History Wrestling / KatsuyoriShibata

Sadly, Shibata's career may have been cut short. After a match with Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis in April of 2017, Shibata was found with a hematoma that required emergency surgery. As of this writing, it is unknown if he will compete again.

* CareerEndingInjury: Shibata suffered an acute brain injury during his match with Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis 2017 (most likely from a headbutt he gave Okada that was so hard that he ''bled''), and was immediately hospitalized and had to undergo surgery. While the surgery was successful, he suffers paralysis on his left side and it is unlikely that he will ever be cleared to wrestle again.

* CatchPhrase: ''"Ijo!"'' (以上) which simply translates as, "That's all!"

* CatchPhrase: ''"Ijo!"'' (以上) Translates as, "That's all!"

* UseYourHead: In retaliation to the NOAH Wrestlers trying to aggravate his shoulder injury after the 2016 ''G1 Climax'', Shibata knocked out Katsuhiko Nakajima with a headbutt. Since then, Shibata's headbutts have been fear by nearly the entire pro wrestling world.

* CareerEndingInjury: Sadly, this seems likely. Shibata suffered an acute brain injury during his match with Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis 2017 (most likely from a headbutt he gave Okada that was so hard that he ''bled''), and was immediately hospitalized and had to undergo surgery. While the surgery was successful, it is highly likely that he will never be cleared to wrestle again.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: '''N'''ew Blood '''E'''volution '''V'''aliantly '''E'''ternal '''R'''adical was to be about younger wrestlers and independent circuit talents, as the name implies, but Shibata was determined to make the NEVER Open Weight Title belt about proving his superiority to the rest of the "Third Generation" who brought New Japan back from the brink, not counting himself among their number. That said, it took Shibata awhile to actually win the thing.

* TheStraightMan: In contrast to flamboyant and colorful characters like Nakamura or Tanahashi, he is billed as "The Wrestler" and wears plain black trunks, stomps straight to the ring with no fancy ring entrance, and after winning a match stomps right back to the locker room without any elaborate celebration.

** There is also a degree of RealitySubtext invoked in his rivalry matches with Hiroshi Tanahashi: as the stories go, Tanahashi legitimately felt betrayed by Shibata's willingness to ditch NJPW for the supposedly greener pastures of MMA, and has apparently held it against him for years. NJPW has also apparently been very skittish on giving him a title reign, with his victory over Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in 2016 for the NEVER Openweight Championship being the first singles title he's ever held for NJPW.

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsuyori_Shibata Learn more about his career here.]]

* AntiHero: See UnscrupulousHero below

* CombatPragmatist: In a world where wrestlers come up with finishing moves that range from [[Wrestling/AdrianNeville awe-inspiring]] to [[Wrestling/DanielBryan legitimately crippling]] to [[Wrestling/TheRock straight-up goofy,]] Shibata opts for a different route: The PK (Penalty Kick) is just him kicking you in the chest really, really goddamn hard.

* TheStraightMan: In contrast to flamboyant and colorful characters like Nakamura or Tanahashi, he is billed as "The Wrestler" and wears plain black trunks, stomps straight to the ring with no fancy ring entrance, and after winning a match stomps right back to the locker room without any elaborate welebration.

* CombatPragmatist: In a world where wrestlers come up with finishing moves that range from [[Wrestling/Neville awe-inspiring]] to [[Wrestling/DanielBryan legitimately crippling]] to [[Wrestling/TheRock straight-up goofy,]] Shibata opts for a different route: The PK (Penalty Kick) is just him kicking you in the chest really, really goddamn hard.

* {{Badass}}: Shibata gives as much as he takes, which is stiff strikes, bone breaking headbutts and hard kicks. All in a [[TheStoic stoic]] and no-nonsense manner. If you want any proof, look no further than anytime he and Tomohiro Ishii get in a fight, at that point you can expect the two to [[NoSell tank]] each other's hardest palm strikes, headbutts, and other assorted attacks for as long as they can in at least two or three sequences, all the while screaming at each other for more.

** There is also a degree of RealitySubtext in his rivalry matches with Hiroshi Tanahashi: as the stories go, Tanahashi legitimately felt betrayed by Shibata's willingness to ditch NJPW for the supposedly greener pastures of MMA, and has apparently held it against him for years. NJPW has also apparently been very skittish on giving him a title reign, with his victory over Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in 2016 for the NEVER Openweight Championship being the first singles title he's ever held for NJPW.

'''Katsuyori Shibata''' (born November 17, 1979 in Kuwana, Mie, UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}) is a {{professional wrestl|ing}}er currently and former {{Mixed Martial Arts}} artist best known for working in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, although he's worked as both a freelancer in Wrestling/ProWrestlingNoah and in Big Mouth Loud.

* ArchEnemy: Wrestling/TomohiroIshii, another hard hitting, stiff worker like Shibata. Their match at the G1 Climax was what got them a [[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Dave Meltzer five-star rating]].

