AEW taped the Grand Slam special of Collision from Brisbane, Australia today. The show featured a number of stars belonging to the country as well as big names such as Adam Copeland, Will Ospreay, and more. Here are the complete spoiler results for the show:
Tony Khan Promo: The AEW President was introduced by Arkady to a mixed reaction after changing the venues for the show. He claimed that this was a dream come true and promised a return to Brisbane in future.
Tag Team Match: Will Ospreay & Kenny Omega def. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher – Don Callis and Mark Davis were at the ringside and the crowd was hot for the bout. Callis interfered in the bout in Favor of Takeshita and Fletcher but in the end, the babyfaces picked up the victory.
TBS Championship Match:Mercedes Mone def. Harley Cameron – Hometown star Cameron got a huge reaction from the crowd coming off the entertaining build for this title match using the Mone Puppet. Harley brought out the Mone puppet at one point to distract the champion but it was Mercedes who picked up the victory in the end.
The Brisbane Brawl: Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli def. Jay White & Cope – The match was a no-holds-barred brawl with the contestants fighting through the crowd from the start. Various weapons such as trash cans and tables were used and Mox even used a barbed wire chair during the match. The fight ended controversially after Mox choked Cope out following interference from Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir. The crowd chanted bullshit at the ending but later gave a standing ovation to Cope.
Backstage Segment: Will Ospreay challenged Fletcher to a steel cage match at Revolution and Kenny Omega called out Takeshita for an International Title shot at the upcoming PPV.
Continental Championship Match:Kazuchika Okada def. Buddy Matthews – The local star Matthews showed a lot of resilience leading to multiple unexpected kickouts. Okada retained in the end with a low blow and Rainmaker. Matthews brought out the Australian flag post-match to cheer the crowd.
AEW Women’s Championship Match:Toni Storm def. Mariah May: The crowd was alive for the bout and Australia’s own received a huge ovation upon her grand entrance with a returning Luther the Butler. After an intense battle, Storm hit Storm Zero but May somehow kicked out. The defending champion then hit multiple Maydays but Storm kicked out at the last second. Toni landed another Storm Zero but May rolled out onto the floor. In desperation, Mariah May attempted her own version of Storm Zero but the Timeless one escaped and finally hit the Storm Zero for pin. Toni Storm cut an emotional promo following the match.
Jon Moxley, the reigning AEW World Champion and leader of the Death Riders faction, has recently voiced his concerns about All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) current trajectory. He perceives the organization at a pivotal juncture and has assumed a proactive role in steering its future. In a candid interview with Renee Paquette, Moxley emphasized the precarious position AEW occupies.
“We are one mistake away—one bad decision away—from setting this business back 20 years… I take all the bullets around here,” Moxley said.
This remark underscores his deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the company’s success.
Reflecting on AEW’s evolution, Moxley acknowledges the challenges and missteps that have occurred. He believes that the company must focus on building a sustainable future, emphasizing the importance of fostering talent and creating compelling storylines. He has been instrumental in mentoring emerging wrestlers, aiming to elevate the overall quality and depth of the roster.
Moxley’s leadership has not gone unnoticed by his peers. Claudio Castagnoli, a fellow member of the Death Riders, praised Moxley’s dedication, stating that he “truly believes Moxley just wants to make AEW a better place, not just a company that bows at his feet.” This sentiment reflects the respect Moxley commands within the locker room.
Historically, Moxley has been a cornerstone for AEW, often stepping into prominent roles during tumultuous times. His resilience and unwavering commitment have solidified his reputation as a dependable leader. However, his assertive approach has also sparked discussions about the direction of AEW’s leadership and creative storytelling.
The broader implications of Moxley’s stance suggest a potential shift in AEW’s internal dynamics. His call for accountability and excellence may influence the company’s leadership strategies, talent development, and narrative structures. The wrestling community is keenly observing whether AEW will align with Moxley’s vision or chart a different course.
As AEW navigates this critical period, the organization’s response to Moxley’s insights will be pivotal. The wrestling world awaits to see if AEW will embrace the challenge to innovate and grow or resist the proposed changes.
Posted January 29th, 2025 in AEW. Tagged: Jon Moxley.
In the main event of the January 22nd episode of AEW Dynamite, Cope continued to build momentum against the Death Riders when he defeated PAC. On the titantron though, the faction was shown attacking the Rock N’ Roll Express. Claudio Castagnoli hit Ricky Morton with a Con-Chair-To and Robert Gibson was laid out as well.
The Death Riders make a gruesome statement to COPE with the Rock 'N Roll Express!
Not finished with their violence, the Death Riders then attacked Cope. While Jay White tried to make the save, he was outnumbered by the Moxley-led gaction. The group left Cope laid out before walking away.
This isn’t the first time that the legendary Rock N’ Roll Express has run afoul of the Death Riders. During the January 4, edition of Collision, the first show of its kind in 2025, Morton and Gibson were tied up backstage. Cope and FTR freed the two wrestling legends but the Death Riders had already fled by then.
