When it comes to All Elite Wrestling‘s (AEW) partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), one of the major focuses has been the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. AEW star Jon Moxley won the championship on January 4th of 2021 before dropping the championship to Lance Archer on Dynamite last month. One of the more interesting aspects of Moxley’s reign was the focus on the IWGP US briefcase, which was held by KENTA up until their eventual bout at NJPW Strong #29. Though no IWGP United States Championship is involved, at AEW All Out, Jon Moxley will take on Satoshi Kojima.
.@JonMoxley got a FedEx from Tokyo with a contract to face #NJPW legend @cozy_lariat at #AEWAllOut in Chicago on Sept. 5!
Tune into @tntdrama NOW to watch #AEWDynamite LIVE! pic.twitter.com/BFZzdUeDMC
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 26, 2021
For those who don’t know, Satoshi Kojima is one of the top veterans of New Japan Pro Wrestling and is perhaps most notorious for his runs as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Kojima is also known as a tag team wrestler for NJPW, teaming with fellow veteran Hiroyoshi Tenzan and being a former 7x IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.
Satoshi Kojima is also part of IMPACT Wrestling and NJPW USA, recently challenging Tom Lawlor for the STRONG Openweight Championship. Additionally, Kojima was the second ever MLW World Heavyweight Champion. Lastly, he is one of only three men to hold the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and Triple Crown Championship. This, of course, makes him one of the most distinguished wrestlers in pro wrestling history.
Jon Moxley has for the past few weeks been hinting at a match against Hiroshi Tanahashi, wanting to get the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship around his waist once again. On the most recent episode of Dynamite, Jon Moxley would be involved in a video package – where he would reveal that he knows who his opponent is for All Out. As we all now know, Satoshi Kojima is his opponent. This is a first-time encounter between the two veterans and will include the AEW debut of Satoshi Kojima.
In Kojima, Moxley is facing a renowned legend of Japanese pro wrestling. Many Japanese wrestling fans feel he is one of the most underrated wrestlers of all time. Satoshi Kojima noted on Twitter that he’s not famous in the wrestling world, but he’s looking forward to the experience (Sean “X-Pac” Waltman disagreed, claiming he is famous among true fans of pro wrestling). Fame or no fame, win or lose, come All Out, all AEW fans will be familiar with the name “Satoshi Kojima”.
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