* [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Arrogant MMA Guy]]: To the point he earned comparisons with Wrestling/AkiraMaeda.
* {{Badass}}: Shibata gives as much as he takes, which is stiff strikes, bone breaking headbutts and hard kicks. All in a [[Main/TheStoic stoic]] and no-nonsense manner. If you want any proof, look no further than anytime he and Tomohiro Ishii get in a fight, at that point you can expect the two to [[NoSell tank]] each other's hardest palm strikes, headbutts, and other assorted attacks for as long as they can in at least two or three sequences, all the while screaming at each other for more.
** BadassBaritone: He doesn't speak a lot, but when he does interviews, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m5Wv9tPhXc&feature=youtu.be&t=8m53s you can tell how deep it is.]]

* FinishingMove: A Sleeper hold to his opponents that leads into the PK (Penalty Kick) and it's variations.
** One variation involves Shibata performing a Go 2 Sleep followed up by a Penalty Kick, adopted the G2S from his friend and tag team partner [[Wrestling/KentaKobayashi KENTA]]

* WorkedShoot: Despite not being a formal shoot-style wrestler, Shibata is infamous for his hard hitting offense and his realistic bouts.

* TheStraightMan: In contrast to flamboyant and colorful characters like Nakamura or Tanahashi, he is billed as "The Wrestler" and wears plain black trunks, stomps straight to the ring with no fancy ring entrance, and after winning a match stomps right back to the locker room without any elaborate welebration. He is there to kick ass in a match and no more, he has no interest in "entertaining" the fans, only to prove he is the best fighter.

However it all changed when in 2005, he announced that he would be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and become a freelancer. Wrestling for Big Mouth Loud and Pro Wrestling Noah before embarking on a career in MMA, ending with a record of 4–11–1.

He returned to New Japan and the world of professional wrestling in 2012. Forming a tag team with former Mixed Martial Arts fighter Wrestling/KazushiSakuraba called Laughter 7. He would make further appearances in Noah, alongside Sakuraba.

* {{Adorkable}}: [[http://entertainmentstation.jp/28724/ He once said in an interview that he would quit being Shibata all together if it meant wrestling as Spider-Man]]

* {{Badass}}: Shibata gives as much as he takes, which is stiff strikes, bone breaking headbutts and hard kicks. All in a [[Main/TheStoic Stoic]] manner. If you want any proof, look no further than anytime he and Ishii get in a fight, at that point you can expect the two to [[NoSell tank]] each other's hardest palm strikes, headbutts, and other assorted attacks for as long as they can in at least two or three sequences.
** During his against Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 10, he begins kicking Ishii in the head, Ishii gets back up and kicks Shibata in his back. Shibata's response is [[Main/NoSell no selling]] it and starts kicking Ishii in his back as retaliation.

* BewareTheQuietOnes: Once the bell rings, the calm Shibata turns into a violent machine.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Hirooki Goto and KENTA. Shibata and Goto were best friends in high school while Shibata and KENTA have described themselves as twin souls.

* TagTeam: Several, includin Laughter 7 with Wrestling/KazushiSakuraba, and Meiyu Tag with Hirooki Goto.

** Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi. Both men, along with Wrestling/ShinsukeNakamura, were destined to be NJPW's next top stars, until Shibata left New Japan to go pursue a career into MMA when NJPW needed new stars. When he came back Tanahashi retained bitterness at his perceived lack of loyalty and respect.

'''Katsuyori Shibata''' (born November 17, 1979 in Kuwana, Mie, UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}) is a {{professional wrestl|ing}}er currently and former {{Mixed Martial Arts}} artist best known for working in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, although he's worked as both a freelancer in Wrestling/Pro Wrestling Noah and in Big Mouth Loud.

Early in 2013, Sakuraba suffered an injury, leaving Shibata as a solo wrestler once again and beginning a storyline between him and his best friend Hirooki Goto which ultimately culminated in a match at Wrestle Kingdom 8. From there own he’s feuded and gone up against his fellow Musketeers, Tanahashi and Nakamura, formed another tag team with Goto called Meiyu Tag where they became the IWGP Tag Team champions at Wrestle Kingdom 9 and has participated in the G1 climax. One particular match of note was his match against Wrestling/TomohiroIshii in the 2013 G1, which earned a 5 star rating by Dave Meltzer as well as an increase of stock for both men.

He finally won his first singles championship at Wrestle Kingdom 10 after beating Wrestling/TomohiroIshii for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/never-op.html NEVER Openweight Champion]] and subsequently defended it against him at the rematch. On March 3, 2016, Shibata signed a one year full time contract with New Japan, ending his days as a freelancer

* {{Badass}}: Shibata gives as much as he takes, which is stiff strikes and kicks. All in a [[Main/TheStoic Stoic]] manner.
** During his matches with Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 10, he begins kicking Ishii in the head, Ishii gets back up and kicks Shibata in his back. Shibata's response is [[Main/NoSell no selling]] it and starts kicking Ishii in his back as retaliation.

* BrattyHalfPint: Often challenged and disrespected legends when he ascended from rookie. He accused Toshiaki Kawada of stealing his finisher kick

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Hirooki Goto and KENTA.

* RedBaron: "Kyoken Wrestler" ("The Mad Dog Wrestler"), "Kenka Strong-Style" ("Brawling Strong-Style"). Currently billed simply as "The Wrestler" to emphasize his shooter style.