3 times Jon Moxley proved himself as the ace of AEW
Jon Moxley holds a special place in the hearts of AEW fans. Since his earth-shattering debut in 2019, The Purveyor of Violence has remained an irreplaceable figure in the Tony Khan-led company.
The Deathrider left WWE in early 2019 after a seven-year-long stint, as he was frustrated with the lack of creative freedom in the sports entertainment giant. Moxley then decided to take his talents to All Elite Wrestling, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of his wrestling career.
The former AEW World Champion has been a reliable asset for the Jacksonville-based promotion. Whenever AEW has found itself in a phase of struggle, Jon Moxley has always been ready to rescue the company.
The Purveyor of Violence has earned the respect of the fans for his loyalty towards All Elite Wrestling, and how he has always stood up for the promotion in difficult times. In this article, let's look at three times Jon Moxley proved himself as the "Ace of AEW".
#3. Jon Moxley's debut helped legitimize AEW as a serious alternative to WWE
Prior to his arrival in AEW, Jon Moxley made a name for himself in WWE as Dean Ambrose. While he rarely got any opportunities in the main event scene, Moxley accumulated a significant fanbase in the Stamford-based promotion during his stay there.
The Lunatic Fringe was a popular figure in the wrestling community, as fans loved him for his unpredictable persona. Interestingly, Moxley's decision to leave WWE was unanimously agreed upon as one of the biggest blunders of the Vince McMahon-led regime.
Jon Moxley's debut at Double or Nothing 2019 provided All Elite Wrestling the solid headstart that they desperately needed. A widely popular figure, The Deathrider brought a lot of eyeballs to AEW's product. While names like Chris Jericho and Dustin Rhodes were already on AEW's side, it was the arrival of The Lunatic Fringe that helped the company establish itself as a serious threat to WWE.
It was a masterstroke on Tony Khan's part to sign a talent like Moxley, whose mainstream appeal helped the Jacksonville-based promotion reach a wider audience. It was arguably the most important signing in the company's history, which continues to pay dividends today.
#2. The Purveyor of Violence carried AEW on his back during the pandemic era
The pandemic era was a tough period for the pro wrestling business as a whole. However, the time was even more difficult for a startup promotion like All Elite Wrestling, which had come into existence only a few months prior.
The Jacksonville-based promotion desperately needed a savior in 2020-21, which they found in the form of Jon Moxley. After capturing the AEW World Championship at Revolution 2020, The Deathrider embarked on a historic title reign. Moxley remained the face of the AEW programming throughout the pandemic era, consistently delivering impressive performances as the champion.
The Purveyor of Violence held the AEW World Title for a record-setting 277 days. Even after losing his title against Kenny Omega, Moxley continued being one of the most reliable assets to Tony Khan.
The former WWE Champion kept coming up with intriguing material during his title reign, which kept the AEW product interesting in the absence of the fans. The Tony Khan-led company might have lost all their momentum during the pandemic era had Jon Moxley not stood up to the occasion.
#1. Jon Moxley was Tony Khan's go-to-guy during the summer of 2022
The year 2022 turned out to be tumultuous for All Elite Wrestling. However, the Elite promotion yet again found hope in Jon Moxley, who helped the company survive one of the darkest phases in its history.
In an unfortunate turn of events, CM Punk injured his foot in May 2022, mere days after winning the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing 2022. The incident forced AEW to crown a new Interim AEW World Champion at Forbidden Door 2022.
The crossover pay-per-view saw Jon Moxley decimate Hiroshi Tanahashi to become the Interim World Champion of the Jacksonville-based promotion. The Deathrider went on to hold the title till September when he ultimately dropped it to CM Punk when he returned from injury.
Unfortunately, The Voice of the Voiceless was involved in a backstage altercation with The Elite at All Out 2022, which compelled Tony Khan to vacate the AEW World Championship. The company once again crowned The Deathrider as the AEW World Champion, who went on to hold the title till Full Gear 2022.
The Ace of AEW fully embraced the responsibilities bestowed upon him by upper management. Jon Moxley emerged as a workhorse for AEW during this period, which is a testament to his incredible work ethic. The Purveyor of Violence fulfilled his role as a worthy champion, keeping the audience distracted from all the chaos that was going around.