10 Most Horrific Wrestling Injuries
5. Katsuyori Shibata
New Japan Cup winner Katsuyori Shibata seemed to be on the cusp of his long-awaited main event push when he challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis 2017.
The pair entered into an epic 38:09 war with Okada ultimately coming out on top. In the heat of the battle, Shibata rocked Okada with a recklessly unprotected headbutt, busting himself open in the process. Unfortunately that was only the beginning of Shibata’s problems stemming from the spot.
On his way to the back after the match, Shibata began to lose function in the right side of his body and collapsed. Struggling with partial blindness and continued paralysis in his right side, Shibata was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma.
After the initial surgery, Shibata was told he had an 18% chance at best of survival and recovery. Fortunately he pulled through and after a year of treatment was able to find a new place in New Japan as the head trainer of their Los Angeles dojo.