NJPW: Previewing the Best of the Super Juniors Finals
US Title: Juice Robinson (c) vs Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley has been the talk of the professional world for the past several months and threw everything into disarray when he debuted at AEW’s Double Or Nothing. While many fans expected, or at least hoped, that Mox would show up at AEW nobody knew exactly what role he would play if he did make his presence known.
After targeting a pair of New Japan rivals in Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega, Moxley shocked the world once again by revealing himself as the antagonist in the “Time’s Up” video haunting Juice Robinson. Now, with Moxley ready to take on not only AEW but NJPW, Robinson must defend the IWGP US Title against the former Lunatic Fringe in Ryogoku.
For Robinson, this is a chance to prove to the world that he belongs in the conversation as one of the best Westerners on the New Japan roster. The reigning US Champion has taken exception to stories asking the question, “What does Jon Moxley have in store for Juice Robinson?” in the immediate aftermath of the Moxley revelation.
The debut of Moxley has, so far, outshined Robinson and the IWGP US Title. Rather than the focus being on the pending battle between the two wrestlers, the narrative has immediately shifted to one of a single expectation – that Jon Moxley will stomp into New Japan Pro Wrestling and capture the US Title.
Robinson, nearing 150 days in his second reign as champion, has reason to be frustrated. Throughout the Best of the Super Juniors tour, he has been active either in the ring or at the commentary booth, lending whatever abilities he can to NJPW. Moxley, on the other hand, has been taunting Robinson from the shadows.
While Moxley has immediately made himself into one of the biggest names in wrestling over the course of a long weekend, Robinson has been working to build himself as a top name in New Japan by defending his championship against the likes of Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale, and Trent Beretta. More poignantly, Robinson wrested the US Title away from Cody in the AEW Executive VP’s last match in New Japan.
Robinson and Moxley are no strangers to one another, though their past isn’t rich with history. They shared the ring in FCW, the predecessor to NXT, in both singles and tag matches. In tag action, Robinson and partner Richie Steamboat defeated Moxley and Corey Graves with Steamboat picking up the pinfall on Moxley. In singles competition, Moxley has defeated Robinson.
However, that was nearly 8 years ago. Back then, Jon Moxley was Dean Ambrose and Juice Robinson was CJ Parker. Neither were as polished as they are now and Robinson especially had yet to find his footing as the star he would become in New Japan rings.
Not only is Robinson’s most prized possession on the line, but his pride and the solidification of his career are at stake. Robinson has already been painted as the assumed loser of the bout with the debuting Moxley riding high on his wave of momentum. On June 5, can Moxley shut down not only his doubters but his most dangerous challenger to date?