Kota Ibushi has hit another major setback in his long recovery and will need an additional surgery before a return to AEW is even a possibility.
In a recent social media post, Ibushi revealed that the procedure is scheduled for September 17. According to Ibushi, the plate placed in his leg during his initial surgery in the United States did not have the strength needed for the femur to heal properly.
The plan is to remove the existing hardware and replace it with a thicker, stronger plate. Ibushi also said he has been told he should no longer compete in contact sports, though he still holds out hope of making it back to pro wrestling.
Ibushi added that he hopes this will be the last major surgery of his life and revealed he continues to rely on heavy painkillers throughout his recovery.
Ibushi originally suffered the injury during the October 8, 2025 taping of AEW Collision at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, fracturing his femur in a match against Josh Alexander. He was initially told he could be looking at up to two years before being cleared to return.
The complications did not stop there. A screw from the plate came loose late in 2025, forcing a second surgery in February. At the time, it was revealed that the plate originally implanted was approximately 20 inches long.
In May, on his 44th birthday, Ibushi admitted that a return appeared unlikely at that point. Shortly before, he had revealed that the femur still had not fully fused.
Ibushi remains under AEW contract after signing a two-year extension in August 2025.