Jon Moxley made history when he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot, but it appears that at least one star is not happy with this call.
NJPW star Yota Tsuji had an interview with Tokyo Sports where he shared some interesting thoughts on the booking of the company’s top title.
The 30-year-old first questioned the decision to put the title on Moxley even if he agreed to hold the belt. He said that the problem lies with officials of New Japan:
Where did the value of IWGP go? If Moxley agreed to be the champion, he certainly has the right to have a championship match. The problem is New Japan Pro Wrestling, which doesn’t say anything about it.
Moxley already has title defenses set against Ren Narita and Shota Umino. Before these matches that will be taking place on NJPW shows, however, he will be defending the title against Powerhouse Hobbs on this Wednesday, May 24 episode of Dynamite.
‘We Have To Find A Way Out of This Situation’: Yota Tsuji
The 2024 New Japan Cup winner asked why Hobbs who has never been to NJPW himself is suddenly eligible to challenge for the top prize of the company:
Then what are the NJC and G1 for? He may be a great player, but even if he doesn’t win the NJC, a player who has no connection to New Japan or has never been to New Japan will suddenly reach the top. It would be strange for him to challenge for the belt of Hobbs.
In the first place, I wonder if that player has a visa. Even if he wins the belt, will he be able to come to Fukuoka? How long will he be under the influence of AEW, who have no respect for IWGP? I think we have to find a way out of this situation.
Jon Moxley became the first person to hold the heavyweight gold in WWE, AEW, and NJPW when he picked up the IWGP title at the April 12 event.
Yota Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto to win the 2024 New Japan Cup in March. It was his first big accolade in the company that earned him the right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Tsuji, however, was defeated by Naito when he challenged for the title at Sakura Genesis on April 6.
The quotes in the article have been translated through Google translate
