Kota Ibushi & Hiroyoshi Tenzan off NJPW Cup tournament due to injury

Kota Ibushi and Hiroyoshi Tenzan are both out of the upcoming Anniversary and New Japan Cup shows that are set to start this week.

NJPW announced tonight that it was decided that Ibushi would take more time to recover from his shoulder injury he suffered back at the G1 Climax 31 finals back in October. Tenzan is also out due to a knee injury suffered during the Golden Series tour.

“Kota Ibushi has been diligently preparing for a scheduled return on March 1 at the Nippon Budokan,” NJPW’s website wrote. “However, after careful consultation with trainers, medical staff and the NJPW medical committee, and based on the results of a final medical evaluation, the difficult decision has been made to delay Ibushi’s return, and remove him from Wednesday’s Anniversary card.”

As a result of both Ibushi and Tenzan being off of this year’s New Japan Cup tournament, they have forfeited their matches. Great-O-Khan, who was set to face Ibushi, will now advance to the second round, facing Taiji Ishimori on March 12. Tenzan was scheduled to face the winner of Taichi and Toru Yano, set to take place on March 9. Instead, the winner of Taichi vs. Yano will advance to the third round, next wrestling on March 15 in Aichi.

Ibushi and Tenzan were set to team in an eight man tag match on the Anniversary show card. They have been replaced by Yuto Nakashima and Kosei Fujita.