Katsuyori Shibata's Next Match Revealed

Katsuyori Shibata is set to have another professional wrestling match soon.

It was announced that The Wrestler will square off with "Filthy" Tom Lawlor at the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye x Ganryujima event on December 28 at Tokyo's Sumo Hall. Shibata and Lawlor will clash in a match contested under UWF rules.

The resurrection of Inoki-Bom-Ba-Ye comes after Antonio Inoki passed away in September. The NJPW founder requested in his will that the Inoko-Bom-Ba-Ye show be revived.

After four years in retirement, Katsuyori Shibata returned to the ring in 2021 with a five-minute exhibition against Zack Sabre Jr. Shibata then had his first full pro wrestling match since 2017 at Wrestle Kingdom 16 in January 2022 when he defeated Ren Narita.

Shibata wouldn't wrestle again until November, though, when he unsuccessfully challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship. The Wrestler reportedly also wants to face Bryan Danielson at some point, and Shibata will be involved at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in some capacity.