9 Predictions For Chris Jericho's AEW Mystery Partners

8. Jon Moxley And Shota Umino

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The dream night, for most pro wrestling fans, is the bucket list pilgrimage to WrestleMania, or the Tokyo Dome, or the hardcore dream match festival of an NXT: TakeOver. This has changed over the course of one wonderfully weird summer.

The bizarre and impossibly endearing chemistry shared by the badass Jon Moxley, and his beleaguered Young Lion compadre Shota Umino, is so entertaining that many now wish to spend a long night drinking with them in some seedy Roppongi sh*thole. Their act is so inexplicably funny that the idea of Shota joining Moxley in AEW for his excursion is becoming an ultimate fantasy booking scenario.

Unfortunately, it is a fantasy. AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling are not on good terms.

New Japan, defined by a strict sense of tradition, has nonetheless made the unprecedented move to expand into the United States. The departure of the Elite has derailed any momentum generated, culminating in the terrible attendance drawn for the opening night of the G1 Climax tournament in Dallas.

If tensions do calm, it will take years: New Japan still hasn't forgiven TNA and "f*cking Jeff Jarrett" for wasting and burying Kazuchika Okada in 2011.

Likelihood: 5%

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!