10 Greatest Promos In Modern Wrestling History

6. Jon Moxley Will Kill Or Be Killed

Cody Rhodes AEW
AEW

Jon Moxley has become something of a meme over the last year because he blades to an extent that is no longer gratuitous but almost comical. There's no discipline to it. The heft is gone entirely. You're meant to sympathise with the blood-soaked babyface, but this is impossible when Mox is evidently enjoying it so much.

Jon Moxley is also a pro wrestling genius. On the go-home Dynamite ahead of Revolution 2023, he restored the power of blood and rescued a generally uninspiring build from becoming a one-match show.

Filmed the prior week, after he'd - yes - juiced a gusher when Hangman Page threw barbed wire in his face, Mox sat on a stairwell as his own blood pooled beneath him. If looked as though he'd never stop bleeding. It looked as though, for the first time in a long time, bleeding had consequences.

Mox's body language was incredible here. His arms clutched at the railings. He was restless, coiled, ready to prey on his opponent. He screamed this promo. He's not a ranter and raver is Moxley. He can shout, and does so at the right times to convey intensity, but he measures his tone carefully. He roared here, literally, because the idea was to get over as an animal where Hangman, despite being a great one, was merely a man. Mox convincingly put across the idea that he was willing to die. That should be impossible.

Mox's tone and body language expertly conveyed that point, and he used exposition in such a deft way: he recounted the beats of the story, illuminating how strong it was, but only to get it right in his head. He couldn't fathom why Hangman would continue to go after him.

And with that gruesome visual of his right eye indistinguishable through blood, as ever, the most credible man in wrestling had a point.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!