Katsuyori Shibata wins ROH Pure title at Supercard of Honor

Katsuyori Shibata is the new Ring of Honor Pure Champion. 

Shibata defeated Wheeler Yuta at Supercard of Honor to win the title after a penalty kick, cementing one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of the industry. 

Following an NJPW career that included three NEVER title reigns and an IWGP Tag Team title reign, Shibata won the 2017 New Japan Cup and challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight title at Sakura Genesis in April 2017. In that match, Shibata suffered a subdural hematoma, a brain bleed that required hospitalization and an emergency surgery. 

Shibata was later named the head coach at NJPW’s LA Dojo in California, a position that he still holds, but embarked on an in-ring comeback beginning with a five-minute exhibition match against Zack Sabre Jr. at the G1 finals in October 2021. 

The Pure title match against Yuta was just the fifth match of Shibata’s comeback, after wrestling three times in 2022. 

Yuta’s Pure title reign ends at 111 days and four successful defenses. 

Following the Supercard main event match between Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston for the ROH World title, Shibata made the save for Kingston as Castagnoli and Yuta menaced him in the ring. Kingston then cut a promo praising Shibata, and the two left the ring together at the close of the pay-per-view.