Jon Moxley recently defeated Brian Cage in a knock-down, drag-out contest to retain the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. The victory extended his title reign to 139 days and further cemented the antihero’s status as one of the best wrestlers in the world. As one of the current faces of the company, Mox is a complete performer, merging promos that are intense, yet genuine, with a unique in-ring combination of aggression and intelligence that is unrivaled.
Four years ago, that wasn’t the case. The former Dean Ambrose, in his only run as WWE World Heavyweight Champion, was – for the most part – overshadowed by other programs, as well as his own competition. While things didn’t go as planned during his WWE title run in 2016, Mox’s previous experience as a utility player in WWE has helped mold him into the well-rounded champion he is today in AEW.
Poor Character Development Hurt Ambrose as Champion
Ambrose’s run as WWE champion started off strong. In his first program, he had the opportunity to emerge out from underneath the shadow of former shield teammates Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, pinning the former in a triple threat match while also knocking off the latter in singles action.
The matches were engaging, but where the Lunatic Fringe truly shined was on the microphone. In the lead-up to his first two singles matches against Rollins, he passionately exclaimed that in order for the Architect to take the world title off him, he would have to pry it from his “cold, dead hands.” It was one of the best promos in years and showcased the 16-year veteran as a fighting champion.
Understandably, fans expected a similar edge when Ambrose moved exclusively to Smackdown as the brand’s top pick in the 2016 draft. Instead, he played second fiddle to Dolph Ziggler in a feud that lacked a clear heel.
As part of the program, Ambrose played up the fact that he had to fight and claw his way to the main event scene. While these words would’ve meant something against most challengers, they didn’t against Ziggler, who described his own journey from male cheerleader to world champion. The fans got behind Ziggler, as they knew his potential at the top of the card was never fully reached due to injury and poor booking. By the time the pair faced off at SummerSlam, crowd support favored the Show Off -- and it hurt the subsequent direction of Ambrose’s run.
Things went from bad to worse the following month in Ambrose’s series with AJ Styles. There are a number of reasons why this particular program didn’t work. First off, Styles was red hot. The former NJPW and TNA star had debuted to a huge pop at the 2016 Royal Rumble and was fresh off of a clean victory over John Cena in a SummerSlam match that was far more engaging than the world title bout that followed it.
Additionally, there was little character development for Ambrose in the lead-up. Instead of increasing his intensity to show how much the championship meant to him, he cracked jokes, including a corny bit where he gave his opponent a participation trophy.
On the other side, Styles elevated his character. He walked around with a John Cena armband as a victory token while also calling himself “the face than runs the place.” The challenger’s brash confidence, impressive athleticism and proven track record world-wide made him the more logical flag-bearer for the blue brand.
By winning with a low blow at Backlash, Styles also showed that he would do whatever it takes to win, outsmarting Ambrose in the process. The inclusion of James Ellsworth in the duo’s rematch at TLC did nothing to help the former champion as he was once again made to look like a fool, this time by a jobber.
Moxley Becomes a More Refined, Intense Champion
Since debuting for AEW at Double or Nothing last May, Moxley has been nothing short of enthralling. It’s clear that the Ohio native has thought long and hard about his character, which comes off as an extension of himself. His genuine promos make him a must-see antihero that fans can get behind, while also establishing the brawler as a clear face in his championship defenses.
A great example of Mox's mic work came on the Jan. 29 episode of Dynamite in his feud against then-world champion Chris Jericho. In it, he acknowledged that he was “far from perfect, and “no hero, no role model and no saint.” By acknowledging his flaws, Mox came across as relatable to the fans, giving them even more incentive to cheer for him.
In the ring, the key for the unpredictable star has been versatility. He has yet to suffer a pinfall loss in singles competition in AEW while recording impressive and unique victories along the way. When Mox first secured the world title from Chris Jericho at Revolution, for example, he did so by out-thinking his opponent, who assumed the challenger still had the eye injury he suffered during the build.
In his first defense against Jaker Hager -- an undefeated Bellator fighter and former All-American wrestler -- Mox showcased his technical skill. Against Mr. Brodie Lee, he demonstrated his toughness by out-lasting the near 300-pounder in a match that spilled all over the arena. Most recently, the brawler demonstrated his cerebral side, targeting Cage’s previously injured bicep as a way to counteract the dangerous power of his opponent.
With every title defense, Mox has emerged looking stronger than the last. This is key when establishing the prestige of a new world championship. While the former WWE champion at one time played second fiddle to the challengers around him, there’s no denying that in his new home, he’s the top dog.