AEW Officially Signs Katsuyori Shibata To Contract

AEW has inked deals with a long list of great talents. Now, we know that Katsuyori Shibata has found a new official home. The former NJPW star has now ended up on Tony Khan’s company, and he’s not leaving.

Tony Khan dropped a post on X to let everyone know that AEW has now officially signed Shibata to a contract. It was not noted how full-time he will be, but Shibata is now All Elite.

It’s official: @K_Shibata2022 is ALL ELITE!

Welcome to @AEW for one of the greatest fighters + champions ever in wrestling, legend Katsuyori Shibata!

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Thank you @njpwglobal for making it possible! See you all moments from now for #AEWCollision NEXT on TNT after this huge news!

The post from Tony Khan included a traditional All Elite graphic with Shibata. It also included a text graphic with a letter from the man himself.

Dear Tony Khan Today,

I have signed the contract with AEW under a permission from New Japan Pm-Wrestling. In the past year, I worked for AEW/ROH and I learned how wonderful the AEW is.

This is the best environment where wrestlers can focus only on fighting in the ring. And the love for professional wrestling is overflowing from Tony and all the people who work for him.

I want to make AEW’s ring the last end point of The Wrestler’s career. I dedicate my wrestler life to Tony Khan, and AEW.

Thank you Katsuyori Shibata

AEW has a lot of plans for the future, and now Shibata is a part of that. We will have to see what is to come for the Japanese legend, as he continues enjoying this new wave in his career.

Keep checking back with Ringside News for more on this story, and so many more.

What’s your take on this big signing for AEW? Let us know what you think in the comments section!