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New Champion’s First Title Defence Won’t Be In AEW

Jon Moxley Konosuke Takeshita AEW

One new AEW champion crowned at WrestleDream now knows their first title contender but that match won’t be taking place in Tony Khan’s ring.

Jon Moxley ended WrestleDream as a four-time AEW World Champion as he put an end to the full-time career of Bryan Danielson. After that bout, the Blackpool Combat Club laid out Danielson with Wheeler Yuta turning on the American Dragon by looking to suffocate him with a plastic bag.

But that was far from the only betrayal on the show.

Earlier in the night, Will Ospreay defended his AEW International Championship against both Ricochet and Konosuke Takeshita in a three-way match. After Ricochet was driven through a table, Ospreay looked to have the bout won after he dropped Takeshita with a Hidden Blade.

Don Callis, however, pulled the referee from the ring before he could count the pinfall and then tried to attack Ospreay with a screwdriver. Ospreay put a stop to that but he was then nailed from behind by Kyle Fletcher who well and truly turned his back on him. That all allowed Konosuke Takeshita to win the first gold of his AEW career as he became International Champion.

Konosuke Takeshita Defending AEW Title Against TNA Star

Takeshita will not have to wait long for his first title defence as Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has confirmed the Japanese star’s match on October 20th against TNA’s Josh Alexander will now be for the AEW International Championship.

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has been resurrected by former TNA owner Scott D’Amore and Takeshita’s manager Don Callis will be providing commentary for the company alongside a former WWE broadcaster.