How WWE Missed A HUGE Opportunity With Jon Moxley

Dean Ambrose Jon Moxley
WWE/NJPW

Your writer has been prone to statements about Jon Moxley that may have appeared hyperbolic in the past, but referring to him as the best wrestler in the world while he was enthralling audiences on a nightly basis on one continent and turning a company upside down on another didn't exactly seem that much of a stretch. Even less so in the 18 months since.

Moxley's wins propelled him to the number one slot in the kayfabed Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500, adding to his aura as the top guy with the top belt in a company he'd argue was the top promotion in the world. Just like John Cena used to do, supported by his own impossibly healthy win/loss record.

They are - and perhaps this shouldn't even need saying - not entirely alike. John Cena the man can be as affable and aloof as Jonathan Good the Las Vegas-based outsider, but John Cena the WWE Superstar is Vince McMahon funny instead of Jon Moxley witty. When Cena applies the STF, he leaves a gap so wide you could drive a truck through there, baby. Contrast that to how tightly Moxley locks on his bulldog choke submission. And that leads into perhaps the biggest distinction between the two - wrestlers aren't left for dead when they look at the lights for the new Big Match Jon.

CONT'D...

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett