Jon Moxley is gunning to make history.
On July 5th, Moxley defeated El Desperado at NJPW STRONG Independence Day in what was billed as the Final Death Match. That match came just 24 hours after he had teamed with Homicide in defeat to Desperado and Jun Kasai.
Speaking to Tokyo Sports after his latest win, Moxley sent a warning to IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA, admitting that he’s got his eyes set on making history. Should Moxley win New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s top prize, he’ll become the first man to hold World Championship gold in WWE, AEW, and NJPW.
“I’ve become both the WWE World Heavyweight Champion (now the WWE Championship) and the AEW World Champion, but I haven’t become the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion yet. I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s wrapped up? If I’m going to fight SANADA, I have an image of myself as the IWGP World Champion, so it might be interesting.”
Jon Moxley survived Final Death in Korakuen hall, after a brutal main event for Independence Day!#njpwSTRONG report:https://t.co/zgy9amWp50
Order the replay now!https://t.co/cKw7bm2yBupic.twitter.com/NJiVa18YnH
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) July 6, 2023
When Was Jon Moxley WWE Champion?
Jon Moxley signed with WWE in 2011 but had to wait until June 2016 to capture the World Championship. After winning the Money In The Bank briefcase at the event of the same name, Moxley — known as Dean Ambrose — pinned his former Shield partner Seth Rollins to win the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
Surprisingly, this was Moxley’s first and only World Title win in WWE, and he wouldn’t hold a World Championship again until defeating Chris Jericho to take the AEW crown in March 2020.
He has since gone on to become the only man to hold the AEW World Championship on three occasions.