AEW’s Jon Moxley has added another massive accomplishment to his legendary career by becoming the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
In the main event of NJPW Windy City Riot, Moxley dethroned Tetsuya Naito for the gold. Naito had held the title since Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024, where he had dethroned Sanada.
Not only did Moxley win the gold, but he has also made history in the process. With this victory, the AEW star has become the first person to win the richest prize in New Japan, All Elite Wrestling, and WWE.
Jon Moxley has now won the top belts of the 3 top promotions completing the “Global Grand Slam”:
• WWE Champion: 2016
• AEW World Champion (x3): 2020, 2022
• IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: 2024THE ACE OF THIS WORLD. pic.twitter.com/Xx14Pdxfmm
— Drainmaker ?? ? (@DrainBamager) April 13, 2024
Renee Paquette & Tony Khan Show Support
Moxley had two important allies by his side for his latest World Championship victory, most importantly his wife Renee Paquette:
AEW President Tony Khan was also spotted at the event and congratulated Mox on winning New Japan’s top prize in the same building where he first won the AEW World Championship.
Congratulations to @JonMoxley, the new @njpw1972 IWGP World Heavyweight Champion!
Mox won the title tonight + made history in the same city Chicago and same arena @WintrustArena where he won his first ever @AEW Championship.
Congratulations @njpwglobal on a great show tonight!
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) April 13, 2024
One fan attempted to call him out for attending NJPW Windy City Riot instead of his own show, AEW Rampage, which also aired Friday night (but was taped earlier in the week). Khan joked that it was a ‘Friday Night Timecop’ situation, a reference to the 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme about a time-traveling law enforcement officer.
It's a Friday Night Timecop situation:
I'm at 2 great shows at the same time:#AEWRampage on TNT now
+#njriot NJPW now! https://t.co/jmTDbGex6p— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) April 13, 2024
Cry Me a River
Moxley wasn’t the only notable name at NJPW Windy City Riot, as Jack Perry competed against Shota Umino in a losing effort. As you can watch below, Perry arrived to his match with a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER,’ a nod to his backstage altercation with CM Punk at All In: London that AEW recently aired.