Shota Umino appears at NJPW Windy City Riot, challenges Jay White

Shota Umino appeared at tonight’s NJPW Windy City Riot event, answering Jay White’s US of Jay open challenge.

In a video that aired after Jay White made his entrance, Jon Moxley was shown instructing the challenger to go to the ring. It was then revealed that the mystery challenger was Umino, a former protege and tag team partner of Jon Moxley during his time as a young lion on the NJPW roster. He emerged from the stage holding Moxley’s ring jacket. Although Umino got several near falls toward the end of the match, White managed to pick up the win with the bladerunner.

Since the fall of 2019, Umino has been on excursion in NJPW, mainly wrestling for Revolution Pro Wrestling in the United Kingdom. He most recently wrestled for the promotion on March 6, defeating Lucian Phillips.

In recent months, Jay White has remained on NJPW Strong, issuing open challenges in what he has called the US of Jay Open Challenge. Since January, he has defeated the likes of Jay Lethal, Swerve Strickland, Chris Sabin, and Mike Bailey.