NJPW Star Reflects On Competing At INOKI BOM-BA-YE Event

Published: Dec 30, 2022 by SP3 | Last Updated: Dec 30, 2022 by SP3

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NJPW Star Reflects On Competing At INOKI BOM-BA-YE Event

A NJPW star has reflected on competing at the INOKI BOM-BA-YE event this week.

On December 28, a special Antonio Inoki memorial event entitled INOKI BOM-BA-YE saw NJPW’s Katsuyori Shibata defeat Tom Lawlor in a UWF rules match.

UWF rules is a hybrid of MMA and wrestling with head strikes being banned in the bout.

Reflecting on the match in the post-event press conference, Shibata said:

“I think only the people who were called by Antonio Inoki are coming today… I didn’t find any reason why I wouldn’t come, so it means a lot to me that I was able to play a game here today.”

“And as I said earlier, I think I was able to prove that I was injured in the same two countries, but I can come back to the middle of the ring again like this.”

On competing against a former UFC fighter in Lawlor, Shibata stated:

“It was really good with Tom Lawlor. Tom Lawlor and this timing, this day, will never come again, this day.”

“The first ‘INOKI BOM-BA-YE’ after the chairman’s death, there will never be a memorial service again, so I went up to the ring and played against Tom Roller. I think this is the ‘fighting soul’ that I can do now.”

The former NEVER Openweight Champion concluded by stating how he was happy to take part in this special show, saying:

“With this rule today, I was going to play a game that can be played at this timing, and when I did my best, it became like that.”

“Even if I really watch it myself, I think there will be a lot of things like “I wish I had done this more”, and I always reflect on it… Well, I think it was the most meaningful that a professional wrestler would go to this tournament by one person today.”

“I said something at the press conference, but I don’t have a place where I can participate in other martial arts competitions.”

“However, today’s tournament is Antonio Inoki memorial service “INOKI BOM-BA-YE”, so I did it myself. Thank you very much. That’s all!”

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