Cope returned from injury at AEW Worlds End and immediately set his sights on Moxley and his goons. While a match isn’t confirmed yet, fans can expect a World Championship showdown between the two in due time, perhaps as soon as Grand Slam: Australia next month. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Cope’s feud with the Death Riders and how he plans to retaliate after the assaults handed out on the latest episode of Dynamite.
Jon Moxley brought AEW Rampage to a dramatic close this week, signaling the end of the Friday night show for the time being. In the chaotic finale of AEW Rampage: New Year’s Smash, the Death Riders clashed with other wrestlers, and Moxley, joined by Marina Shafir, stormed into the production room.
interrogated the production staff, questioning how any work could get done amid AEW’s ongoing chaos. Declaring his intent to restore order at Worlds End, Moxley took a decisive step by calling for the end of Rampage. The AEW World Champion shouted for the live feed to be cut, and the terrified producers complied.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley is putting an END to Rampage as we know it!
This marked not only the conclusion of the latest episode of Rampage but also the show’s suspension as a whole. During the recent taping of AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan confirmed that Rampage would be going off the air “for the foreseeable future.”
Rampage premiered in 2021 with a strong debut, highlighted by CM Punk’s much-anticipated return to wrestling during its second episode. However, the show has since lost prominence in AEW’s storytelling, with key narratives shifting to Dynamite and Collision. When AEW announced its updated deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, fans observed that while the agreement secured the futures of Dynamite and Collision, it did not mention Rampage.
Two new matches featuring top stars such as MJF and Jon Moxley have been announced for the upcoming AEW Worlds End PPV on December 28.
This week’s episode of Dynamite saw Adam Cole taking on Kyle O’Reilly to determine the challenger for MJF’s Dynamite Dozen Ring at the upcoming show. This match was made official after Cole and O’Reilly became the two surviving participants of the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal last week.
The Salt of The Earth tried to interfere in the match. He looked to hit Cole with the Dozen Ring but the Undisputed Kingdom leader ducked and took his arch-rival down with a superkick. After a roll-up attempt from O’Reilly, the former NXT Champion would go on to win the match by trapping his opponent into a small package.
IT'S OFFICIAL FOR #AEWWORLDSEND! Will Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly's friendship be able to survive the conflict with MJF?!
Mox, who has had run-ins with Orange Cassidy, Jay White, and Hangman Page in recent weeks, said that he’ll defend the title against all three of them at the upcoming show in two weeks.
AEW previously confirmed that both the Continental Classic semifinal matches and the final of the tournament will be taking place from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida as well.
A fan shoved at AEW Full Gear by Marina Shafir has shared how Jon Moxley made her experience a positive one at the recent pay-per-view. In the main event, Moxley defended the AEW World Championship against Orange Cassidy. After the match, Moxley and his Death Riders allies fought many AEW stars, including Darby Allin who rammed a car into the truck the faction was using to escape.
As usual, Moxley arrived for the match from the crowd with Shafir accompanying the AEW World Champion. Fans watching the show noticed an incident during the entrance where a fan fell to her knees when Moxley was near.
That fan has come forward on X, saying that she fell over after being shoved back by Shafir. Fortunately, Moxley made sure to check on her and gave her a kiss on the forehead for good measure. The fan was 100% fine after the incident and was “literally on cloud nine” after this unique moment with the four-time and reigning AEW World Champion.
that was me! marina shoved me so hard and i lost my balance and fell on my knee lmfao he helped me the rest of the way and kissed me on the forehead i’m 100% okay and literally on cloud nine https://t.co/Zzb7KFRvKJ
Moxley’s actions turned what could’ve been a PR nightmare for AEW into a moment this fan will never forget. While the leader of the Death Riders has been as vicious as it gets as of late, even trying to poison Cassidy after the match, Moxley once again proved his support for the fans. Tony Khan recently named Moxley as AEW’s greatest star, and with interactions like these, fans can expect the reigning AEW World Champion in a high position for a long time to come.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII took place at the White Eagle Hall in Jersey City last weekend, and proved to be another epic show of violence and wrestling. The show saw ten matches take place featuring stars of WWE, AEW, TNA Wrestling and beyond.
Jon Moxley Appears
In women’s action, AEW’s Marina Shafir fought TNA Wrestling’s Jody Threat. Jon Moxley appeared in the corner of Shafir as the pair are part of the Death Riders faction in AEW. Shafir got the win and posed with Moxley after the match.
MVP had teased a match with Barnett himself shortly after his departure from WWE earlier this year. Unfortunately for the Hurt Syndicate leader, he came up short and lost via submission in the main event.
MVP made his BLOODSPORT debut in the main event against Josh Barnett… using his rad AEW Hurt Syndicate theme.
After the match, MVP and Barnett hugged in the ring and the AEW star cut a promo putting Barnett over as the spirit of Bloodsport. Barnett then issued a challenge for GCW Bloodsport in the Hammerstein Ballroom.
TNA Wrestling Represented
Josh Alexander showed his toughness by defeating ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey, who is reportedly set to join AEW soon. TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich put her title on the line against Lei Ying Lee (formerly Xia Li in WWE) and was able to retain the gold.
WWE continued to show its willingness to work with others by allowing several NXT Superstars to compete at Bloodsport XII. Myles Borne made his Bloodsport debut at the event but came up short against Bloodsport veteran Royce Isaaacs.
