Latest news with #Moxley
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
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Roundtable: What should WWE do with Seth Rollins' injury? And did AEW win the weekend?
Are you tired of us yet? No? Good. A wrestling weekend like we just experienced, requires — no, DEMANDS — an emergency gathering of the Uncrowned Horsemen to discuss everything that transpired from the good (there was A LOT) to the bad (Seth Rollins' reported knee injury). Advertisement Kel Dansby, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger are here once again to examine how the pro wrestling landscape has changed in the wake of AEW All In/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/WWE Evolution — with a little Great American Bash sprinkled in — and offer up their thoughts on arguably the most important non-WrestleMania weekend of the year. 1. What was your favorite match of the weekend and which match had the most significant impact on its promotion moving forward? Riggs: I'm about to give the most non-definitive answer possible, which shows just how much happened this past weekend. Thankfully, there was much more good than bad. First I want to shout out the AEW Women's Casino Gauntlet match, because of how much it exceeded expectations. Yet as someone who loves the lengths AEW will go to when the pressure is on to deliver a masterpiece — more often than not, they do so, like with the world title match between Jon Moxley and Hangman Adam Page. And that's also my answer for part two of this question, because of how absolutely momentous that match — and its result — felt. Just as Hangman has done by being the company's main character, Page vs. Moxley embodied the spirit of everything wrestling fans love about AEW and sent everyone home happy. That being said, it needs to be argued that LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins wound up as the most impactful match of the weekend, if only because of Rollins' knee injury. As Mr. Money In the Bank, Rollins felt like a guarantee to be up next for another world title run and he's been the centerpiece of "WWE Raw" since WrestleMania 41. Now Triple H presumably has to do a massive deck shuffling. But that's more speculation than what we saw to close AEW All In, so I'll stick with Page vs. Moxley as my answer. Advertisement Dansby: Tough question — two matches fit the bill perfectly. But if I have to pick, I'll go with Hangman vs. Moxley, even though Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley was the more entertaining match from bell to bell. Hangman feels like the guy for AEW right now, and ending Moxley's Death Rider streak only reinforces that. The Texas Deathmatch stipulation is tailor-made for both guys, and they leaned all the way in on Saturday — brutality, chaos, interference, all of it. It wasn't just a bloodbath for shock value — it set the tone for AEW's next few months. We now know Hangman has MJF in his sights, but the looming presence of the Hurt Syndicate throws a wrench in that. Meanwhile, Moxley's story feels far from over. He still has unfinished business with Bryan Danielson and Darby Allin, both of which could blow up into their own feuds. Advertisement Jackman: In a very competitive field I'm going with the triple threat match that opened WWE Evolution. Remember this time last week when the overall sentiment on social media toward Evolution wasn't exactly optimistic? Don't get me wrong: I think most people wanted the event to succeed, but there was a lot of consternation about the low ticket sales and whether WWE had made a mistake by booking three separate events in one weekend. The second this match started, though, all of that went out of the window. All three women — Bayley, Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria — absolutely smashed it, and the crowd was on fire instantly. From that moment on, you just knew the naysayers were going to end up eating their words. As for the most significant, I say Moxley vs. Hangman. I've set out my thoughts on the Death Riders a couple of times recently, but, in short, I genuinely think this one was existential for AEW. To stick with Moxley as champion would have sent a bold signal (to put it mildly) about the future of AEW. Thankfully, Tony Khan decided to take the right decision, rather than burn all that goodwill he's been building up lately. Sulla-Heffinger: I'm going with two AEW contests here. For my favorite match, I have to go with Mercedes Moné vs. 