By @specficluchador

Since Katsutyori Shibata’s return to NJPW, The Wrestler has endeared fans worldwide with his silently intense demeanor, no nonsense striking and thrilling matches. Despite Shibata’s ever increasing popularity, he has remained rooted in Japan, not participating in any of the cross promoted ROH/NJPW shows in America. Shibata’s growing popularity in the west has coincided with increasing demands for Shibata to travel outside of Japan to wrestle dream matches with the best from the US and Britain. Last week, Revolution Pro Wrestling answered those demands, announcing that Katsuyori Shibata will be featured at Summer Sizzler in June.

The announcement of Katsuyori Shibata’s first match in Europe-predictably- gained a lot of traction online as discussions about potential opponents proceeded the initial combination of shock and excitement. Here, I have a look at five of the potential candidates.

Zack Sabre Jr

Zack Sabre Jr, the incumbent RevPro Heavyweight Champion, appears to be the obvious choice and favourite to face Shibata in June. Sabre has spent numerous years in Japan, primarily with NOAH, to form a hybrid style that combines both a traditional British catch style with certain Japanese nuances. Judging from comments online, Zack Sabre Jr appears to be the fans’ number one choice of opponent for Shibata’s first opponent outside of Japan. A potential match between the RevPro Champion and the NEVER Openweight Championship has MOTY potential and would provide an apt main event for the second York Hall show of the year.

However, one has to expect Sabre to face current friend and number one contender, Marty Scurll, at the biggest of event of the British wrestling summer.

Damo

Current ICW Champion, Damo, a gargantuan 300 pounder, has been featured in several high profile matches for RevPro that have delivered and then some. Over the past year, Damo has faced numerous Japanese wrestlers including Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomorhiro Ishii and Shinsuke Nakamura- arguably even outshining the King of Strong Style at York Hall in October. From a style perspective, Damo is incredibly adaptable to his opponent and is equally adept at facing high fliers and stiff strikers. The image of Damo and Shibata exchanging strikes is a mouthwatering prospect for any fan and further raises the profile of one of the best big men in the world.

Mark Haskins

The British wrestling renaissance has garnered interest from all corners of the globe with British talent gaining international reputations: Mark Haskins has been a fundamental part of the revival. Over the past two years, Haskins has undergone considerable style changes, adopting a ground based submission arsenal and strike heavy offence. Such changes have established Mark Haskins as one of the very best in Europe, gaining plaudits for a string of impressive performances over the last 18 months. Haskins, in the past, has faced AJ Styles, Jay Lethal, Tetsuya Naito but facing Shibata at York Hall would be a huge opportunity for Haskins to truly announce himself on a global stage.

Kyle O Reilly

This choice may be a little left field but RevPro have proven in their past that they are prepared to host international dream matches that don’t include British talent: just look at Roderick Strong vs Shinsuke Nakamura at last year’s Summer Sizzler. Kyle O Reilly has a history with RevPro, appearing last year at Uprising where he faced NJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA in a rematch of the BoSJ 2015 final. O Reilly, too, is featured regularly in Japan, although his and Shibata’s paths are not likely to cross any time soon due to their different weight classes. Summer Sizzler presents an opportunity to disregard the rigid weight classifications of NJPW to feature a match between two wrestlers with legitimate backgrounds. Considering the talent in Europe, this match appears unlikely.

Tommy End

I saved my pick until last.

A name that has thus far been seldom mentioned as a potential opponent for Shibata is Tommy End.For a long time, Tommy End vs Katsuyori Shibata has been a dream match for myself. In terms of striking ability, Shibata and Tommy End are arguably the two best in the world. A match between Shibata and End-like a match between Shibata/O Reilly- would pit two wrestlers with legitimate backgrounds together that would make for an ferocious striking battle: few in the world possess strikes that retain the veneer of realism like End and Shibata. From a stylistic perspective, I would argue, End is the most suited opponent for Shibata.

Evidently, there is a considerable talent pool to choose from without even mentioning the likes of Marty Scurll and Will Ospreay as potential opponents. Regardless of Shibata’s opponent, Shibata’s presence is enough to generate huge international attention.