10 Things You Didn't Know About Kota Ibushi
1. He Once Wrestled A Blow-Up Doll
Kota Ibushi has proven time and again that he's a world-class talent. Not only is he a spectacular high-flyer, but his amateur wrestling and technically skills - as well as his brawling ability - ensure that he can have a great match with just about anybody. In fact, there's no need to say "just about"... and "anybody" should read "anything."
In 2009, Ibushi - wrestling for the often-comedic DDT promotion - put his own KO-D Openweight Title (the top belt in DDT) on the line against Yoshihiko's Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title (a 24/7 championship) in a one-on-one match. The match was widely praised, which is particularly impressive given that Yoshihiko is a blow-up doll. Essentially, Ibushi was wrestling himself out there, and it's impossible to watch the bout and not get a sense of how impressive he is as a performer.
After taking an unbelievable eight Canadian Destroyers from Yoshihiko, Ibushi came back with a Phoenix Splash to get the win. Six years later, Ibushi and Yoshihiko had a rematch, and "The Golden Star" picked up the win once again.
Don't expect to see a third match between the two in WWE.