'Timeless' Toni Storm. When you look at the body of work they have put together since coming to AEW, it's hard to argue anything other than these two being the best female wrestlers in the world. Considering this was probably the most important women's match in the history of AEW, the stakes and anticipation for it were remarkably high — and naturally, Storm and Moné knocked it out of the park, as it took an avalanche Storm Zeroes to finally end Moné's unbeaten singles streak. A lot of times the term 'dream match' is either thrown around or used far too late in careers, but that isn't the case with what we saw Saturday. Advertisement As far as the most significant impact, Rollins' injury not included, Hangman Adam Page defeating Jon Moxley has to be the most impactful moving forward. Unlike the feel-good AEW title win from Bryan Danielson last year, I would imagine Page's run post-All In lasts significantly longer and there were two high-profile returns and a major Swerve (see what I did there) that make it hard to not get overly excited about the future of the top of the card at AEW. Seth Rollins' reported knee injury could have major implications across all of WWE. (Photo by Heather McLaughlin/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 2. What is the best way for WWE to navigate the Seth Rollins injury/MITB briefcase? Sulla-Heffinger: If Rollins is out for an extended period of time, it's absolutely brutal in the sense that he has been the centerpiece of 'Raw' for the entirety of 2025. That said, if we're going to try and look at the positives, it opens the door for CM Punk, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Bron Breakker or Sami Zayn to cycle in and out of the main-event picture — after his win on 'Raw,' Punk gets the first crack at Gunther— until Rollins returns. It's unclear if Roman Reigns' return was a 'break glass in case of emergency' move or planned, but there are multiple, extremely compelling angles immediately with his return. Depending on the recovery timetable, you could have Knight and Breakker battle for the MITB briefcase — and then Rollins has a built-in title shot when he returns — or just have Rollins refuse to give it up and then when he does return for an immediate cash-in, the moment will be bigger than perhaps any before. As for the 'Seth Riders,' WWE could give the fans what they want and have Karrion Kross take over the group and get his big push finally, which would be an interesting twist, especially involving Paul Heyman. Advertisement Jackman: Well, first you need to answer the million-dollar question: Is he really injured at all? For readers who haven't followed this one, there's been some convincing sounding reporting coming out of Post Wrestling that this whole thing is actually a set up to pull off a massive shock cash-in at SummerSlam, presumably at the expense of CM Punk. I'm on the record as saying how distasteful I find these 'fake injury' angles, so I hope that's not the case. When you look at the genuine outpouring of sympathy we've seen from the WWE and AEW fanbases towards Kevin Owens and Adam Cole respectively in recent months, I can't see why anyone would think it's a good idea to use a serious injury for storytelling purposes. It's the same response I had to Triple H pretending that the R Truth 'fake firing' was some stroke of creative genius. Does he not realize that if he makes these things fair game, then you'll have internet sleuths second-guessing every reported injury or release from now until eternity? If I hear that Kevin Owens is undergoing life-changing neck surgery, I don't want even a little part of me thinking 'Wait, is this all a work?' If the injury is genuine, then obviously I hope Seth will be back on his feet soon. Though assuming it requires a rewriting of the MITB storyline, then I'd suggest just passing the briefcase on to Bron Breakker. Surely that's the sort of thing that Paul Heyman could arrange (in kayfabe terms) having used his years of experience to call an audible? Advertisement Riggs: No matter the direction taken, it has to involve LA Knight heavily. Realistically, he should probably be given the briefcase for beating Rollins, despite that not being a stipulation. You can't just get rid of that element, though. At the same time, it would be fair to Rollins to wait and see what a timetable might look like for his return. And in that case, if it's not overly long, this could be an ultra-happy accident for a big surprise. Regardless, suppose Knight doesn't receive something big and possibly related to the briefcase. In that case, he should kayfabe be livid about it, taking an aggressive anti-hero approach until he gets what he wants. Dansby: WWE should treat the MITB briefcase like the wild card it is. If Seth is out for a while, the briefcase becomes more valuable than ever. Whoever holds it—especially if it's a heel—can tease cash-ins constantly to keep the world title picture interesting. The key is not rushing. The worst thing they can do is give it immediately to a returning Roman Reigns. Let the briefcase holder be someone who could simmer and build some momentum. It's been a