Charlie Dempsey fared better than his No Quarter Catch Crew ally as the NXT Heritage Cup Champion defeated Matt Makowski. The win extends Dempsey’s Bloodsport record to 2-1.
Charlie Dempsey and Tracy Williams brought it!! Best match so far. ????
Karmen Petrovic made her Bloodsport debut to show what the women of WWE NXT are capable of. Petrovic, who has been shining on the silver brand defeated Sumie Sakai via TKO thanks toa strong kick to the head of her legendary opponent.
AEW may boast a massive roster of impressive talent, but no star has shined quite like Jon Moxley, according to Tony Khan. Sitting down with CHGO Sports, the AEW President didn’t hold back when praising the reigning AEW World Champion.
“Jon Moxley is AEW’s greatest star ever. Jon Moxley’s the four-time world champion… he’s a force in AEW.”
Khan spoke of Moxley’s epic arrival in AEW which saw him appear at the inaugural Double or Nothing pay-per-view in 2019. Looking to the future, Khan is excited about the “awesome world title fight” Moxley will have with Organe Cassidy at AEW Full Gear 2024.
In addition to his four reigns as AEW World Champion, Moxley held the Interim World Championship in 2022 to fill in for the injured CM Punk. Moxley is also a former AEW International Champion and represented AEW earlier this year as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Khan’s comments are somewhat ironic given that Moxley and the Death Riders are at war with the AEW roster and plan to reshape the company into something they consider to be far better than what it currently is. Nevertheless, Tony Khan couldn’t be happier with all Moxley has done for AEW since his arrival, and fans can expect the reigning World Champion to remain a fixture of the main event scene.
When the topic of technology was brought up, Paquette joked that she lives in a divided home because Moxley refuses to switch over to an iPhone
“I live in a house divided where I’m an iPhone [while] my husband is an Android user, and this green text…it just causes me a lot of pain and anguish. But there’s no changing him. The man is set in his ways. It is what it is. So I can never leave him a proper voice memo. If I’m on a plane I cannot communicate with him. It’s very frustrating.”
He Wants Nothing To Do With The Cloud: Renee Paquette
The hosts mentioned that many people take the green bubble vs blue bubble difference very seriously and couples have even broken up over it. Renee then said that she doesn’t generally care about it but it does get frustrating when she can’t get hold of her husband in a WiFi only situation:
“People are very unhinged about this and while of course there are times…Listen my love for this man, what a bright light but it just gets dimmed a little when the green texts come in or it’s not even the green text, I don’t really care about that.
it’s not being able to get a hold of you if I’m in a WiFi only situation. That’s the problem. This is the father of my child. Sometimes I need to talk to him. I’m not just talking to him to ask how the day is. Sometimes I need information and I can’t get it.”
When asked if she has tried to convince Mox to switch over, Renee Paquette revealed that the AEW World Champion does not trust the cloud system:
“He wants nothing to do with the cloud. He’s not interested. He doesn’t trust it. I think he thinks something shifty is up with Apple and their products. So he’s not interested but I also think that he comes from an entire family of green texters so….it’s an inherited thing.
It’s very stressful. What if I had to tell him something? I’ve had to email him. I have to email my husband sometimes like ‘From the desk of Renee Paquette.’ What the f*ck?”
Jon Moxley will be defending the AEW title against Orange Cassidy at Saturday’s Full Gear PPV. You can check out the updated match card for the show here.
Renee Paquette says she steers clear of Jon Moxley’s path when the couple goes to work for AEW.
Mox has been leading a new Death Rider faction in AEW. After taking Bryan Danielson out with a brutal attack and taking the AEW World Title from him, the wrestling veteran has declared war on AEW roster. His aim is to rid the company of its problems.
Jon’s new mission puts Renee in an awkward position as she is generally on good terms with the AEW roster. Most of the people who have been resisting the Moxley takeover are good friends of the AEW announcer.
The female star addressed the conflict during a recent interview with Busted Open Radio. She claimed that she tries to stay away from Mox’s business as much as possible:
“I don’t know, I kind of just steer clear. The truth of it is, when Jon and I go to work, we’ve always been like this, he does his job, I do my job. We’ve always been like that. I honestly don’t even see him most of the day. He’s off doing his thing, I’m doing mine.”
Renee Paquette claimed that she respects the work of her husband and it helps her understand the business better. She also loves watching Jon’s work but sticks to her own job when they’re in the arena for any show:
“I immensely respect what he does and I think that’s another level that helps me understand more of the wrestling business and always has is my relationship with him obviously.
I love watching him do what he does. But my job is different and I also really love what I get to bring to the table. So I just kind of stick to my job, I let him do his and then we reconvene at the end of the night.”
Jon Moxley is set to defend the AEW World Title against Orange Cassidy at this Saturday’s Full Gear PPV. Renee is also expected to be a part of the show. You can check out an updated match card for the event here.
Jon Moxley says taking out Bryan Danielson was nothing more than an objective that needed to be completed.
