Jon Moxley discusses his relationship with New Japan.
Before Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose in WWE) shocked the wrestling world and showed up at All Elite Wrestling's Double or Nothing, New Japan Pro Wrestling began airing teaser promos indicating that "Time's Up" for Juice Robinson. It turns out that Moxley was the man behind the promos, signifying his arrival in NJPW.
Speaking to The Store Horsemen, Moxley revealed that NJPW was the first promotion to call him when news went down of WWE departure.
"[Working in Japan] was one of the first things on my bucket list. I always said, even when I retire from WWE, I want to have a mini-run in Japan in one of the traditional Japanese companies. Luckily, New Japan just called me. That's what I was looking at anyway, but before I got a chance to get anyone's number they were like, 'Whatever you want to do.' It worked out pretty easily," recalled Moxley. "I get a little ambitious with my schedule. 2020, I'm gonna try to keep it a little more open. I don't know how much work I'll have to do with the media with AEW, which is the primary focus. We're all dedicated as hell to make sure this thing becomes what it can and should be. But there's a little of self-interest where I wanna do side projects. I'm working on two secret film projects."
Moxley made his debut for NJPW at Best of Super Juniors Finals, defeating Robinson to win the IWGP United States Title. Shortly after, Moxley was announced as one of the participants in the G1.
"[The G1] wasn't on my radar. It got floated out to me, and I'm like, 'Isn't that really hard?' Thirty seconds later, I was like, 'Shit. Now I have to do it.' How can I say 'no' to that?"
The G1 Climax officially got underway this past Saturday in Dallas, though Moxley was not part of the event. It was reported that AEW prevented Moxley from working the event as it took place in the United States. However, Moxley refutes that report.
"I wasn't booked on that show to begin with. There's nothing there [with the report]. I had a previous engagement."
Moxley will take part in his first G1 match on July 13 when he faces Taichi.
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