NJPW Star Doesn’t Believe AEW Has Respect For IWGP World Heavyweight Title

AEW/NJPW

NJPW star and Los Ingobernables de Japon member Yota Tsuji doesn’t believe AEW has respect for IWGP World Heavyweight Title.

At NJPW Windy City Riot, AEW star Jon Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGPW World Heavyweight Championship in the main event. This marked the first time that an AEW contracted star had won the top prize in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

On the April 20 episode of AEW Collision, Don Callis announced that he got Powerhouse Hobbs an IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match against Moxley on the April 24 AEW Dynamite.

This led to some online criticism from the NJPW fanbase with the top title in the company being contested between two AEW stars.

In a new interview with Tokyo Sports, Yota Tsuji expressed his displeasure with the decision to book Moxley vs. Hobbs IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match on Dynamite. He said:

“Where was the value of the IWGP? If Moxley has agreed to be the champion, then he certainly has the right to fight for the title.”

“The problem is that New Japan Pro-Wrestling didn’t say anything about it. What is that feeling? I wonder if they don’t feel any discomfort with that. I feel nothing but disgust and displeasure.”

“[Hobbs] may be a great fighter, but it’s strange that a fighter who has no connection to New Japan and has never been to New Japan is suddenly challenging for the top belt, even if he doesn’t win the [New Japan Cup].”

“I wonder if he has a visa. Even if he were to win the belt, would he be able to come to Fukuoka? I wonder how long they’ll continue to be beholden to AEW, which has no respect for the IWGP.”

“We are lowering the value of the pinnacle by ourselves, and I think we have to break out of this situation.”

Yota Tsuji won the 2024 New Japan Cup tournament, but failed in his attempt to capture the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship from Tetsuya Naito at Sakura Genesis 2024.

Jon Moxley will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Powerhouse Hobbs on the April 24 edition of AEW Dynamite.

If he retains, Moxley will defend against Ren Narita on Saturday, May 4 at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.

Although Moxley will have his hands full with Hobbs and Narita, he has recently also been called out by another former WWE star seeking a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Title – click here for full details.

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• IWGP
• NJPW
• Jon Moxley
• AEW

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