Kota Ibushi is the man from NJPW everyone wants in an AEW ring

All Elite Wrestling is the land where the “forbidden door” has not only been kicked in but smashed to pieces. It seems like a weekly occurrence to see top names from around wrestling show up in an AEW ring. Minoru Suzuki, Nick Gage, and Maki Itoh are just three names of a continually growing list. But there is one man in New Japan Pro Wrestling that everyone wants to see walk through that door and that man is Kota Ibushi.

Kota Ibushi should be on any wrestling fans’ list of top performers in the world. His work rate stands out in the profession, as his near disdain for his own safety makes his matches almost hard to watch. Many fans of wrestling were shocked that his NJPW title reign was cut short by Will Ospreay earlier this year, done so in the most unceremonious of ways. Even without that belt, he is still one of the best performers in this profession and should be recognized as such.

Imagine him walking through the AEW tunnel to face off with Kenny Omega. The story between these two and The Elite is ripe for the picking. Getting a match between this iteration of Omega and Ibushi would be one of the biggest moments in recent wrestling. And it is a certainty that the in-ring work would be up to expectations. Omega versus Ibushi could headline any AEW event, with or without the AEW World title on the line.

Plus, the conversation does not end there. Put Ibushi against any of the other members of the AEW roster and fireworks would ensure. CM Punk, Miro, Scorpio Sky, Malakai Black – all those individuals would create intriguing contests during an Ibushi run in AEW. That is the greatest thing about the Forbidden Door coming down, there is an opportunity to see all the top matches that would be on any dream list.

Minoru Suzuki’s surprise appearance in AEW is yet another step in bringing over more of the top names from NJPW. Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi are two individuals that jump off the page as potential surprises, but Kota Ibushi is the individual that brings the most intrigue and stakes to the matter based on his history with Kenny Omega and The Elite. Ibushi would put on classic matches with anyone signed to AEW and he is the name that fans want to see next.