while since the contract has truly felt dangerous. Jade Cargill stood tall at WWE Evolution and was among Uncrowned's breakout performers for the weekend. (Photo by Chansey Augustine/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 3. Who was the breakout performer of the weekend? Dansby: That honor goes to Jade Cargill. Her No Holds Barred match with Naomi was not just her best match to date—it was a legit show-stealer. She's always had the look, the presence, the confidence. But now? She's adding in-ring legitimacy to the package. Advertisement Winning Queen of the Ring punched her ticket to SummerSlam, and with Naomi cashing in the MITB briefcase and walking out as Women's World Champion, there's some real tension building. Their chemistry was undeniable, and now they've got a story that could headline a major PLE. Jackman: We haven't included the event in our round-ups so far, but I'd like to give a shout out to Yoshiki Inamura for his performance against Oba Femi at The Great American Bash. I was in two minds whether that match was going to be a total flop, but my goodness did they bring the goods. If you didn't catch it due to WWE's choice to book the event alongside All In, I'd highly recommend that you go back and watch it. Sulla-Heffinger: As odd as it is to have a champion in this spot, I firmly believe it has to be Sol Ruca. As Riggs wrote in his SmackDown recap last Friday, the Fatal 4-way match she was involved in felt like a showcase to specifically introduce her on the main roster. For anyone who has been watching NXT, none of this was really a surprise, but for anyone who was unsure of what's on the horizon for the women's division, this weekend showed that the future is very bright — OK, enough Sol puns, I swear. Ruca retained her NXT Women's North American Championship the following day and even though she took the pin at Evolution on Sunday night, she showed she's closer to the main roster than we think. Also, the Sol Snatcher is already in the conversation for the best finishers in WWE today. Riggs: It has to be Lash Legend. Her performance in the WWE Evolution Battle Royal was as star-making as it gets. She felt like a force, almost akin to Keith Lee's first Royal Rumble appearance years back. Possibly even to a higher degree than that, though. WWE booked her so well that I bought a ticket, thinking she might actually win it. That match was the perfect catalyst for a mega push because man, did she earn it. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 12: Goldberg retires from wrestling during Saturday Night's Main Event at State Farm Arena on July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 4. Do you feel any differently about the pro wrestling landscape for the rest of 2025 after this weekend? Jackman: Whatever your thoughts on WWE's aggressive 'double booking' strategy, I have to say it was a real treat to have so much wrestling over the weekend. Sure, it might not work to do it every month (or even every six months), but the back-to-back events made the whole thing feel similar to a WrestleMania weekend. Advertisement In terms of the bigger question, I'd just echo what I said earlier about AEW. I wrote a column on Friday about how a Hangman victory would be the perfect starting point to a new era for the company and I really hope that's the direction they take. The imagery of Hangman retrieving that belt from the briefcase perfectly captured that sense of AEW being re-born after the long shadow of the Death Riders. Dansby: Not really, but some pieces have definitely shifted. AEW is having a strong summer, especially at the top of the card. Their men's and women's main events feel intentional and meaningful. The big question now: can they elevate the midcard and tag/trios divisions to that same level? That's where long-term momentum is either made or lost. On the WWE side, the creative highs are still being carried by special events. Evolution was arguably their best PLE in recent memory, but the company is still heavily leaning on part-timers, legacy names, and viral moments. The main roster feels like it's stuck balancing corporate obligations with fan engagement. Not an easy line to walk. Riggs: Yes. Each company is going in a clear, different direction. Whether you think that is good or bad is up to you. WWE is entirely playing into the entertainment, more playful demographic, with the reinvitations of celebrity matches like Jelly Roll's upcoming in-ring debut. Meanwhile, AEW just had their wrestlers stab each other with forks and rub glass in their faces. For WWE, they need to recover the incredibly bumpy first half of the year they've had from a story perspective in most angles, while AEW simply needs to carry the incredible momentum they've accrued. All the pieces are in place for each to keep going the way