Moxley wants to test Shota to see if he’s at where everyone expects him to be.
During the beginning stages of Jon Moxley’s run with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he formed an on-screen relationship with Young Lion Shota Umino that has continued into 2024. The next chapter in their story is Moxley defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Title against Umino at the Resurgence pay-per-view.
A video was posted to NJPW’s YouTube channel with Moxley talking about the matchup. He said the plan was always for Umino to have to go through him to get the ‘keys to the kingdom’.
Let’s be very clear, I do not plan on losing on May 11th. But if Shota Umino were to shock the world and win the IWGP Championship, from me, on May 11th, and claim what many say is his birthright, what he has been bred to do from day one with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. If he were to do that, I think everybody in the world would be surprised except me. What did you think was the plan? What did anybody think was the plan? This was always what was supposed to happen. If he was gonna be given the keys to the kingdom, if he was gonna be given the keys to pro wrestling in Japan, around the world, the man that holds this, to be the ace, I’m not gonna let him walk over some chumps, I’m not gonna let him take some easy way to the top, no. He’s gonna have to take it from me. Seeing as how I’m holding the IWGP Championship right now, let’s just test this theory, let’s just get this out of the way right off the bat, find out exactly how close Shota Umino is to where he wants to be, to where all of Japan wants him to be.
There is going to be written coverage of Resurgence here on POST Wrestling and the duo of Karen Peterson and Bruce Lord will provide an audio review of the event.
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