Jon Moxley’s first IWGP world title defense is actually happening in AEW

Shortly after Jon Moxley won the IWGP world heavyweight championship, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that his first title defense was set for May 4 against Ren Narita.

Meanwhile, AEW officially booked Moxley in a match again Powerhouse Hobbs for next week’s (April 24) episode of Dynamite, but it wasn’t an IWGP title match, because NJPW doesn’t do things that way once another title match has already been announced.

It turns out that AEW President Tony Khan must have worked out a deal with NJPW, because it was announced on tonight’s (April 20) episode of Collision that Moxley vs. Hobbs on Dynamite is now for the IWGP world title.

Don Callis took credit for the decision, indicating that NJPW owed him a favor after he put together the Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho Tokyo Dome match in 2018. Callis wants the IWGP world title in his family’s possession, so he called in the favor.

Are you excited to see Moxley’s first IWGP world title defense take place in AEW? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.