Bully Ray Thinks Jon Moxley Owes AEW Fans An Apology
He's wrong, of course, but here's Bully Ray on Jon Moxley...
In the eyes of former Dudley Boy Bully Ray, the only thing missing from Jon Moxley's return promo on this week's episode of AEW Dynamite was an apology to the fans.
Dynamite's 19 January episode hosted Moxley's first appearance since late October. In November, it was announced that the former World Champion was entering an inpatient alcohol treatment program. He returned re-energised and visibly healthier, delivering a raw, hard-hitting speech on battling his demons, cutting down an obnoxious heckler in the process.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Bully said that while he thought Mox "said what he needed to say" in his show-opener, he wanted more accountability (h/t WrestlingNews.co):-
“I did enjoy that they started off with Moxley. They came out with a bang, people were ready for it and Moxley said what he needed to say. However, I would have liked to have heard just a little bit of accountability from Jon. I understand the whole demons thing and we always use the word demons as a creative word to get around the real issues. Whether it’s an alcohol issue, whether it’s a drug issue. In Tommy [Dreamer’s] case it’s an eating issue. Everybody has some kind of demon that they have to get around.”
The former ECW, WWE, and TNA star continued, explaining why he felt an apology to the audience would have been appropriate:-
“We have our demons. These demons got the best of Jon for a time period where he had to step away from AEW. I would have liked to have heard him say a bit of an apology to the AEW fans. You don’t have to apologize to the boys even though the boys do count on you but any one of those guys and gals could have the same problems that you did. And trust me, I came up in an era where a slew of men and women had their demons. The fans expect a little bit more from you. What about the fans that bought tickets to see AEW and Jon Moxley while Jon was away taking care of his problems I’m very happy that he left and took care of his problem. And he looked incredibly healthy last night. And I love everything that he said. I just would have loved to have heard a little bit of accountability. I don’t know if I’m sorry is necessarily the right word but maybe endear yourself a little bit to the crowd if you felt you let them down. This is coming from me, the hard ass of all hard asses. Personally, if it was me in the same situation, the first thing I would have said is ‘guys, I’m sorry if I let you down’…I think that would have been the proper thing to do.”
Heckler aside, the crowd's reaction (and that on social media when Bully's quotes first hit the internet) suggests that an overwhelming majority of AEW fans did not, in fact, "expect a little bit more" from Moxley, who was open, honest, and frank about bearing his scars on Dynamite.