The AEW World Champion has shown a completely new side of himself since returning to the promotion in August. Leading the Death Riders into a spree of violent attacks on various AEW talents, Mox proclaims to rid the company of all its problems.
The most gruesome of these attacks came at the WrestleDream PPV. Moxley not only defeated his former friend Bryan Danielson for the AEW title at the show but he also took out the American Dragon for good in a brutal post-match attack. Bryan had to be taken out on a stretcher afterwards and he is not expected to make an AEW appearance anytime soon.
Speaking about the attack during a new interview with TVInsider, the AEW World Champion claimed that Danielson had to be taken off the board as part of the big picture. To him, Bryan was nothing more than a thing on a checklist:
“To me, it was a beautiful funeral. His mom was in the front row as I was squeezing his neck as his mom screamed that she loved him, and he screamed it back to her. I’m not sure if that was caught on camera, but that was quite a powerful moment to see up close.”
Jon Moxley mentioned how it is very easy to get emotionally attached to a match of Bryan Danielson. He reiterated however that he has no time to feel sad about it despite Bryan being one of his best friends and training partner for a good part of his career:
“A lot of guys’ careers will end in the hospital or their phones will stop ringing. It won’t be on their terms. Bryan was able to do very much to end this stage of his career on his terms. He did not verbally submit or tap out, but I felt the spirit of the American Dragon leave his body and feel that he can now rest.”
The former Shield member also claimed that the potential of AEW is ‘fucking huge.’ He said that their roster is stacked to a ridiculous level and there are many talents who haven’t gotten the chance to showcase what they’re truly capable of.
Jon Moxley, a cornerstone of AEW since its inception, has made it clear that the company’s future is critical for the wrestling industry. Fresh off his brutal win over Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream, Moxley says AEW must succeed to prevent wrestling from regressing. During an interview with Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Moxley says:
“AEW has to be a success. If it’s not, the business gets set back another 20 f*ckin’ years.”
– Jon Moxley (via TV Insider)
Reflecting his real-life commitment, Moxley’s storyline mirrors his belief in AEW as the defining platform for the next generation of talent. Moxley emphasized the untapped potential of AEW, citing its stacked roster and the need to solidify its identity. “We’re going to plant our flag…turn this into what it can be,” he said, calling for a united effort to build AEW’s legacy.
As Moxley prepares to defend his title against Orange Cassidy at Full Gear, he remains focused on delivering a product that fans and wrestlers alike can take pride in.
WrestleDream Match Against Bryan Danielson: Moxley described defeating Danielson as both a personal and professional milestone, referring to it as a “beautiful funeral” for the “American Dragon’s” full-time career.
AEW’s Identity Crisis: He acknowledged AEW’s young status, noting that the company is still defining itself but believes the next chapter begins now.
Orange Cassidy Match: Moxley praised Cassidy’s evolution, calling him a more dangerous and complex competitor than many realize.
Mentorship in AEW: He spotlighted talents like Marina Shafir, whose rapid growth reflects AEW’s commitment to nurturing future stars.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley opens up about lingering injuries and how he’s been managing his pain, during a recent interview with Authority Magazine. Moxley tells Authority that his hip has been bothering him for several months. He’s been treating undergoing physical therapy.
Moxley advises everyone to pick a great physical therapist and commit to the program with 100% effort. Some wrestlers never fully recover from major injuries, and Mox thinks a lot of that has to do with the effort put in during recovery. Two decades into his pro wrestling career, father time and years of taking bumps are catching up with the champ.
“For me, being that I’m 38 and have been getting the crap kicked out of me for 20 years, I don’t recover as quickly as I used to. That’s been difficult to accept.
There’s a principle I learned at 11 years old when I started wrestling, basically the principle that hard work beats talent, or at least it can. You may not have been given the same natural gifts; you may not have the same advantages. It doesn’t matter. Hard work evens the playing field.”
Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley defied the odds to become an all-time greta pro wrestler. He doesn’t look like a jacked up action figure, and he doesn’t possess the athletic gifts of Will Ospreay or Ricochet. He’s gotten to the top thanks to his work ethic. Moxley draws inspiration from warriors like legendary wrestler Dan Gable, who wouldn’t be satisfied with his training sessions unless he had to be literally carried off the mat after practice.
“The ability to endure, to have discipline, a simple willingness to put in more time and effort- this was like learning some cheat code to the universe. Discovering that simple principle, changed the course of my life. That’s what gave me the confidence to pursue pro wrestling despite the astronomical odds of success.
I was a nobody; I didn’t have any advantages, but who cares? I’d just outwork everyone.”
Jon Moxley
Like most elite pro wrestlers, Moxley has dealt with his share of physical ailments throughout his career. In 2017, he underwent two surgeries to repair a severe triceps injury (one of them to clear up a MRSA staph infection). Early into his run with AEW, he developed another MRSA staph infection in his elbow, which put him out of action for several months. In September 2023, he was sidelined with a concussion.
Posted November 6th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Jon Moxley.
On this week’s AEW Dynamite, Orange Cassidy officially challenged Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship, setting the stage for an anticipated showdown at AEW Full Gear 2024. Known for his laid-back style, Cassidy surprised fans with a rare intensity, directly calling out Moxley.
