Jon Moxley likely to face top NJPW wrestler at AEW All Out
Former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley may face a top New Japan wrestler at AEW All Out.
The identity of that wrestler is still unknown, but Hiroshi Tanahashi appears to be the leading candidate based on a Moxley promo on AEW Dynamite and some information from Dave Meltzer.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said that Moxley had talked with Tony Khan recently at 4 AM about an idea for a match with a “top New Japan wrestler”. Khan liked the idea which Meltzer said he believes is for All Out.
Meltzer speculated it could be either Tanahashi or Minoru Suzuki and since Tanahashi is coming to the U.S. to face IWGP U.S. Champion Lance Archer on August 14th in Los Angeles, that would work. Based on Wrestle Grand Slam, Meltzer thought it would be difficult for someone like Okada or Shingo Takagi to make the trip.
Adding to that, Moxley mentioned Tanahashi during the aforementioned promo, saying that after he lost the title, Tanahashi showed up and has been avoiding and dodging him for months. He closed with saying that while the “forbidden door” may be open, there’s nothing good waiting for him on the other side.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.