Jon Moxley has found himself trending again after recent speculation due to his AEW contract about to expire in a few months.
Since leaving WWE and signing with All Elite Wrestling, the former Dean Ambrose has seen a career resurgence unlike anything we have seen.
Moxley has traveled the world and left his mark across multiple promotions.
From hard hitting clashes with the best from NJPW or bloody deathmatches with the stars of GCW, Mox has been a world beater.
With fans wondering if he would make the jump back to WWE again, it seems like an ideal time to look at the legacy that he has built over the past three years outside of Vince McMahon’s company.
Here are the 10 best Jon Moxley matches since leaving WWE.
Honorable mentions:
– Jon Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship (AEW All Out 2020)
– Jon Moxley vs. Nick Gage for the GCW World Championship (GCW Fight Club 2021)
– Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship (August 5, 2020 AEW Dynamite)
– Jon Moxley vs. AJ Gray for the GCW World Championship (GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6 Night 1)
– Jon Moxley vs. Chris Jericho for the AEW World Championship (AEW Revolution 2020)
10. Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston in an I Quit Match for the AEW World Championship (AEW Full Gear 2020)
The rivalry between Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston was so riveting for fans to watch unfold.
The two men have a rich history with one another due to their past on the independent scene and coming up in the business together.
Kingston felt like Mox was a sell-out for leaving the indies for the bright lights of WWE and wanted to beat him to finally win the big one.
Their go-home promo exchange ahead of the pay-per-view is still one of the best in AEW history.
An I Quit match was the perfect stipulation, after Eddie lost to Mox previously due to referee stoppage.
The two competitors used their deathmatch experience to bring a different vibe to this encounter. In the end, Moxley choked Kingston out with a bulldog choke with barbwire wrapped around his arm.
9. Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee for the AEW World Championship (AEW Double Or Nothing 2020)
Another man who had a long-storied history with Jon Moxley before coming to All Elite Wrestling was Brodie Lee.
This made the Dark Order leader the ideal first pay-per-view opponent for Mox as AEW World Champion.
Despite a short buildup ahead of Double Or Nothing 2020, this had a lot of fire behind it.
Mox and Brodie had a physically intense brawl that went all over ringside. They brought a table into play and utilized the poker chips on the stage as well.
Lee was busted open thanks to a massive Paradigm Shift through the stage from Mox.
Brodie showed his determination and resiliency by surviving two more Paradigm Shifts. However, Moxley finally put Lee away with the Bulldog Choke for the referee stoppage win to retain the AEW World Title.
8. Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship (NJPW Best of Super Juniors 26 Finals)
This was the perfect way to kickstart Jon Moxley’s post-WWE run.
After debuting for All Elite Wrestling at Double Or Nothing 2019, this contest against Juice Robinson marked his first match in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
From the opening minutes, Mox brought a new level of intensity to this battle for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
The two men traded strikes and chops right off the bat. The brawl went all over ringside and into the crowd, with Moxley busting Juice open.
Mox brought a babyface fire out of Robinson, who fought from underneath for much of this bout. Tables and barricades were used at will by both competitors.
After trading lariats, Moxley hit a Death Rider for a great nearfall and then followed with the elevated version to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
This was an awesome way to kick off Mox’s run in NJPW.
7. Jon Moxley vs. Biff Busick (GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8)
Jon Moxley has been tearing it up in Game Changer Wrestling, especially at the Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport events.
The AEW star debuted in Bloodsport by defeating Chris Dickinson and Davey Boy Smith Jr, before his first loss to Josh Barnett himself.
During WrestleMania 38 weekend, one of the highly anticipated showdown for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8 was Jon Moxley vs. Biff Busick.
This was a grappling and strike-heavy fight that didn’t have any dives or near-falls.
Biff Busick was incredible here and stepped up big time in his first post-WWE appearance. He bled profusely here and fought valiantly as an underdog.
Jon Moxley was his usual brilliant self, but he had a keen sense of timing in this bout that showcased how he can elevate the intensity at the right moment.
It felt like a breathtaking G1 Climax battle mixed with a brutal MMA fight.
This put the blood in Bloodsport with Busick not backing down and surviving the Death Rider before flipping Mox off and getting hit with a running Regal knee for the knockout victory.
6. Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta (AEW Rampage – 4/8/22)
From one bloody battle to another, Jon Moxley had a hell of a week when it comes to brutal bouts.
The main event of the April 8, 2022 episode of AEW Rampage saw Mox face Wheeler Yuta for the third time.
In their first meeting, Moxley completely destroyed Yuta. In their second contest, Wheeler came a little closer, but he came up short against the more experienced opponent.
Wheeler Yuta came into this bout with something to prove to Mox, Bryan Danielson and William Regal, looking to join the Blackpool Combat Club.
Yuta delivered a suicide dive from the moment Moxley came out of the crowd, bringing the fight to the former AEW World Champion.
Mox used the steel steps to bust Wheeler open, Yuta wearing a visceral crimson mask.
From the second the blood started pouring, the Boston fans became more invested and were on the edge of their seats, rooting for Yuta to get the victory.
Wheeler kicked out of not one, but two Paradigm Shifts before finally getting choked out by Mox.
This was truly a star making performance for Yuta that earned him a spot in the Blackpool Combat Club with a handshake with William Regal after the match.
5. Jon Moxley vs. Minoru Suzuki for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship (NJPW New Beginning in Osaka 2020)
From the moment Jon Moxley and Minoru Suzuki went face-to-face at NJPW WrestleKingdom 14, it was spiritual wrestling life partners finally connected.
