10 Most Incredible Wrestling Moments Of 2019 (So Far)

7. Moxley In, Ambrose Out

Cody Dustin Rhodes Double or Nothing
Ricky Havlik/AEW

If you'd have told your writer at the start of the year that Jon Moxley would be among wrestling's hottest names by mid-2019, he'd have probably laughed. The former Dean Ambrose's WWE malaise was deep. His passion beaten out of him after years of shoddy presentation, he resembled a husk of the performer he once was, veering from bad prop comedy to waaayyyy too on-the-nose heel work, and the idea that he'd escape this personal hell seemed unfathomable.

Reinvention within WWE's confines would've been impossible. Thus, Dean Ambrose died so that Jon Moxley could live, and the 33-year-old is now thriving at the forefront of wrestling's coolest new promotion.

Mox's AEW debut came mere weeks after his WWE deal had expired. Fans spent most of Double Or Nothing waiting for his arrival and it came at the last possible second, with the Ohioan attacking Chris Jericho, the referee, and Kenny Omega after the main event, leading, eventually, to Moxley lobbing 'The Best Bout Machine' off the stage.

It felt like the ship-jumpings of old, and in that moment, Mox returned to the zeitgeist. A perfect conclusion to a thrilling pay-per-view.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.