All Elite Wrestling Needs Jon Moxley
Just as he was unafraid to put the company on his back during the pandemic, Jon Moxley decided to step up during a period when All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was unable to escape controversy and backstage drama. Since the beginning of his AEW tenure, Moxley has proven himself to be one of the most reliable wrestlers within AEW. Moxley’s career in AEW has been filled with solid in-ring performances and intriguing story-lines.
The Summer of Moxley
The summer of 2022 was originally labeled as the “Summer of Punk” by many AEW fans after C.M. Punk defeated “Hangman” Adam Page to become the AEW World Champion at AEW: Double or Nothing in May. However, Punk suffered an injury before he could even defend the title. AEW later announced that an interim champion will be crowned at a joint pay-per-view event with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The joint pay-per-view event, Forbidden Door, included some of the strongest wrestlers from each company and involved many “dream matches” for fans of both companies to witness and enjoy.
Moxley delivered an incredible match with Hiroshi Tanahashi at Forbidden Door. The match was physical, bloody, and incredibly entertaining. Moxley would go on to defeat Tanahashi to become the Interim AEW World Champion.
Moxley defended the Interim AEW World Championship multiple times and delivered some incredible performances against some of the best wrestlers in the world. It’s also worth noting that this was during a time when some of AEW’s most popular and marketable wrestlers (Punk, Adam Cole, Kenny Omega, and Bryan Danielson) were recovering from injuries and unable to wrestle. Moxley defended and elevated the status of the interim championship until Punk’s return in August.
Moxley vs. Punk I
Moxley and Punk faced each other during the Aug. 24 edition of AEW: Dynamite for the Undisputed AEW World Championship. Moxley would go on to defeat Punk in a shockingly quick match.
Moxley vs. Punk II
After his shocking victory, Moxley was scheduled to face Punk again at AEW: All Out. Punk was able to defeat Moxley to secure the championship for a second time. However, Punk was forced to relinquish the belt after being involved in a backstage fight with multiple AEW wrestlers. AEW later announced a tournament for the championship and found themselves without an official world champion for the second time in less than a year.
Moxley Shines at AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam
The final match of the tournament was featured in one of AEW’s biggest shows, AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam, and Moxley was scheduled to face Bryan Danielson in the main event. Moxley defeated Danielson by a referee stoppage to win the vacated AEW World Championship.
The Face of AEW
In conclusion, Moxley has established himself as one of the best wrestlers in AEW. His passionate promos, in-ring skills, and ability to connect with the fans are some of the many reasons why AEW needs him as their champion.
