Jon Moxley Sets the Stage for a Fierce Clash with NJPW Star Shota Umino
Jon Moxley’s relentless pursuit of domination across wrestling promotions suggests no signs of slowing down, and the ultra-modern bankruptcy in his saga is about to shake the principles of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). After an excellent year in which he claimed the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and reigned best as AEW World Champion for a file fourth time, Moxley is now turning his interest to an antique protege—Shota Umino.
Moxley, who has always multiplied his impact, lately left the Blackpool Combat Club to shape his personal faction, the Death Riders. This bold organization, which includes wrestling powerhouses together with Claudio Castagnoli, Pac, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir, has been making waves throughout AEW. But now, it seems that Moxley is eyeing some thing far more personal: Umino, a growing celebrity in NJPW who’s set to undertaking Zack Sabre Jr. For the IWGP World Title on the prestigious Wrestle Kingdom 19 in January.
In a chilling message during NJPW’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed event on Friday, Moxley called out Umino, warning him that he was on the wrong path. His words were cryptic, dripping with manipulation: “Shooter, my man, you have made a mistake, a grave mistake. You’ve travelled down a dark path, a dark way of thinking. I’m not mad, I’m just very disappointed,” Moxley said, his tone oozing with disappointment and a subtle promise of consequences.
He continued, urging Umino to remember the core principles that had once united them: “We don’t care what anybody thinks, we don’t care what anybody says. What are you reading, what are you listening to, what’s gotten inside your head?” This statement echoed Moxley’s manipulative nature, aiming to convince Umino that he was losing his way.
As the message progressed, Moxley promised to send an “emissary” to the Tokyo Dome to deliver a lesson to Umino. “We’re gonna continue your education, and I will send an emissary to the Tokyo Dome to fix this problem you’re having,” he warned, signaling that he wasn’t just watching Umino’s progress—he was actively trying to shape it. Moxley’s vision for Umino was clear: “We’ll continue molding you into the champion that I know you can be.”
But Umino, known for his fiery spirit, was quick to respond. In an unfiltered statement, he rejected Moxley’s offer of a proxy fight. “Send somebody to the Tokyo Dome. Wheeler Yuta, Pac, or Claudio Castagnoli, I don’t care. I’ll beat them at the Tokyo Dome, f**k it, I don’t care. I want to fight you. F**k you, Jon Moxley!” His words made it clear that he wanted no part of Moxley’s mind games and was ready to confront the former champion directly.
This war of words between the two promises to feature gasoline to an already explosive competition. Moxley’s emotional manipulation and calculated manage over Umino have only intensified the anticipation for their eventual conflict. Will Moxley’s influence succeed in pulling Umino back into his fold, or will Umino’s defiance serve as a statement of independence, putting the degree for one of the most extraordinarily expected suits of the yr?
Meanwhile, Moxley is preparing for every other large showdown of his very own. At the upcoming Full Gear pay-in step with-view on November 23, Moxley will guard his AEW World Title in opposition to the fan-favorite Orange Cassidy. The stakes are high for Moxley, who might also locate himself juggling two battles on separate fronts—one in AEW and the other in NJPW.
As Umino’s challenge against Sabre Jr. looms large at Wrestle Kingdom 19, the question remains: will Moxley’s interference derail his protege’s championship aspirations, or will Umino prove that he’s no longer the man Moxley once mentored, but a force to be reckoned with on his own?
