Kota Ibushi set for DDT in-ring return at Korakuen Hall show
Kota Ibushi’s in-ring return with DDT has been announced.
Ibushi appeared at Peter Pan 2024 last month and told company founder Sanshiro Takagi that he wants to return to a DDT ring.
On Wednesday, DDT officially revealed Ibushi will wrestle on its August 25 show at Korakuen Hall. He will team with Akito and Danshoku Dino in a tag match against Yuki Iino, Yuya Koroku, and Tetsuya Endo.
In a social media post responding to the match announcement, Ibushi noted that he has received permission from AEW to perform on the show.
“Ahhhh!! It’s been 8 years, I think. It feels both nostalgic and new. Akito-kun, Dino-san. I only have memories of you two. And I never thought I would cross paths with Endo, who I entrusted things to. I’ve also gotten permission from AEW, so everything is set. Oh, and to the younger members, please go easy on me… I think I’ll go at full power. Did I hold the mic at that time, or was it a coincidence? Inevitable?” A translation of Ibushi’s comments read.
Ibushi’s last match for DDT took place on March 20, 2017, in Saitama. He teamed with Daisuke Sekimoto and Jun Akiyama in a win over Kodaka, Keiji Muto, and Sanshiro Takagi on the show.
Announced lineup for DDT at Korakuen Hall on August 25, 2024 —
- Kota Ibushi, Akito, & Danshoku Dino vs. Yuki Iino, Yuya Koroku, & Tetsuya Endo
- KO-D Openweight Champion Yuki Ueno defends against Shinya Aoki
- Soma Takao 15th Anniversary match: Soma Takao vs Keisuke Ishii
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has appeared in award-winning publications such as NOW Magazine and The Huffington Post. He joined the F4WOnline team in 2019 and was named managing editor in the summer of 2026. Born in Calgary, Alberta, Ian has covered professional wrestling for more than 15 years.