Alex Coughlin challenges Katsuyori Shibata to ROH Pure title match

Alex Coughlin wants to face Katsuyori Shibata for the ROH Pure Championship. 

Coughlin issued a challenge to his former NJPW LA Dojo mentor on Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV episode, asking Shibata to put the title on the line. 

The challenge came after Shibata and Coughlin teamed to defeat The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) in a tag team contest on Thursday’s episode. 

Coughlin, 29, was part of the first class of this iteration of NJPW’s LA Dojo in 2018 alongside Karl Fredericks (now Eddy Thorpe in WWE NXT) and Clark Connors. Shibata serves as the LA Dojo’s head trainer, but also resumed his in-ring career in 2021. 

Coughlin tweeted: 

Shibata defeated Wheeler Yuta at ROH Supercard of Honor on March 31 to capture the Pure title for the first time. 

No date has been announced for the potential mentor vs. student matchup. 

Our full Ring of Honor TV report can be found here.