Tonight’s match between Jon Moxley and Shota Umino will be the 30th IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match

* 1- Kota Ibushi vs El Desperado

* 2- Kota Ibushi vs Will Ospreay

* 3- Will Ospreay vs Shingo Takagi

* 4- Kazuchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi

* 5- Shingo Takagi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

* 6- Shingo Takagi vs EVIL

* 7- Shingo Takagi vs Zack Sabre Jr.

* 8- Shingo Takagi vs Kazuchika Okada

* 9- Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay

* **10- Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito**

* 11- Kazuchika Okada vs Zack Sabre Jr.

* 12- Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito

* 13- Kazuchika Okada vs Jay White

* 14- Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada vs Adam Page vs Adam Cole

* 15- Jay White vs Tama Tonga

* 16- Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada

* 17- Kazuchika Okada vs Shingo Takagi

* 18- Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

* 19- Kazuchika Okada vs SANADA

* **20- SANADA vs Hiromu Takahashi**

* 21- SANADA vs Yota Tsuji

* 22- SANADA vs Jack Perry

* 23- SANADA vs EVIL

* 24- SANADA vs Tetsuya Naito

* 25- Tetsuya Naito vs SANADA

* 26- Tetsuya Naito vs Yota Tsuji

* 27- Tetsuya Naito vs Jon Moxley

* 28- Jon Moxley vs Powerhouse Hobbs

* 29- Jon Moxley vs Ren Narita

* **30- Jon Moxley vs Shota Umino**

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Now, I’m someone who looks into the deeper meanings in NJPW’s booking. And It is no strange coincidence that on the 10th anniversary of the first title match between Okada and Naito in 2012 which kickstarted the new era of NJPW back then, we would see Okada and Naito compete again in the 10th title match.

Then on the 20th match, we would get SANADA vs Hiromu, which on the surface is pretty cool, but does in fact have an underlying shared connection.

With the 30th match set I fully believe there’s a pattern to this booking. Every tenth match involves an Ace figure and their personal struggle.

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Okada vs Naito was the defining feud of the 2010s; the Ace, Okada vs the Shuyaku (lead role) or sometimes called Dark Ace, Naito. It was always Naito’s struggle trying to overcome Okada and he made sure to keep Okada on his toes. Their 10th anniversary match at Golden New Years was another repeat of history as the Dark Ace took a walk of shame and Okada, though battered, stood proudly on top the mountain.

Hiromu the junior Ace of NJPW six years ago proclaimed he’ll be the first double world champion. To hold both the Junior and Heavyweight titles together. It’s his life calling. Back in 2020 he almost achieved that when he challenged his former stablemate EVIL and nearly won the match had Dick Togo not pulled the ref outside. Then in 2023, he’d have a chance at redemption, and once again went after another Ingobernables defector, SANADA. Sadly history repeated itself again and Hiromu lost, his goal still out of reach.

Moxley vs Shooter has been five years in the making ever since Moxley took young lion Umino under his wing in 2019. Shooter gets his Heavyweight title match against his mentor who is also in his first reign. Umino has been positioned in the Future Ace slot. NJPW obviously sees big things in him given his placements on cards. Such as the most recent All Together show where Umino teamed with NOAH’s and DDT’s respective Aces, Kaito Kiyomiya and Yuki Ueno where the trios won their main event match. One big criticism of Umino has been is that he doesn’t seem to have an identity of his own, taking on aspects of Moxley and Tanahashi. Now he comes face to face with who helped build him and will get a reality shock. How will the aftermath affect Umino’s psyche going forward?

by T3Deliciouz