Orange Cassidy makes a challenge to #AEW World Champion Jon Moxley!
Cassidy’s challenge goes beyond personal ambition, expressing a commitment to preserving AEW’s spirit amid recent upheaval from Moxley’s faction. This title match will not only test Cassidy’s skill but also serve as a proving ground against one of AEW’s most relentless competitors.
Fans and wrestlers alike are buzzing on social media, noting Cassidy’s evolution from comedic persona to serious contender. His performances as AEW International Champion have shown he can handle high-stakes battles, raising questions about his strategy against Moxley’s aggressive style.
At AEW WrestleDream, Jon Moxley captured the AEW World Championship from Bryan Danielson, bringing an end to the American Dragon’s full-time in-ring career. On this week’s Dynamite, Moxley made his first comments as the new AEW World Champion and laid out his intense vision for the All-Elite promotion.
In a video segment, Moxley spoke of wanting others to have the same opportunity that he’s had in wrestling, something he thinks hasn’t been the case in AEW as of late. Moxley spoke of the company’s massive roster, which includes “150 dudes on the roster with their junk in their hands.”
“I hate what AEW has become. Egos out of control. Celebrating, when there’s no need to celebrate and dancing and partying when there’s no need for dancing and partying! I cannot stand it anymore!”
Adding that he’s not sentimental, Moxley vowed to “burn down the forest to plant a new one” and that he and his allies will make a better future happen no matter what it takes. Moxley added that those in AEW can either join his group or run for the hills, before ending on this chilling message.
“For those in AEW, what’s the need to know? What is the new paradigm? It’s very simple: You work for me now.”
The video ends with a shot of Wheeler Yuta, who betrayed Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream to align himself with Jon Moxley. Later in the show, Moxley and his group attacked the Conglomeration and focused their beatdown on Orange Cassidy. It remains to be seen who will stand against Moxley and his allies and who will fall in line, as the new AEW World Champion doesn’t plan on taking any prisoners in his war with AEW.
Posted October 17th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Jon Moxley.
AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson will put the gold on the line against Jon Moxley at AEW WrestleDream following Moxley’s victory on AEW Grand Slam: Dynamite. While Moxley has punched his ticket to potentially regaining the richest prize in All Elite Wrestling, the three-time former champion had little time to celebrate.
After the match, Danielson launched a surprise attack on his former ally, payback for the assault the champion endured at AEW All Out 2024 earlier this month. Danielson even choked Moxley with a necktie, not only delivering payback, but giving fans a nod to his 2010 WWE firing for choking Justin Roberts during the debut of the Nexus. Grabbing the mic, Danielson confirmed that he and Moxley would clash for the AEW World Championship at AEW WrestleDream.
BRYAN DANIELSON FINALLY GETS PAYBACK ON JON MOXLEY!
Moxley’s title opportunity comes at the expense of Darby Allin, who had earned a title opportunity by winning the Royal Rampage back in July. There had reportedly been talks of Allin receiving a World Championship run, and whether that’s still the plan or not, it certainly won’t come to fruition at WrestleDream.
AEW WrestleDream will take place on October 12, in Tacoma, Washington, the home state of the American Dragon. With Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, and Marina Shafir on his side, Moxley will have the numbers advantage, even if Danielson has the crowd on his side. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on this feud as the two former allies prepare to tear each other apart next month at AEW WrestleDream.
After retaining his title, Danielson was jumped by The Patriarchy and it appeared Christian Cage was going to cash in his guaranteed World Title match that he won at All In: London. While Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli fended them off, they turned on Danielson and Moxley used a plastic bag in an attempt to suffocate the American Dragon. The spot was so graphic, that AEW has opted not to share it on social media.
Due to the graphic nature of the attack on Bryan Danielson, we will not be sharing the footage. AEW does not condone such actions.
This was a shocking moment to AEW All Out but this isn’t the first time there’s been a plastic bag suffocation spot in wrestling. At Clash of the Champions VIII in September 1989, Terry Funk used a bag to suffocate Ric Flair during the Nature Boy’s tag-team main event. Fair and Sting won by DQ over The Great Muta and ‘Dirty’ Dick Slater.
AEW JUST DID THE PLASTIC BAG CLASH OF CHAMPIONS VIII ANGLE WITH MOX/DANIELSON. pic.twitter.com/SJmjoO70VG
We’ve now seen our first plastic bag suffocation spot in AEW but Eddie Kingston hoped to use the spot during his 2022 feud with Chris Jericho. Speaking in July of this year to The Ringer, Kingston said he asked several times about using a plastic bag, only to be rejected every time by Tony Khan.
Moxley recently aligned himself with Marina Shafir and has spoken of AEW not being the company it once was. Now, the former AEW World Champion has plans to hold the gold again, and will hold nothing back in his feud with former ally Bryan Danielson.
Jon Moxley made a shocking return at the start of this week’s AEW Dynamite, live from Champaign, IL. The former AEW World Champion had been absent from television for two months, with his last appearance being at the AEW Forbidden Door pay-per-view in June.
