AEW star Kota Ibushi has announced he's undergoing surgery for an ankle injury. The inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion signed with All Elite Wrestling last November, but he'll be sidelined while he recovers from surgery. Just how long remains to be seen.

Ibushi took to X to inform fans of his condition:

The Google translation on X reads:

Long time no see. It feels unusually long.

Things won't go on as before.

I hope tomorrow's surgery is successful.

As long as you can walk, that's enough.

I don't need anything else

H/T Google Translate

Ibushi's ankle injuries occurred at Pro Wrestling Noah's 2 January The New Year show during his match with Naomichi Marufuj. According to a report from Japanese news site Hochi:

After the match, Ibushi, who won, injured both ankles and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Tokyo. Officials said he appeared to have been injured early in the match. He walked from the flower path to the waiting room on his own, but afterwards complained of severe pain and was unable to make any comments backstage, so he called for an ambulance

H/T Hochi 2 January 2024

The 41-year-old grappler has been plagued by injuries over the last few years. Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online's Ian Carey discussed Ibushi's rash of injuries:

The match against Marufuji was just Ibushi's third singles match since suffering a serious shoulder injury in the G1 Climax 2021 finals against Kazuchika Okada. His only other two singles matches both took place in GCW over WrestleMania weekend last year. Ibushi has wrestled four matches for AEW, all of which were multi-person tags.

H/T Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online

Ibushi is scheduled for surgery on 17 January. It's currently unknown how long Kota will be out of action, but WrestleLamia will continue monitoring this story for the latest updates. Be sure to check our news here as well as our daily news videos.

WrestleLamia sends its well wishes to Kota Ibushi for a fast and full recovery.

Photo Credit: AEW