they are. Advertisement Sulla-Heffinger: Like Riggs, my biggest takeaway from the weekend is just how different AEW and WWE truly are. I teased this in our preview Horsemen column when we talked about how 'success' is defined for each company and I think this weekend hammered home that point in particular. With a stacked card, AEW put on an absolutely incredible stadium show that somehow managed to at least exceed — if not completely obliterate — all of the expectations going in. The momentum Tony Khan's company has is undeniable. On the other side, WWE took over Atlanta and ran three shows, including an Evolution PLE that should not be overlooked in the slightest, and managed to involve both celebrities (Jelly Roll) and legends, particularly Trish Stratus and Goldberg. As much as we want this to be a recreation of the 'Monday Night Wars,' the reality right now is this: AEW is the better pure wrestling promotion and WWE is the better sports entertainment promotion. There's plenty of room for both to thrive in this space and EVERYONE from the talent, to the media, to the fans are better off for it. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: Naomi speaks at the Press Conference Desk during WWE Evolution at State Farm Arena on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) 5. Give your one-word review of each show from the weekend and a short explanation why. Riggs: AEW All-In: Momentous. The 2025 iteration truly felt like the company's version of WrestleMania, and a WrestleMania of old — an actual culmination point of everything that happened since the last titular event. I don't want to say "reset point," but rather something like the "end of season" or "next book in the series" type of event. Advertisement WWE Evolution: Epic. The second event of its name just felt special, and almost like a continuation of that evolution label. Every performer channeled it beautifully. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Pass. I'm not saying anything new by calling SNME a glorified house show, but that's just what they are. Occasionally, a banger of a match unfolds in the short time given. That's about it, though. As overall events, they're almost totally missable. Sulla-Heffinger: AEW All In Texas: Defining – AEW's first true stadium show in the U.S. marks a significant real-life milestone and acts as a turning point for the creative future of the company. More than any other stateside AEW show, All In Texas felt like a WrestleMania. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Forced – Again, not necessarily bad because there were some decent matches on the card, but even if Rollins didn't get hurt, this felt like it took a little bit away from a weekend that Evolution should have dominated in the WWE landscape. Great moment and a fitting end for Goldberg, though. Advertisement WWE Evolution: Worthy – Sunday proved that this should be a tentpole event on the WWE PLE calendar every year. Dansby: Great American Bash: Meh. This felt more like a placeholder than a peak NXT event. They've got to figure out how to make the TNA involvement actually mean something and start building up the next wave of top stars. Right now, it feels like they're in a holding pattern. All In: Electric. AEW is giving its core fans exactly what they want—and doing it well. But the challenge now is to turn that momentum into growth. Can they bring in new fans without losing their base? We're about to find out. Evolution: Eye-opening. The women delivered. Period. The talent is there, the performances were top-tier, and the response was overwhelming. If WWE doesn't make this a yearly event, it'll feel like a huge missed opportunity. This was proof that the women can consistently headline, draw, and steal the show. Advertisement Jackman: AEW All-In: Coherent. Unlike previous AEW events, this actually felt like more than the sum of its respective parts, with multiple storylines gelling perfectly throughout the evening. The whole feel was much more professional and narrative-driven than the Wembley events, which always felt more like a big carnival show than a self-contained PLE. WWE Evolution: Justified. I made the risky play of expressing some skepticism about the merits of an all-women event and I'm pleased to see that they knocked it out of the park. WWE Saturday Night's Main Event: Mixed. As usual, the whole thing felt more like a procession of 'SmackDown' main events rather than a proper PLE (in fairness, I should note that WWE doesn't actually call SNME a PLE, but they do kind of imply it...). The Goldberg stuff was excellent though. I'm not embarrassed to say that I welled up a bit when Doug Dellinger knocked on the door that one final time.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Could Jon Moxley's frustrating title reign finally end at AEW All In?
