Jon Moxley challenges NJPW’s El Desperado to ‘Final Death’ match
Jon Moxley and El Desperado will be facing off twice at NJPW Strong Independence Day.
At Saturday’s New Japan Road show, a video aired with Moxley challenging Desperado to face him in a “Final Death” match at night two of NJPW Strong Independence Day. Moxley said the match will have no winner — it will only have a survivor.
Desperado accepted Moxley’s challenge and stated that Final Death will be an anything goes match:
Sounds good. July 5, the second night for #njpwSTRONG in Korakuen, a singles match with Moxley? When it’s time for him to show up he shows, when it’s time for him to speak he speaks. That’s why I love Mox.
He said ‘Final Death?’ That sounds like anything goes to me. I’ll take it!
NJPW Strong Independence Day is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Tuesday, July 4 and Wednesday, July 5. At night one of the event, Moxley is teaming with Homicide against Desperado & Jun Kasai.
Kasai made a surprise appearance at New Japan Road to officially accept Desperado’s offer to team together at Independence Day. It was Kasai’s first time appearing in an NJPW ring.
Desperado told Kasai that he’ll do what he can to make sure the rules for the tag match are to Kasai’s liking.
Kasai: BUT Despe, if I’m to step into a NJPW ring, it has to be with the right rules. I’ll be happy to be your partner, but I came here to make NJPW history.
Despe: Deathmatches in NJPW.. there might be a bit of resistance, like there’s been to me on Twitter, but I’ll do what I can to do right by you.
Moxley defeated Desperado in a no disqualification match at NJPW Music City Mayhem in July 2022.
The Independence Day events will be the first time NJPW Strong has held shows in Japan. Night one will feature TJP & Francesco Akira defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Clark Connors & Dan Moloney. Eddie Kingston is challenging KENTA for the Strong Openweight Championship on night two.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.