According to f4wonline.com, Kota Ibushi is officially a freelancer, he will not be re-signing with NJPW or DDT. Ibushi said that while he was injured, he realized he was keeping a ridiculous pace working for both groups (he had special situation where he had contracts with both companies), which led to the decision. He is returning on the March 21st DDT Show at Sumo Hall.

Ibushi not signing with NJPW is looked at as a blow to NJPW, as Ibushi would have been elevated with the departures of Nakamura and Styles and had a ready made program with newly minted heavyweight and former partner Kenny Omega.

It's too bad he probably feels like he owes it to DDT to stay with him. He'd be a bigger star if he went to New Japan full time instead.