Shota Umino and Jon Moxley are forever bonded.
The rising Japanese star spoke about his relationship with The Death Rider during a recent interview with Tokyo Sports. Umino recalled meeting Moxley when he held the IWGP United States Championship for NJPW, telling the interviewer that he also dreamed of facing off against Mox for the U.S. title at the Tokyo Dome.
When we first met, he had the US heavy belt around his waist, and I have a lot of feelings about it. It is one of my dreams to fight Moxley as a champion. If I could do it on the Tokyo Dome stage, I think it would be a good plan for me personally.
The IWGP U.S. Championship has since been rebranded as the IWGP United Kingdom Championship under Will Ospreay, who currently holds the title and has held it since Forbidden Door 2. Umino tells Tokyo Sports that Ospreay is a great wrestler but he cannot allow him to change what NJPW has created.
I think Osprey is a wonderful wrestler who stands out from the crowd in every way, but I cannot allow New Japan to change what they have created without permission. If the company can’t stop it, I’ll take the initiative and stop it, and return it to the original title of US Heavy.
You can check out Umino’s full interview here.