Top star reveals Jon Moxley's promo convinced him to join AEW despite WWE's offer
Jon Moxley has had a huge impact on AEW's growth and is considered one of the most important signings in the company's young history. It's also been revealed that he played a major role in a fan-favorite star's decision to sign with the promotion over WWE.
Will Ospreay was perhaps the biggest free agent on the market in 2023. Both AEW and WWE reportedly courted the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but he ultimately chose the Jacksonville-based promotion, where he's become a top star.
Ahead of AEW Dynamite's fifth anniversary in Pittsburgh, Will Ospreay was asked to reveal his favorite moment in the show's history. The Aerial Assassin pointed to Jon Moxley's famous promo following All Out 2021, which he claims made him want to be a part of the company.
Moxley's promo followed the disastrous backstage brawl between CM Punk and The Elite. With both parties suspended, The Purveyor of Violence had to cancel his vacation and return to television. The promo he cut on the September 7, 2022, episode of Dynamite roused the fans—and Ospreay, who was watching the show from Japan—with the immortal words, "It's time to be a legend."
Check it out below:
Jon Moxley is trying to win his fourth AEW World Championship
Jon Moxley has been one of AEW's top stars since the company's inaugural pay-per-view, Double or Nothing 2019. He's also the first—and currently only—man to have won the AEW World Championship three times. Now, he's got his eyes on a fourth reign, and it could come at the cost of Bryan Danielson's career.
Bryan Danielson has claimed that he will retire from full-time competition when he loses the AEW World Championship. His series of open challenges was going well until he was betrayed and attacked by his former friends in The Blackpool Combat Club at All Out, earlier this month.
Now, Moxley is determined to take the title from The American Dragon and once again reign atop the company, this time as its villainous king. Meanwhile, Danielson is seeking retribution. The WWE legend even attacked Moxley on the most recent episode of Dynamite.
The two will meet one more time at AEW WrestleDream next month. Whether Moxley can finally put an end to The American Dragon remains to be seen.