During his return, Moxley revealed that he’s been doing a lot of thinking during his time away, reflecting on some matters that need to be addressed. He made it clear that he’s back for a specific reason— to speak to someone who wasn’t present at Dynamite this week.
In a cryptic message, Moxley addressed Darby Allin, stating that while they might seem different, they are also very much alike. He emphasized that this conversation with Allin is long overdue, adding, “Trust me, I’m not gonna be hard to find.”
Before wrapping up, Moxley delivered a bold statement to Tony Schiavone, saying:
“It’s going to take some time for everybody to wrap their brains around this, but we’re going to get started now. This is not your company anymore”
– Jon Moxley
Later in the show, Moxley had former UFC and WWE star Marina Shafir roughing guys up backstage.
Tetsuya Naito is once again the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion after regaining the title at AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door.
In the show’s co-main event, Naito dethroned Jon Moxley, ending his reign at 79 days. Naito was able to kick out of a Deathrider by Moxley though the AEW star was able to withstand Naito’s Destino. In the end, a second Destino clinched the win, and the title, for Tetsuya Naito.
This win makes Naito a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. At Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024, Naito won the gold for the first time with a win over Sanada. His 99-day reign would be ended by Moxley at Windy City Riot in April. This win also makes Naito the second-ever two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, alongside Kazuchika Okada.
With Jon Moxley no longer the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, it remains to be seen when we’ll see the title next defended at an AEW event. While the next Forbidden Door is a year away, AEW and New Japan have close ties, meaning we could see the title defended far sooner than that. In the meantime, Moxley will turn his attention to AEW All In 2024, while the next major event for New Japan is the Fantastica Mania: USA show on July 13.
Earlier this month, New Japan Pro Wrestling officially announced that AEW star and current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley would face EVIL on June 9th at the historic Osaka-jo Hall in Japan. EVIL, the leader of the Bullet Club sub-group “The House of Torture,” has now demanded that their match be a Lumberjack Match, adding an extra challenge to the already anticipated showdown.
During an Interview with New Japan Pro Wrestling, EVIL declared that he is the rightful IWGP Champion and that a Lumberjack Match would ensure that Moxley would have “no escape.”
“Since this low life mud show ‘wrestler’ wants to run away from any kind of a fair fight under IWGP rules then I have something for him. June 9 in Osaka Jo Hall, a Lumberjack Match for the title. That way he has no escape…
He can talk about “gang warfare” all he wants, but all he has in his gang of reprobates is that waste of space, Umino, right? When he’s trapped in the ring with no way out around him, he’ll see his future is as bleak as that fake title he carries around.
If he wants to bring his snot-nosed brat with him, he can, and we’ll make sure both understand what justice looks like. June 9 in Osaka Jo Hall, I’ll crush you in a Lumberjack Match. Don’t you forget it!” – EVIL
The match type is one that EVIL is very familiar with; in January, he defeated Tama Tonga for the NEVER Openweight Championship in the aforementioned match stipulation. One can assume he’s hoping for the same results at Dominion. EVIL’s clash with Jon Moxley was made official shortly following his attack on Moxley At NJPW Resurgence.
While this is the first time Moxley and EVIL will square off one-on-one, it isn’t the first time they have shared a ring. Recently, the two faced off as part of a 6 man-tag-team match at Night 1 of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2024.
Jon Moxley has been nearly unstoppable since winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Since dethroning Tetsuya Naito at Windy City Riot to win his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Jon Moxley has been on a solid run in both NJPW and AEW. Moxley has already defended the championship three times since winning it in April, defeating Powerhouse Hobbs, Ren Narita, and Shota Umino.
Jox Monley was supposed to defend the championship against Takeshita at AEW Double or Nothing. However, it was later reported that NJPW vetoed the match being for the title.
AEW Double or Nothing Match Card (Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling)
The report from The Wrestling Observer noted that the Japanese promotion likely did not want to announce another title match ahead of Moxley’s bout against EVIL at Dominion. The match was later made into an “Eliminator Match,” meaning that Takeshita could have received a championship match at a future date if he had won.
Moxley faced off against Rocky Romero in a match with the same stipulation on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite.
Time flies and as hard as it might be for long-term fans to reconcile it, the sixth AEW Double or Nothing goes down this Memorial Day weekend. Back in 2019, this was an AEW launch event, a full season ahead of AEW Dynamite debuting on TNT. Once again, the event emanates from Las Vegas, the natural home for a show called Double or Nothing, though this will mark the PPV’s first return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Double or Nothing did also occur at Daily’s Place for two years due to the pandemic.)
The Double or Nothing name paid homage to All In as a precursor to AEW. For that event, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and then-unknown business partner Tony Khan—facilitated an all-time great indie event that drew 10,000 fans to the Sears Centre in Chicago. The affair was framed as a direct response to Dave Meltzer’s claim that no promotion outside WWE could draw 10,000 fans to a North American wrestling show anytime soon.
So it is that fans can now look back at five years of AEW history when they consider the original Double or Nothing.
The Biggest Free Agent Signing In AEW History
Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho
Double or Nothing 2019 drew a very positive reception from fans and critics, but there’s little question that the most iconic part of the show happened after the final bell had run. Immediately after the main event, Jon Moxley made his surprise debut.
