Katsuyori Shibata retired in 2017 due to a subdural hematoma. In his retirement, Shibata took up the position of head trainer at the NJPW Dojo in Los Angeles.
Alex Coughlin was one of the breakout students from the LA Dojo class as he learned from Shibata and the rest of the trainers.
In 2021, Shibata returned to the ring in an exhibition bout against Zack Sabre Jr. The exhibition bout led to a more regular return to action for Shibata, who has competed in six bouts since 2022, including five since November 2022.
On June 1, Shibata will defend his ROH Pure Championship against Coughlin, in a student vs. teacher matchup.
"Early on, it never crossed my mind. I never thought of it," Coughlin told Jeremy Lambert & Joel Pearl on In The Weeds when asked if he ever thought he would wrestle Shibata when he joined the LA Dojo. "It's been five years since, overnight, my life changed from living in New York to moving to LA and training and living with this legendary trainer. A whirlwind, a flash. Every now and then, I stop and think just how weird my life is. A few years ago, 'you're going to live with a 40-year-old Japanese pro wrestler and train with him and drive him places.' Oh, I don't know how much I believe that. Just who he is and what he's done, and the circumstances that led him to be a trainer. He was soft-retired at the time, I didn't think too much of him getting back in the ring, I was focused on not dying during the training I was currently doing. Looking back, and seeing where I am now, it's very cool that I had the opportunity to do both and be on both sides of the ring with him. We wrestled in Rhode Island, where we teamed up, and very much looking forward to June 1st when I get to smack him in the face. I've been looking for an opportunity to do that for the last five years."
Coughlin and Shibata teamed on the April 13 episode of ROH Television to defeat The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake). After the bout, Coughlin signaled that he wanted a shot at the ROH Pure Title.
When asked what it meant to him that Shibata teamed with him, and will now face him in one of his few bouts since his return, Coughlin replied, "That part wasn't lost on me either, when I heard I was going to be wrestling him. That was a very cool feeling. I've lived with the guy for years. We're very close, not just a student-teacher relationship, but I'd say friends. It's an amazing opportunity. How many matches has he had since he's comeback? Being involved in any of them, let alone two of them, one being his first-ever tag match outside of Japan or first tag partner in America, out of his whole career, that's already an interesting feather. Having a singles match with the man who changed my life overnight, it's an end to a big chapter."
The ROH Pure Title bout between Coughlin and Shibata will take place on the June 1 episode of ROH TV.
Before Coughlin faces Shibata, he will battle Christopher Daniels at NJPW Resurgence on May 21. Fans can check out Coughlin's thoughts on the new direction of NJPW STRONG by clicking here.
Fans can check out the current lineup for NJPW Resurgence by clicking here and purchase tickets by clicking here.
Watch the full interview with Coughlin in the video above.