AEW star Kota Ibushi has provided a promising update on his recovery from a serious leg injury. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion took to Instagram to share his progress, revealing that his return to the ring may happen sooner than initially expected.
Defying Expectations
Ibushi explained that while doctors originally gave him a two-year recovery timeline, he feels he is healing at a faster pace. He is determined to return to the ring but acknowledged the need to be patient.
“I suffered a serious injury. The doctor told me that it would take about two years for me to return to competition. It’s been about two months since I was injured,” Ibushi wrote. “However, it seems that I don’t need that. But that doesn’t mean I’ll take any easy steps. This time, I really want to step into the wrestling ring. So please give me a little more time. My English may be strange, but please forgive me.”
The Injury
The 43-year-old star suffered the injury during the October 8, 2025, taping of AEW Collision. During a match, Ibushi fell from the turnbuckle while on Josh Alexander’s shoulders, landing awkwardly at ringside. He was stretchered out of the arena and later confirmed he had sustained a broken femur, requiring surgery. Ibushi was discharged from the hospital on October 21, 2025, to begin his rehabilitation.
Tonight’s Dynamite Holiday Bash episode airs on a special day and time, Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, and features the Dynamite Diamond Ring Final between Ricochet and Bandido. The show serves as the final lead-in to the Worlds End pay-per-view this Saturday, December 27, where Samoa Joe will defend the AEW World Championship in a four-way match against Swerve Strickland, Hangman Adam Page, and MJF.
