AEW touts itself as the place “Where the Best Wrestle,” but the company also presents plenty of glorious violence. At AEW All Out, Jon Moxley betrayed Bryan Danielson following the American Dragon’s successful AEW World Title defense, ending the Blackpool Combat Club. Moxley’s attack on his former ally, which included suffocating Bryan with a plastic bag, has spawned a debate as to whether the segment went too far in the name of entertainment.
All Out also saw Mercedes Moné retain her AEW TBS Championship against Hikaru Shida and she was among those in the NOW Arena who saw the attack on Danielson unfold. In her newsletter, the CEO admits that the attack was hard to watch and she wouldn’t want some in her family viewing this kind of wrestling content.
“Bryan’s stuff was tough to watch. I have mixed emotions. When done right, that kind of stuff can tear a roof off like Daniel’s did. However, I wouldn’t want my brother Joshua to watch stuff like that, or kids, for that matter.”
Moné went on to recall growing up without a father, and the joy she feels meeting parents and children at meet-and-greets who’ve bonded over watching wrestling that all can enjoy. On the other hand, Moné accepts that there is “an audience that loves the extreme, and you want to cater to them, too.
AEW has opted not to feature the suffocation spot on social media due to the graphic content. There is a question as to whether those in AEW feel the spot cannot be shared, or whether this tweet was posted to demonstrate just how violent All Out was.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has been able to push the envelope when it comes to violence compared to its competitors at WWE. While many appreciate AEW providing an alternative in that regard, there will always be a question of where the proverbial line is, and whether AEW has crossed it. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Mercedes Mone and the action from All Elite Wrestling.