · as Tiger Mask W
Kaiju Mono
Movie · as Hideto Nitta the Giant
WWE Cruiserweight Classic
TV · 4 eps
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Sendai
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2015
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Invasion Attack 2015
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2015
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 19 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2015
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Destruction In Okayama
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2015 - Day 6
Movie
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 11
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 9
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 6
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 8
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 10
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 13
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 14
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 15
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 12
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 16
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 17
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 18
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW New Year Dash !! 2015
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW 42nd Anniversary Show
Movie
NJPW Presents CMLL Fantasticamania 2014
Movie
NJPW Dominion 6.21
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Road To Tokyo Dome - Day 6
Movie
NJPW Power Struggle 2014
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2014
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW World Tag League 2014 - Day 11
Movie · as Himself
NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2014
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2014
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Invasion Attack 2014
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Back to the Yokohama Arena
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2014
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
SHOOT BOXING S-cup World Tournament 2014
Movie · as Self
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 1
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2013
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Road To Tokyo Dome - Day 6
Movie
NJPW Power Struggle 2013
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 2
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 4
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 3
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 6
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 8
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 7
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
Claudio Castagnoli: The Swiss Sensation
Movie · as Himself
ROH: Top 100 Matches, Vol 1
Movie · as Himself
NJPW G1 Climax 23: Day 9 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Dominion 6.16
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2012
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
ROH: El Generico: Ole! Ole!
Movie · as Himself
ROH: Japan's Finest
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
KENTA: Go 2 Sleep
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
Budokan Peter Pan: DDT 15th Anniversary
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 5
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW G1 Climax 21: Day 10 (Final)
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2011 - Day 2
Movie
DDT Pro Wresting Presents The Appartment Complex
Movie
EVOLVE 1: Ibushi vs. Richards
Movie · as Kota Ibushi
WWE NXT
TV · 3 eps
Chikara King Of Trios 2009 - Night 2
Movie
NJPW Masahiro Chono 25th Anniversary ~ Aristrist In Ryogoku Kokugikan~
Movie
ROH: The Tokyo Summit
Movie
ROH: Return Engagement
Movie
ROH: Bedlam In Beantown
Movie
ROH: Tag Wars
Movie
ROH: Injustice
Movie
NOAH Summer Navigation '07 - Day 12
Movie
New Japan Pro Wrestling
TV · as Tiger Mask w, Kota Ibushi · 649 eps