After what seemed like an eternity, the highly anticipated match between the IWGP United States Champion Jon Moxley and the New Japan Cup USA winner and Bullet Club member KENTA finally took place. The timing of this match coming to fruition couldn’t be better. Jon Moxley is in the heat of a feud in AEW with KENTA’s Bullet Club stablemates Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers. After splitting their first two meetings, Omega and Moxley will have their rubber match on March 7. The two rivals will settle the score in an exploding barbed-wire deathmatch for the AEW World Championship at the AEW PPV Revolution. As Jon Moxley retains IWGP United States Championship.
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The showdown between Mox and KENTA at times seemed like it may never happen. First came the travel restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Then, the contractual clauses that prevented Moxley from performing in other promotions in America. Between all these obstacles, the match started to seem like a pipe dream. With the recent kicking down of the “forbidden door,” however, it soon became apparent that the dream would come true. The rivalry renewed when Moxley appeared via video at Wrestle Kingdom 15. Moxley informs KENTA that he hadn’t forgotten about him. He had every intention of granting him the title shot KENTA earned by winning the New Japan Cup USA tournament way back in August of 2020.
.@JonMoxley "Tope Suicida"
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XrpWA#MOXvsKENTA #njpw #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/X2xrGGDnti
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) February 27, 2021
Jon Moxley retains IWGP the United States Championship.
Things escalated quickly when KENTA became the first NJPW talent to appear on AEW programming on February 3. During AEW’s Beach Break, he attacked Moxley following a 3 on 3 match, which saw Mox team with Rey Fenix and Pac against the team of Omega and the Good Brothers. This led to a falls count anywhere tag match the following week. AEW announced via social media that Jon Moxley would team up with Lance Archer. Their opponents would be his recent attacker KENTA and his upcoming PPV opponent Kenny Omega. After a hard-hitting match, Mox tasted defeat for the second time in as many weeks.
Just nine days after their brutal falls count anywhere match, both men were ready to go to war. This match was just as good as we could have hoped for. Both men exchanged very stiff strikes throughout the match. Each showed their competitive fire and pride, refusing to back down. A little more than halfway through the match, KENTA executed a beautiful diving elbow drop to Moxley to the outside of the ring through a table. Mox was the first to land the knockout blow, though, as KENTA fell victim to the Death Rider DDT. The devastating move that has yet to have been kicked out of kept its perfect track record. Jon Moxley is STILL the IWGP United States Champion.
Jon Moxley retains US title after #njpwSTRONG battle:https://t.co/goWqct8nXE#MOXvsKENTA pic.twitter.com/Mx4WTme0lY
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) February 27, 2021
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