Former three-time AEW World Champion Jon Moxley has explained how he signed with NJPW before All Elite Wrestling after leaving WWE.
In 2019, Jon Moxley left WWE after eight years with the company. He went on to debut at AEW Double Or Nothing 2019 in May of that same year.
After vignettes building his appearance, the former Dean Ambrose also debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling at NJPW Best of Super Juniors 2019 Tournament Final the following month.
Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Jon Moxley explained how he actually signed with NJPW before signing his deal with AEW. He said:
“That’s true, I signed a contract with New Japan before I signed one with AEW,”
“Japan is the first direction my compass was pointed. New Japan is all about the action in the ring.”
“There’s pageantry and big characters, but it’s all about the action in the ring, which is so high level. It always spoke to me.”
“There was an icy relationship back then between AEW and New Japan. I was completely neutral.”
“For a moment, it seemed like I was going to have to pick one or the other, but I said, f— that, I’m going to do both.”
“And now the two sides have this wonderful working relationship. I hope I helped play a role in facilitating that.”
Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Windy City Riot 2024.
Moxley will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Title for the first time against Powerhouse Hobbs on the April 24 episode of AEW Dynamite.
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