fightful

Details behind Kota Ibushi's AEW return match

Added 2025-06-24 15:22:39 +0000 UTC

Kota Ibushi is back in AEW.

Ibushi returned on this past week's Collision after over a year and a half away from AEW. During that time, he's dealt with a number of injuries, and sparingly wrestled.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that Ibushi was taking on Trent Beretta on this week's episode of AEW Dynamite. The two have never had a one on one match, but wrestled in tag team matches a number of times years ago. When we spoke with AEW sources about the match, they indicated that Beretta was an appropriate opponent for Ibushi's return because of his familiarity with both the American TV style, and the style that Ibushi has worked in Japan. Beretta just returned from a one year in-ring absence himself, and this will be his first singles match back as well.

Those we spoke to said that Ibushi is in a much better place physically than he has been in quite a long time.