Jon Moxley retained the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, defeating EVIL in a chaotic Lumberjack Deathmatch. The event, held on June 9, 2024, saw 7,254 fans witness multiple title changes and the conclusion of the Best of the Super Juniors 31 tournament.
Moxley’s victory marks his fourth consecutive defense of the promotion’s top prize, set against a backdrop of interference from the House of Torture and support from allies like Shota Umino.
The main event was far from a standard wrestling match as both competitors utilized their respective lumberjacks to gain the upper hand. Moxley was bolstered by veterans Togi Makabe and Yuji Nagata, while EVIL relied on his House of Torture stablemates, including Ren Narita and Dick Togo.
Despite the heavy interference, Moxley secured the pinfall to keep his reign alive. Following the match, Tetsuya Naito appeared to issue a formal challenge for a title match at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door event.
In a historic moment elsewhere on the card, Yota Tsuji captured his first ever championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Competing as part of Los Ingobernables de Japón alongside Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI, Tsuji pinned Boltin Oleg with the Gene Blaster to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.
This win ended the 56-day reign of Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, and Oleg. Much like how Islam Makhachev targets modern greatness through dominant performances, Tsuji’s first gold represents a significant step in his ascension.
TMDK secures double tag team gold in tornado elimination match
The tag team landscape was completely reshaped as TMDK’s Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste walked away with both the IWGP and STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships. They survived a 4-way Tornado Elimination match against Bishamon, Bullet Club, and the Guerrillas of Destiny.
TMDK secured the final fall when Mikey Nicholls pinned YOSHI-HASHI with a Super Tankbuster after 16 minutes of high-speed action. This match also served as the NJPW farewell for Hikuleo.
The tournament season reached its peak as El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori to win the Best of the Super Juniors 31. Desperado utilized the Pinche Loco to end a grueling encounter and secure a future shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Athletes at this level must maintain extreme focus, similar to how technical drills prepare elite competitors for high-stakes tournament environments.
Defenses and draws define the mid-card championships
The NEVER Openweight Championship remained around the waist of Shingo Takagi, but not through a standard victory. His brutal encounter with HENARE ended in a double knockout draw, meaning the title did not change hands. This stalemate left both men incapacitated after a series of heavy strikes, prolonging a rivalry that has become one of the most physical in the company’s recent history.
Jeff Cobb successfully defended his NJPW World Television Championship by overcoming the legendary Tomohiro Ishii. In a match lasting just under 12 minutes, Cobb used his Tour of the Island finishing move to put away the veteran.
Additionally, Great-O-Khan became the new KOPW 2024 Provisional Champion by defeating Yuya Uemura in a match contested under special “Storm Catch Rules,” which restricted strikes and limited rope breaks.
While the focus now shifts toward upcoming international collaborations, the results from Osaka-jo Hall have established a new hierarchy within NJPW. With TMDK draped in gold and Yota Tsuji finally securing a championship, the promotion’s youth movement continues to claim its space alongside established stars like Jon Moxley.
