Katsuyori Shibata will make his debut for New Texas Pro Wrestling on October 30 at Houston Premier Arena 2, during the promotion’s eighth-anniversary event. The opponent has not yet been announced.
The 46-year-old Shibata is currently under contract with AEW and previously competed in NJPW. After a life-threatening subdural hematoma in 2017 sidelined him for years, he returned full-time in the United States with AEW and ROH. His only non-AEW/ROH match this year prior to this booking was at a Yoshihiro Takayama benefit show in Japan.
A member of The Opps in AEW, Shibata is feuding with Jack Perry and is scheduled to face him on the Tailgate Brawl portion of AEW All Out 2026 this Saturday.
New Texas Pro Wrestling anniversary show
The October 30 anniversary show will stream on IndependentWrestling.TV. Also announced are Bryan Keith, The King Bees (Charity King and Danni Bee), and Kylie Rae.
TALENT ANNOUNCEMENT
AEW Star and New Japan Legend @K_Shibata2022 makes his New Texas Pro debut on Friday, October 30 live from Houston!
We are incredibly honored to have a living legend like SHIBATA in the house for our Anniversary Event next month!
Already Announced:… pic.twitter.com/3eos67VN7z
— New Texas Pro Wrestling (@NewTexasPW) September 25, 2026
