Kota Ibushi has spent the better part of the last year promising fans he’d make it back to the ring. His latest update sounds very different.
Just days after undergoing another surgery on his broken femur, the AEW star shared one of the most personal messages of his career. Instead of talking about his return, Ibushi admitted he’s reached a point where he’s questioning much more than wrestling.
The latest surgery came after doctors determined the plates in his leg weren’t strong enough and needed to be replaced. It marked yet another setback in what has already been a brutal recovery from the devastating femur injury he suffered during an AEW Collision taping last year.
Now he’s opening up about just how difficult the journey has become. Ibushi took to his Instagram and admitted that, for the first time since the injury, he feels like he might lose the mental battle. He said his biggest concern isn’t even returning to wrestling anymore—it’s simply getting back to living a normal life.
“For the first time, I feel like I might lose to myself and give up. Putting aside whether or not I’ll return to wrestling, the first question is whether I can become a normal person again.”
He also revealed something fans didn’t know about his recovery. According to Ibushi, he’s spent roughly the past year taking medication that’s normally prescribed to cancer patients. Of course, this does not mean he has cancer. He added that a specialist urged him to undergo another surgery as soon as possible, which ultimately led to this latest operation.
“For roughly the past year, I’ve been living while taking medication that is given to cancer patients. So my condition isn’t normal. A specialist also recommended that I undergo another operation as soon as possible, which is what led to this surgery.”
The physical recovery is moving forward, even if it’s slower than he’d like. Ibushi said he was able to get out of his wheelchair just one day after surgery and has already started using crutches. At the same time, he admitted he needs time to figure out what comes next, both personally and professionally.
“Considering my age, part of me feels like I need some time to think. For now, I’m going to take some time to face myself. Thankfully, after just one day, I was able to get out of the wheelchair. I still can’t move properly, but I’ve somehow reached the point where I can use crutches.”
Before signing off, Ibushi shared one final hope. After everything he’s endured over the past year, he said he wants this to be the last surgery he’ll ever need and thanked fans for sticking with him throughout the ordeal.
“I want this to be my final surgery, so I ask everyone for your understanding regarding everything I’m going through. Thank you.”
For months, Ibushi kept talking about getting back to AEW. This time, the conversation was much more personal. Right now, his biggest fight isn’t about making another comeback—it’s about getting healthy enough to simply feel like himself again.
Join us in wishing Kota Ibushi a full recovery, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
