13 Ups & 3 Downs From NJPW Dominion 6.9 2019

9. Lion Tamer

Jon Moxley
NJPW

Shota Umino's singles bout with Jon Moxley looked like a death sentence from the moment it was announced the day after the Best of the Super Juniors final. Umino, after all, is a Young Lion. He's far from the finished product and is presented as such, while Moxley came off like a killer in his IWGP United States Title match with Juice Robinson, battered and bloodying the former CJ Parker en route to taking the strap. The new 'DEATH RIDER' nickname was justified Mox's first night with the company.

How did Umino start the match? By leaping through the ropes and landing on Moxley before he could even get inside. From that moment, this clash was never going to disappoint.

Mox knocked the sh*t out of Shota in response. He put him down with a clothesline, bludgeoned him with sharp elbows on the ground, then stretched him out with an STF, fish-hooking the mouth for extra impact. It was torturous. Moxley was a predator playing with his food. There was only going to be one outcome.

The wrestler formerly known as Dean Ambrose put Umino away with a decisive Death Rider DDT. It barely lasted five minutes, making it exactly what it needed to be.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.