The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club are going to try to finally settle their ongoing beef once and for all at Blood and Guts on the July 19 episode of AEW Dynamite at Boston’s TD Garden. The issue on The Elite’s side is that the format calls for five-person teams, and there are only four members of the group. A new report suggests that it could be someone from Kenny Omega‘s past who answers the call.
Fightful Select (subscription required but well worth the $5 a month) says it has confirmed that “conversations have taken place between international star Kota Ibushi and All Elite Wrestling.” On top of that, talent expects him to appear soon, and “specifically for the upcoming Blood & Guts show.”
Ibushi is known for his time in NJPW, where he won numerous titles including the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (formed by unifying the prior IWGP World Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship). He last wrestled for New Japan during the G1 Climax tournament in the fall of 2021 before having a very public falling out with the company — though one that reportedly has since been resolved.
Th 41-year-old Ibushi returned to action during WrestleMania weekend in Los Angeles, taking part in two of the GCW Collective shows. He’s been open about the idea that he would probably talk to AEW at some point.
Ibushi has a long history with Omega, including runs in several promotions as the Golden Lovers. The expectation is that he’d be the fifth member for The Elite, as he has aligned himself with the group in the past without ever becoming an “official” member.
(As an aside, the arm injury to Bryan Danielson means the BCC team also needs a fifth combatant, but the angle from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite suggests that Chris Jericho may be convinced by Don Callis to fill that spot.)
With two weeks left before Blood and Guts, AEW could reveal that Ibushi is coming in, or choose to keep people guessing until the last minute. But if he is indeed on the way, that would make an already anticipated match that much more compelling.