Minoru Suzuki surprises Moxley and the All Out crowd in Chicago

Satoshi Kojima hit the ring at AEW’s All Out event in Chicago’s NOW Arena on September 5, as the Third Generation legend sought to score a major victory over the former IWGP United States Champion.  

Moxley responded with Kojima’s respectful handshake request with a middle finger, setting the tone for a strike exchange that ended with a tackle and a plancha to the floor. Yet Moxley quickly responded with a tope suicida and set to work outside the ring, before stomping Kojima’s hand back in the ring. 

Moxley mocked Kojima between chops in the corner, but the veteran responded with a Machine Gun barrage and then the Bakayaro elbow. A side suplex from Mox, and the former champion wanted a brainbuster, but Kojima found a superplex before finding a DDT on the apron. A second in the ring bought Kojima a nearfall and the former IWGP Champ wanted the Cozy Cutter, but a counter got two for Moxley, who transitioned into a cross armbreaker. 

His opponent weakened, Moxley went for the Deathrider but was countered with a brainbuster to get two. Kojima built up steam for the lariat but was countered with a wild German suplex. A short range lariat countered another Death Rider attempt, and this time the Cozy Cutter connected but Kojima was unable to follow up. 

The two men reset and traded forearms before a rattled Moxley swung with a wild rebound lariat and sunk in a Bulldog Choke, driving his opponent to the ropes. Finding some distance, Kojima would rattle off Mongolian Chops, but a pair of Death Riders did the job. 

After the match though, it was clear Moxley’s night was not over. Minoru Suzuki hit the ring and went toe to toe with Mox, trading vicious elbows and boots before delivering a Gotch Style Piledriver. With Suzuki wrestling in the United States through September and October, and unfinished business with Moxley dating back to February 2020 and New Beginning in Osaka,  the two are now set to lock horns Wednesday night on AEW Dynamite!