10 Wrestlers Who Broke Dave Meltzer's Rating System In 2017
5. Katsuyori Shibata
As 2017 draws to an end, Katsuyori Shibata must grow accustomed to a life after wrestling. It's a shame, as the former NEVER Openweight Champion delivered a match for the ages. One so good, however, that it nearly paralysed him.
In his 5 star title match against Kazuchika Okada (the third 5 star of Shibata's career), "The Wrestler" gave everything he physically had, pummelling the jimmies out of the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Unfortunately, everything he had meant a severe brain haemorrhage - during one Shibata's signature headbutts, he gave himself a subdural hematoma that required immediate brain surgery. Shibata was temporarily paralysed, and for a time lost his eyesight. He returned in front of the crowd during the G1 Climax finals, but it is unlikely he will ever be cleared to wrestle again.
Shibata's injury is a sobering reminder of the risks that hard hitting "shoot style" fighting presents to its users. If we never see Shibata wrestle again, it's a terrible shame. But for those who saw his amazing match against Okada, it's safe to say it was an incredible way to go out.