The intensity started at 10 and only went up from there at New Beginning in Osaka 2020. The two stars both grabbed steel chairs and had a jousting battle at the beginning.
They brawled into the crowd, all over ringside and traded strikes.
Suzuki is a sadist who enjoyed the punishment dished out and tried to brutalize Mox at every turn. Meanwhile Moxley brought an unmatched intensity that helped to escalate the violence.
This bout was raw, wild and a crazy brawl that had the fans fired up.
An insane fist fight eventually led to Mox hitting a King Kong Lariat, followed by the Death Rider to retain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
This was absolutely excellent and was unlike anything else on this spectacular show. Moxley and Suzuki have met a few times since, but it hasn’t reached the level of their initial bout with each other.
4. Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Titles (AEW Double Or Nothing 2021)
AEW Double Or Nothing 2021 marked the return of a full capacity crowd for All Elite Wrestling at their home of Daily’s Place.
Jon Moxley let Eddie Kingston know that the fans would love him right before they entered the arena and the two men received a raucous reaction from the Jacksonville crowd.
Their AEW World Tag Team Championships bout against The Young Bucks had a lot to enjoy.
Matt and Nick Jackson were at their best as douchebag heels who got under the skin of the fans.
Meanwhile, Moxley and Kingston played the perfect foils. Each man got the chance to come in with fiery hot tags.
The Bucks’ athleticism and shortcuts blended beautifully with Mox and King’s underdog and brawling styles.
They worked over the Mad King’s leg until he was able to make the tag to Mox.
The former AEW World Champion wouldn’t stay down, regardless of how many big moves the Bucks threw at him. However, they were finally able to keep him down with multiple BTE Triggers for the win.
Everyone in this one shined, especially Eddie Kingston, who put in a tremendous effort here. This worked in so many way and was arguably the best match at Double Or Nothing 2021.
3. Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega in an Unsanctioned Lights Out Match (AEW Full Gear 2019)
AEW Full Gear 2019 was the company’s third pay-per-view and delivered their most violent main event yet.
Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega started their feud at the end of AEW’s first major show, Double Or Nothing 2019. After their initial meeting was postponed due to injury, the stakes were heightened here.
In an Unsanctioned Lights Out Match, Mox owned the distinct advantage in this one. Both men came out firing off stiff strikes and ramped up the violence from there.
Moxley’s “it’s time for some f’n garbage wrestling” rally cry marked the moment that weapons came into play.
Trash cans, barb-wired bats, steel chairs and brooms were on full display in an absolutely brutal showdown. Moxley even wrapped a chain around Omega’s mouth trying to punish his rival.
Omega showed his creativity by first pulling out the broken glass from when Moxley gave him a Paradigm Shift through a glass table and then constructing a barbwire spider web brought out by The Elite.
This backfired on Omega though when Mox suplexed him off the stage into the spider web.
Both competitors survived a great deal, including Omega kicking out of the Paradigm Shift. However, the Best Bout Machine had one more trick up his sleeve.
Omega pulled the canvas off and exposed the wooden ring boards before attempting a Phoenix Splash shades of his Golden Lovers’ teammate Kota Ibushi, but he missed.
Mox followed with an elevated Death Rider on the boards to win. This was an extreme spectacle that set the standard for other Lights Out matches the company would offer from there on out.
2. Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW Revolution 2022)
Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson developed a compelling buildup on their way to AEW Revolution 2022.
Danielson proposed a partnership between the two, but Mox said that he had to bleed with him before standing side by side with the American Dragon.
The two stars started off with more technical wrestling and grappling before Moxley initiated a strike exchange.
Mox got the better of that exchange, but Danielson targeted the ribs and eventually lands a headbutt that splits Moxley open. Bryan soon joins him and both men were bleeding all over.
Neither man was able to hold the advantage for long, showing how evenly matched they were.
They survived the best shots until Danielson hit the Busaiku Knee for a nearfall. He followed with the kicks to the head and locked in the triangle choke.
Just when it looked like Bryan was on his way to victory with elbow strikes from the triangle position, Moxley landed some elbows and rolled through into a pinning combination for the win.
The post match was just as thrilling as this superb clash.
Both men wouldn’t stop the fight after the bell until their mentor William Regal made his shocking arrival in All Elite Wrestling.
Regal slapped both stars before making them shake hands to formally introduce the Blackpool Combat Club.
1. Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW G1 Climax 29 – 7/19/19)
This bout was one of the most intriguing matches heading into the G1 Climax 29.
At this point, Jon Moxley was just getting his footing in New Japan Pro Wrestling and had an undefeated record in the premier tournament of the promotion.
Tomohiro Ishii was his toughest test yet and would show if Mox could handle the kind of hard hitting showdowns NJPW was known for.
Mox and Ishii had an intense staredown before the bell, which set the tone immediately. Both men charged each other as soon as the bell rang and fired off strikes.
This fight went all over Korakuen Hall, and had a chair jousting on the floor. This was anything but the standing G1 fare. They hit each other as hard as possible with the violence escalating as time went on.
Ishii and Moxley traded stiff headbutts down the stretch that were absolutely vicious.
Mox wouldn’t back down and even slapped Ishii to ask for more punishment. The Stone Pitbull showed his resiliency by kicking out of the Death Rider, but Moxley responded with a running Regal knee.
The AEW star then followed with an elevated Death Rider to pick up the win in this wild brawl.
This match received a five-star rating from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and was named in many Match of the Year conversations in 2019.
It was violent, crazy, hard hitting and delivered an amazing encounter that lived up to the hype.
This was a bonafide classic that is the best Jon Moxley match since he left WWE.
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