Jon Moxley puts the title up for grabs against Hangman Adam Page at All In, and there's only one right choice. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Heaven knows we've been teased and tested along the way, but heading into this weekend's AEW All In event, you get the sense that it's finally happening. Jon Moxley's reign of terror is coming to an end. Reign of terror, you say? Well, how else do you describe the fact the Death Riders have ruled over the AEW world championship with an iron fist in a way not seen before in Tony Khan's promotion? But, yes, there's also the fact Moxley himself has been perhaps the most divisive champion in modern wrestling, and that a sizable chunk of fans see his dominance as an abomination. Advertisement But why all the Moxley hatred? On the face of it, his whole schtick hasn't been that big a departure from the established heel playbook. Plenty of "tough guy" champs have enjoyed dominant reigns without being popular. But how many have had fans actively jeering, 'Bulls***!' when they win? Sometimes I wonder if the rage-baiting is the whole point. When you look at how the Death Riders are presented, there's something gratuitous about their whole biker gang vibe that goes beyond the traditional heel factions. The point isn't just to win the match, but to actively pulverize opponents in a way you rarely see in WWE (at least not when The Rock and Travis Scott aren't around). The mold was established on the first night Moxley became champion. Having already scored a gut-punch win over Bryan Danielson (just listen to the air go out of the room when he beats the most beloved man in the company), Moxley and his goons proceeded to beat "The American Dragon" senseless. Lowlights included suffocating him with a plastic bag and stomping on his neck in an obvious reference to Danielson's legitimate injury history. That sort of ultraviolence can work well when used discerningly and at the right moments — like The Bloodline savaging Kevin Owens after Royal Rumble 2024. But when it's forced down our throats time after time, accompanied by another Moxley victory we probably didn't want in the first place? It's no wonder this run has tested the patience of AEW fans. Advertisement Add on top of that, some of the more inexplicable narrative decisions — and I'm not talking about little quirks like the Death Riders locking away the title in a briefcase. (Personally, I always wondered if that was a satirical commentary on Jon Jones running away with UFC's heavyweight title). But how do you explain the Young Bucks suddenly appearing out of nowhere to kick Swerve Strickland into oblivion just when Mox was actually on the ropes for once? Did we ever get an answer to that? It isn't that there isn't a place for the Death Riders in AEW. Compared to the more rigid nature of WWE, Khan's promotion has always endorsed a wider diversity of wrestling styles, and presumably some folks like the bar-fight, death-match stuff. What should be obvious even to them, though, is Moxley isn't working as the top guy. Advertisement In fairness, AEW has been telegraphing the end of Moxley's reign for a while now, even if most of us erroneously guessed it would be Will Ospreay who would be doing the honors. The whole story of the last few months has been how the winner of the Owen Hart Cup will go on to challenge Moxley at All In — the biggest show on the AEW calendar. That will now culminate with 'Hangman' Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley in a Texas Death Match main event. It isn't just that 'Hangman' needs to win for narrative reasons. It's that putting the belt on one of AEW's most loyal soldiers and consistent performers is the perfect way to usher in a new era for the challenger promotion — one that takes hold of all the things that seem to be going in the right direction for Khan right now while also setting up things for an excellent end to the year. We've mentioned a few times at Uncrowned that AEW is on a bit of a run right now (Death Riders storyline aside). Viewing figures and live audiences have been picking up, after a noticeable slump this year. On this week's media call, Khan said he expects All In to do a $3 million gate in Texas, which, if accurate, is seriously impressive. Wrestling-wise, Ospreay and Swerve are both still red-hot with fans, despite their respective setbacks. Kenny Omega is back on his feet after his health issues, while MJF is jelling nicely with The Hurt Syndicate — which looks as good as it ever did in WWE — all while having a solid feud with Místico. You also have new talents like Megan Bayne and Kevin Knight establishing names for themselves. Advertisement As much as the gambling metaphors have been done to death with AEW, you have to admit that it all looks like a seriously strong hand for Khan. If there was ever a time to reset things at the top and tell stories that don't end with your best babyfaces being choked out with plastic bags, now is the time to do it. Again, all signs point to that happening this weekend. But when you've confidently set out predictions about how Moxley's title run will end — only to see them go up in smoke — you learn to be a bit more cautious. Sometimes I wonder if all our hopes just end up contributing to some cosmic jinx that keeps the Death Riders on top. Come Saturday evening, we'll know the answer to all those questions. And right now, the smart money has been on "Hangman" scoring the victory and becoming the first non-Death Rider to even touch the world title (quite literally) in this calendar year. At that moment, AEW can finally put those 'bulls***' chants firmly in the past. On the other hand, if things go the other way, then Khan's company might want to update its motto. I suggest: 'AEW: Where the Best Wrestle — Before Being Choked Out Again by Jon Freaking Moxley.'