While Mox can be a polarizing figure among fans, his debut nonetheless made a major statement. It was possible for fans at the time to dismiss talents like Chris Jericho as over the hill, Cody Rhodes as a WWE also-ran (a take that has aged quite poorly), and talents like MJF as up and comers who hadn’t yet proven themselves. Moxley, however, was a major name who was in his prime, including having reigned as WWE Champion less than three years earlier and having main evented WWE PPVs as part of The Shield earlier in 2019.
Moxley signing with AEW was a genuine surprise and further legitimized the company as a major player. The surprise debut is even more momentous in hindsight. Moxley would go on to be come the first and to date only three- time AEW Champion. Moreover, he has been a vital figure, sliding into the title picture whenever the company needs him, including twice picking up the torch when CM Punk got hurt.
Chris Jericho Took A Step Toward Putting The AEW Championship On The Map
Chris Jericho at the AEW Double or Nothing Rally
At the launch of AEW, there were three men who immediately factored into the world title scene. Hangman Page won a Casino Battle Royale at the top of Double or Nothing to make him one of the two men who’d vie to become the first champion at All Out 2019. On the other end of things stood Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho.
Page was a promising, fresh talent for a lot of American fans and he would wind up champion a couple years down the road. Omega and Jericho were the favorites, though, which is why they garnered the main event nod at Double or Nothing 2019.
Omega had cemented his place in the conversation of the best in-ring workers in the world in New Japan. Jericho was already a bona fide legend as a multi-time world champion in WWE, a WrestleMania main eventer, and certainly the biggest name in AEW going into their first PPV.
Like Page, Omega would find himself a long-reigning AEW champ. Jericho was the right call to win the first AEW PPV main event, though, en route to becoming the first AEW World Champion. It’s come into fashion to hate on Jericho nowadays, and there’s little question he has lost a step in the 2020s. Just the same, he was precisely the credible figure the company needed to immediately legitimize its top title and by extension the whole brand.
The Young Bucks And Lucha Bros. Had A Barnburner
Before AEW had established its own tag team championship, the original Double or Nothing featured an AAA World Tag Team Title match between The Young Bucks and Lucha Bros. It was an early chapter in what would become a defining rivalry for the company’s tag team and later trios division.
This match itself was well-received, but the teams would go on to even more memorable collisions that included a ladder match at All Out 2019 and an absolute classic of a steel cage match at All Out 2021. Down the road, Nick and Matt Jackson would team up with Kenny Omega as The Elite against The Lucha Bros and PAC under the Death Triangle banner to war over the Trios Championship.
The Rhodes Brothers Stole The Show
In the year 2024, Cody Rhodes reigns as WWE Champion. Indeed, his win over Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40 seems to have all but cemented The American Nightmare’s place as the top star in the business today.
Five years ago, Rhodes was less sure footed, but was coming off a noteworthy run on the indies and in Japan to arrive as a founding father of AEW. As such, it’s telling that his match with his older brother Dustin positively stole the show at the first AEW PPV.
The Rhodes brothers tore the house down in a hard-hitting twenty-two-minute match that garnered no lesser praise than winning Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Match of the Year Award. The match was a testament to the combination of emotional storytelling and commitment to match quality many came to associate with early AEW. On top of that, it may well have been a harbinger of just how big a star Cody would wind up being.
It’s always difficult to contextualize a wrestling show as its happening. The more years pass by, the more wrestling historians will come to understand and think differently about the original Double or Nothing. Nonetheless, at five years, the show holds up as an incredible launch for the AEW brand, rife with strong in-ring performances and statements about where this company and the wrestling business on the whole were headed.
Jon Moxley has made it clear that he has a strong hatred for X (formerly known as Twitter).
Wrestlers put their lives at risk to entertain the fans. However, some critics never shy away from crossing the limit and hurl insults at them on social media platforms including Twitter. Irrespective of the topics, users on Twitter always share their opinion on the happenings in the world which Moxley is not a fan of and prefers staying away from the platform.
During an appearance on Hey! (EW) the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight champ expressed his distaste towards Twitter. Mox reckoned that the platform brings the worst out of everyone and the worst medium for people to interact. He suggested everyone to get rid of the application and dump it in the garbage.
“I don’t like Twitter, it’s hard to escape because everything that’s in the news, about any subject, is about something, somebody said or did on Twitter, so it’s impossible to escape. I feel like Twitter particularly is like, it brings the worst out of everyone, and it’s the worst way for people to interact, it’s terrible. I think everyone should drop it. I think my advice to the entire world would be, get off that f***ing thing. Take it off your phone. Throw it in the garbage.”
Jon Moxley on Twitter/social media:
“I don't like Twitter, at all. It's hard to escape it. I feel like Twitter particularly brings out the worst out of everyone. It's the worst way for people to interact. It's terrible. Everyone should just drop it.
It seems that staying away from Twitter has helped Jon Moxley to focus more on his career and distance himself from toxicity. He recently captured the IWGP World Heavyweight title at NJPW Windy City Riot. He has already retained his title by defeating the likes of Powerhouse Hobbs and Shota Umino. His next title defense will take place against Evil at the Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 9.
