For the past three years, if you ask Jon Moxley – Hiroshi Tanahashi has been ducking him. Moxley would constantly call out NJPW to send someone to fight, and got the likes of Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata, but never the ace. Even when Tanahashi finally showed up in AEW, it was to challenge CM Punk. However, when CM Punk would go down with a broken foot and set up a tournament for the Interim AEW World Championship? Jon Moxley had his moment.
He’d defeat Kyle O’Reilly, and punch his ticket – then wait. On June 12th, Hirooki Goto would go against Tanahashi to decide the NJPW side, and put up a fight – but Tanahashi won. Now, it’s Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, in the main event – in a first time ever singles match.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Is In Big Match Mode
Both would lock up to start this match, before Tanahashi took Moxley down to the mat. Moxley was able to make his way back up, before taking the springboard crossbody out of the corner. Tanahashi would hit some heavy forearm smashes, before two basement dropkicks and a tight dragon screw leg whip.
A leg lock would be applied, continuing to work over the legs of Moxley. A rope rope would get Moxley free, and he’d rush right into a cutter on Tanahashi. Moxley would take Tanahashi up top, before a double arm suplex. Piledriver would follow, before Moxley would stomp the head of Tanahashi in.
Texas Cloverleaf would be applied by Moxley, but Tanahashi would be able to counter out. Tanahashi would trade blows with Moxley, before the flying elbow smash. Sommersault senton got the two count, before Moxley blocked the Slingblade attempt. Tanahashi was sent hard down to the floor, and sent through the timekeeper’s table.
Jon Moxley Is Back On Top Of The AEW Mountain
Moxley would be fine with the potential count out victory, but Tanahashi was able to make the ring. Some hard kicks to the chest would follow, before Moxley applied the cross armbreaker. Tanahashi fought free, and nailed the Slingblade, and Moxley would get split open along the way. Moxley would take Aces High on the floor, and was gushing blood by this point.
Back in the ring, Moxley would hit the Paradigm Shift, before some Hammer & Anvil elbow smashes. Tanahashi fought back with the Kamigoye, before hitting Aces High. High Fly Flow was set, and Moxley took all of it – and blocked the pinfall right into the Bulldog Choke!
Tanahashi was able to fight free, but ended up right in the sleeper hold. He’d use the corner to move into a pinfall, before taking the King Kong Lariat – and Tanahashi kicked out at ONE! Hammer & Anvil elbows would land again, before the sleeper hold would be applied. Tanahashi kept fighting as everyone chanted “GO ACE!”, as Moxley moved into the Bulldog Choke. Moxley would hit the Death Rider, and this one was over.
Will Jon Moxley be able to remain champion as CM Punk returns to the ring? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzXmKYSkHR0