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Major Update on Absent AEW Star Ahead of 'All In Texas'
Major Update on Absent AEW Star Ahead of 'All In Texas' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A top AEW name who has been absent for several months might surface by "All In Texas." AEW's biggest pay-per-view event of the year is scheduled for July 12. The company has been building up several storylines leading up to the show, and there are expected to be some surprises. Could one of those surprises be the return of one of AEW's "Four Pillars?" Advertisement Fightful reports that Darby Allin is believed to be returning "imminently." Some backstage went as far as to say they'd be "shocked" if Allin isn't involved in the "All In Texas" show in some form. The report noted that AEW initially hoped Allin would be ready by the Owen Hart Cup, but that didn't happen. Allin spent several months on the shelf recovering from a foot injury before he climbed Mount Everest. The report mentioned that Allin walked away from the climb "relatively unscathed," and he's in good enough shape to return to the ring at any time. While fans have speculated that Allin will be involved in a run-in during the "All In Texas" main event between Jon Moxley and "Hangman" Adam Page, no creative plans have been revealed. Allin does have history with the Death Riders. During the "AEW Full Gear" event, Allin drove his car into the faction's getaway vehicle. The Death Riders are expected to assist Moxley in some way during his title defense against Page. Perhaps Allin will even the odds along with other members of the AEW locker room who have been targeted by the group. Related: WWE Veteran Teases Crossover Title Match With TNA Wrestling Champion This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AEW And Jon Moxley Sued For Negligence, Civil Assault, And Battery By Production Crew Member
Legal trouble seems to be brewing for AEW and Jon Moxley in the aftermath of a civil lawsuit from a longtime production crew member. The Takedown on SI's Jon Alba is reporting on a new lawsuit involving All Elite Wrestling and Jon Moxley. The suit alleges 'various degrees of negligence…alongside civil assault and battery' over a ringside incident involving Moxley and a production crew member. Advertisement The plaintiff, Christopher Dispensa, claims he 'suffered severe neck and shoulder injuries as a result of being shoved to the ground unexpectedly by Moxley.' This allegedly took place an episode of AEW Dynamite in 2023. Dispensa alleges he was forced to undergo 'cervical fusion surgery, shoulder surgery, and treatment for other unspecified injuries' as a result. Dispensa's employment history with AEW allegedly dates back to 2019, when he began contract work with the promotion as a crew member. He claims he hasn't worked with AEW since December 5, 2024, and was demoted to the role of carpenter by his employer, Broadcast Service Group, without an explanation. When did the incident take place? As for the incident, Dispensa puts the date of the injuries on May 10, 2023—the night AEW Dynamite emanated from Detroit. That show featured Kenny Omega versus Moxley in a steel cage as the main event. Advertisement 'Moxley went to grab a screwdriver to use on Omega, and in doing so, shoved Dispensa to the ground. The lawsuit claims Moxley was supposed to only grab the screwdriver, and Dispensa took an unplanned fall as a result of being shoved,' according to The Takedown. Lawsuit alleges Jon Moxley's history with disciplinary issues The lawsuit was filed on May 30 in the Wayne County Circuit Court. The suit further accuses Jon Moxley of having a 'history of disciplinary issues before this incident involving other people while under [AEW's] employ, agency and/or contractual relationship.' '[P]ast disciplinary offenses by [Moxley] include a documented history of unpredictability as well as a lack of control by Defendant AEW, all of which were known or should have been known to Defendant AEW at the time of this assault,' according to the document. Advertisement Dispensa's legal team said he is seeking compensation for 'injuries suffered due to actions of the wrestler and the company he worked for.' The filing puts the 'amount in controversy' in excess of $25,000. An AEW spokesperson, when approached by The Takedown for comment, said the company 'does not comment on pending litigation.' A status conference for the lawsuit is set for August 29, 2025. RELATED: Karrion Kross Hopes Multi-Time AEW Champion Returns To WWE One Day The post AEW And Jon Moxley Sued For Negligence, Civil Assault, And Battery By Production Crew Member appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jon Moxley has lost the crowd — and AEW has lost the plot with this baffling run
