Jon Moxley Comments On His Challenge For A Top NJPW Star

Former three-time AEW World Champion Jon Moxley has commented on his challenge for top NJPW star Tetsuya Naito.

At NJPW Battle In The Valley 2024, Jon Moxley defeated Shingo Takagi in a bloody and brutal No DQ match.

Following his win, the former three-time AEW World Champion issued a challenge to the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito for April 12 in Chicago at NJPW Windy City Riot. The match was later made official and will mark only the second bout between the two men.

In his post-match comments at Battle In The Valley, Moxley made it clear that 2023 was a difficult year for him and he was determined to bounce back in a big way in 2024. He said:

“I said in Tokyo that the year 2023 basically sucked, and that was for a multitude of reasons. I said 2024 was gonna be the year of Jon fucking Moxley. This was gonna be my year.”

“Well, I think of the last four or five years, I think of all the limitations that people have tried to put on me, tried to tell me who I am, what I do, what I’m capable of.”

“Five years ago, I was pronounced dead and buried, and I rose from the grave and defied expectations one time after another.”

“Still, people want to put me in a little box and tell me exactly who I am, exactly what I’m capable of, exactly what I can achieve. You all act like you know me.”

“Y’all don’t fu**king know me at all. If you’re gonna be the absolute best in professional wrestling,”

“if you’re truly gonna prove to the world and to yourself who you are, there’s only one place to do it, and it’s in New Japan Pro-Wrestling,”

Stating that he had been waiting for the right time for four years to challenge Naito again, Moxley said:

“I’ve been waiting like a wharf in the brush for four years, waiting for the right time. I look up at the stars tonight, I know it’s time.”

“Naito, fans in Japan, fans I love and respect, love you like a member of their family.”

“So out of respect to them, I will not say anything negative about you, about what you stand for, about what kind of wrestler you are, what kind of person you are.”

“I don’t need to. Naito is just the wrong guy at the wrong place at the wrong time. There’s only one more mountain left to climb, and the time has come,”

The match has yet to be announced as an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match as Naito will defend his title against SANADA on February 24 at NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Night 2.

Transcription via Fightful

Want to stay up to date with all the most important Wrestling and WrestleTalk News? Join our newsletter mailing list by clicking here, and selecting your preferences!