The next chapter in Jon Moxley’s storied IWGP World Heavyweight Championship reign reads like a plot twist in a wrestling soap opera. The gritty Moxley, who just manhandled EVIL in a Lumberjack match at NJPW Dominion, isn’t content to rest on his laurels. Oh no, folks. He’s practically setting up a wrestling speed-dating event, throwing out an open challenge for any New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) star to tango with him at the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view on June 30.
Enter Tetsuya Naito, the ex-champ who Moxley dethroned at NJPW’s Windy City Riot in April. Naito heard Moxley’s challenge and probably muttered something like, “Hold my sake.” Moxley, never one to shy away from a rematch, accepted with a gleam in his eye that says he’s either ready for a fight or just really likes a good sequel. So, folks, we’re in for Moxley vs. Naito 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Since his victory over Naito, Moxley’s been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest, defending his title against a string of challengers like Shota Umino, Ren Narita, and AEW’s own Powerhouse Hobbs. He’s also trounced Rocky Romero and Konosuke Takeshita in eliminator matches, the latter of which went down at the 2024 AEW Double or Nothing event.
This year’s Forbidden Door marks Moxley’s hat trick appearance. Back in 2022, he snatched the Interim AEW World Championship from Hiroshi Tanahashi. In 2023, he partook in a ten-man chaos match alongside Konosuke Takeshita, Shota Umino, and his Blackpool Combat Club bros, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta. Meanwhile, Naito was off teaming with Darby Allin and Sting to take down Minoru Suzuki, Chris Jericho, and Sammy Guevara.