For better of worse, Jon Moxley is still AEW World Champion. () (Etsuo Hara via Getty Images) Another AEW event ends with the same question: Just how long is that title staying in the briefcase? Yes, less than month after its live audience jeered the decision to have Jon Moxley retain against Cope at AEW Revolution, Sunday night's AEW Dynasty pay-per-view ended in another dirty defense for the champion. Advertisement Should we have expected something different? To state the obvious, Tony Khan's booking has shown just how little he cares about the fan base's disapproval of Moxley. The live crowds can boo the leader of the Death Riders all they like, but the message from the boss is loud and clear: Moxley is the top guy in AEW. It's frustrating because, unlike with Cope, the expert consensus — if such a thing exists in wrestling — seemed to be creeping toward a Swerve Strickland victory this time around. Most of us caught sight of the reports on Sunday that the challenger's family was in the house in Philly and got the sense that maybe — just maybe — the change was finally coming. Even when Moxley and Strickland settled into the match itself, there were signs it might really be happening. Just listen to the roar of the crowd when Wheeler Yuta accidentally collided with Moxley, giving Hangman Adam Page the chance to clear the ring. And then again when Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata came racing down the ramp to ward off the heels. But having teased its own tribute to Cody Rhodes' grand ascension at WrestleMania 40, AEW then veered in the other direction on Sunday, with an ending that recalled another big WWE match: Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre in 2022. Just minutes after the challenger executed a perfect Swerve Stomp, an unexpected return from the Young Bucks delivered another stolen victory for the champ. Advertisement In some ways, this was infinitely worse than Clash at the Castle, given that — at least in that case — the interference came from someone with a plausible reason to get involved (i.e., Solo Sikoa). But having the Young Bucks do the dirty work for the bad guys just had most of us scratching our heads. I can't remember the last time that a main event conclusion drew such a terrible reaction. How much longer will this Moxley reign of terror go on? There's been plenty of speculation that Khan is holding out for All In in July, presumably on the basis that the moment deserves to take place on one of the promotion's flagship shows — like WWE does with WrestleMania and SummerSlam. If that's the case, it would be another odd example of AEW — a promotion literally defined in opposition to WWE — choosing to follow rules set by its much bigger competitor. In any event, it's not like this was some random episode of "AEW Dynamite" — Sunday was one of AEW's biggest gates of the year, with a really hot crowd to boot. Jon Moxley's title reign continued Sunday with a win over Swerve Strickland at AEW Dynasty. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) We also need to contend with the notion that maybe Moxley isn't dropping the belt this year at all. Perhaps it's all wishful thinking and we'll see the Death Riders standing tall again in Texas this summer. Given that Moxley has already crushed two of the most popular guys on the roster, why not let him run riot over Will Ospreay instead? Advertisement I'm being facetious, admittedly, but would it really be such a surprise at this point? Khan either isn't bothered by the boos for his champion or — worse — has fallen into the trap of thinking they are somehow valuable currency for a heel champion. Truth be told, I still maintain a lot of respect for Moxley's work rate in AEW and the circumstances around his return to the promotion three years ago. But even the Moxley advocates need to recognize that this particular run has gone on too long. It isn't just that Moxley has lost the crowd. I've written before about the overrepresentation of former WWE guys in the AEW World Championship scene. The longer the former Shield man holds the ultimate prize in AEW, the worse that record gets. In truth, it's a bit of an indictment that a promotion with such talented wrestlers hasn't elevated more homegrown stars to win its biggest prize. When you have guys like Kevin Knight making huge waves just weeks after signing, there's really no excuse to be so focused on legacy talent. Advertisement Will this be the last time we have to air this particular rant? For the sake of everyone, I really hope so. But to have Ospreay triumph in the Owen Hart Cup only to eventually lose to Moxley — I think I'd struggle to keep this column PG if that were to happen. In the meantime, I'll stick to the gallows humor I received from a friend after I texted him my thoughts about Moxley beating Strickland. 'Yeah, it sucks, but look on the bright side,' he said. 'At least Chris Jericho finally lost the Ring of Honor title.'