He is also set to battle Konosuke Takeshita in an IWGP World Heavyweight title Eliminator match at Double Or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 26. Should Takeshita defeat the champ, he would receive a title match at a later date.
Ahead of the massive matches, he made a comeback to a wrestling promotion. Read more below:
The IWGP World Heavyweight Jon Moxley recently surprised the fans with his appearance at Wrestling Revolver Another Friday on May 17.
The Unit (JT Dunn, Jake Something & Havok) attempted to attack Masha Slamovich following their match. However, Jon Moxley showed up and assaulted Dunn by hitting his finisher, Paradigm Shift. Mox then went on to cut a promo and asked what should be done about JT Dunn. The AEW star suggested that he would fire Dunn if he was in charge of the promotion. Iowa-based promotion Wrestling Revolver was established in 2016 and is currently led by Sami Callihan, who came out and agreed to Moxley’s idea and fired Dunn.
Over the years, Moxley has made sporadic appearances and competed for the promotion. His last match at Wrestling Revolver took place at Lucha Death pay-per-view earlier this year in January. At the show, he emerged victorious against Gringo Loco in an epic match.
Jon Moxley has huge matches lined-up
Moxley recently dethroned Tetsuya Naito to capture the IWGP World Heavyweight title at NJPW Windy City Riot. He has successfully defended his title against the likes of Ren Narita, Powerhouse Hobbs and Shota Umino. He is set to defend his title against Evil at the Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 9.
However, ahead of the title defense, he will collide with Konosuke Takeshita in an IWGP World Heavyweight title Eliminator match at the upcoming Double Or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 26. If the Japanese star defeats the champ, he will receive a shot at the title.
Mox recently made his return to AEW Dynamite and joined forces with Bryan Danielson to defeat Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb. Following their victory, ‘The Alpha’ assaulted Mox which set up the title eliminator fight.
Jon Moxley has carved a unique path in pro wrestling. As Dean Ambrose’s Lunatic Fringe in WWE, he dominated with The Shield and later became World Champion. He declined to sign a new deal and later became the Paradigm Shift after leaving the company. Since then, he has thrived, loving the niche he has created.
Moxley recently reflected on his legacy during a chat with Justin Barrasso for SI. He values being remembered for marching to the beat of his own drum and cherishes this aspect of his pro wrestling career. He’s the only Jon Moxley there is and when all is said and done, the multi-time AEW World Champion relishes at the idea that he doesn’t fit into a box or rankings.
You have no idea where to classify me, but you can’t ignore me, so you’re going to have to give me my own space…I like that.”
There’s only one Jon Moxley
Mox’s Inspirational Reading
Jon Moxley may have blazed a trail of bloodshed and sharp foreign objects behind him, but that won’t stop him from picking up a book. Moxley is a member of the BCC book club. He finds constant inspiration in books.
“The line is like, ‘A genius, in the words of Thelonious Monk, is the one most like himself. Genius, in its Latin origin, refers to the attendant spirit present at birth in every person. Each of us is like Aladdin, and our genie–or our genius–is bottled up inside of us waiting to be awakened.’ It’s kind of what I think of when I say there’s only one me.”
Jon Moxley is still the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. His last match was on 11.05.2024. Moxley retained his title by defeating Shota Umino at NJPW STRONG Resurgence 2024.
Moxley’s last match for AEW was on March 3 when The Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley) defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) at AEW Revolution 2024. Since then, he’s has wrestled in CMLL and NJPW.
NJPW star Yota Tsuji had an interview with Tokyo Sports where he shared some interesting thoughts on the booking of the company’s top title.
The 30-year-old first questioned the decision to put the title on Moxley even if he agreed to hold the belt. He said that the problem lies with officials of New Japan:
Where did the value of IWGP go? If Moxley agreed to be the champion, he certainly has the right to have a championship match. The problem is New Japan Pro Wrestling, which doesn’t say anything about it.
Moxley already has title defenses set against Ren Narita and Shota Umino. Before these matches that will be taking place on NJPW shows, however, he will be defending the title against Powerhouse Hobbs on this Wednesday, May 24 episode of Dynamite.
‘We Have To Find A Way Out of This Situation’: Yota Tsuji
The 2024 New Japan Cup winner asked why Hobbs who has never been to NJPW himself is suddenly eligible to challenge for the top prize of the company:
Then what are the NJC and G1 for? He may be a great player, but even if he doesn’t win the NJC, a player who has no connection to New Japan or has never been to New Japan will suddenly reach the top. It would be strange for him to challenge for the belt of Hobbs.
In the first place, I wonder if that player has a visa. Even if he wins the belt, will he be able to come to Fukuoka? How long will he be under the influence of AEW, who have no respect for IWGP? I think we have to find a way out of this situation.
Jon Moxley became the first person to hold the heavyweight gold in WWE, AEW, and NJPW when he picked up the IWGP title at the April 12 event.
Yota Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto to win the 2024 New Japan Cup in March. It was his first big accolade in the company that earned him the right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Tsuji, however, was defeated by Naito when he challenged for the title at Sakura Genesis on April 6.
The quotes in the article have been translated through Google translate