Double Or Nothing 2024 marks the completion of the first five years of AEW history. There are certain names that have grown synonymous with the brand. There’s Tony Khan as an executive. There’s Chris Jericho as the legend who lent his credibility from day one and was the promotion’s first world champion. Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks have been marquee stars and executives, while MJF is widely heralded as AEW’s top “homegrown” star.
Another talent whom it’s difficult to imagine AEW without is Jon Moxley and, indeed, it’s hard to remember a time when it was positively shocking to see Mox show up on the brand. He made his surprise debut at the end of the company’s very first PPV, Double or Nothing 2019.
Jon Moxley Signing With AEW Made A Statement
The original AEW roster consisted of a mix of veteran talents who’d been better established in WWE like Chris Jericho and Dustin Rhodes, stars who’d made their name in Japan or in ROH like Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, and relatively fresh faces to a mainstream American audience, like MJF, Sammy Guevara, and the Lucha Brothers. Wrestlers like PAC and arguably even Cody Rhodes (at the time) were undeniably talented, but nonetheless, carried a bit of a stink around “not cutting it” in WWE at more than a mid-card level.
Jon Moxley was different. Long before Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, or Mercedes Mone made their way into an AEW ring, Mox was quite arguably the first main event-level talent to consciously choose AEW in his prime. In doing so, Moxley cast his vote that AEW was a legitimate choice for a marquee talent and immediately enhanced the promotion’s standing in the eyes of casual fans.
Jon Moxley Has Proven His Value To AEW Time And Again
More than a big signing, Jon Moxley has become part of the foundation of AEW. He was just the second man to win the AEW World Championship and the first man to ever win that title three times. That status underscores two points around Moxley: that he was a credible champ and that he has gamely filled whatever role was needed of him, including twice picking up the slack when CM Punk got hurt while champion.
Moreover, Moxley has been a key part of The Blackpool Combat Club’s feuds and been a staple upper card talent to work with major names on their way into the company like Bryan Danielson and Konosuke Takeshita, not to mention rising stars like MJF and Orange Cassidy.
The Other Top Free Agent Signings In AEW History
It’s a bold claim to say Jon Moxley was AEW’s biggest free agent signing. After all, fellow former world champs from WWE like Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, and Mercedes Money have also found their way onto the roster. Stars like Sweve Strickland, Samoa Joe, Claudio Castagnoli, and Toni Storm have also contributed at a high level.
A lot of the aforementioned names quite arguably peaked pre-AEW, though, or have been valuable but not quite as high-profile or longstanding parts of the roster. There’s a chance Mone might supersede Moxley in the long-term, if she can succeed at elevating the women’s division, up to and including securing the first AEW PPV main event spot for female talents. There’s a lot that would have to happen to make that possibility a reality, though–including her staying healthy and sticking around for the long haul.
Indeed, one of the few talents who truly looks like he might one day surpass Mox’s impact, quality of performance, and length of tenure with AEW may well be Will Ospreay. He was one of the best wrestlers in the world when he signed with AEW—including that WWE purportedly made overtures to sign him. Moreover, he just turned 31, and particularly by modern standards, there’s every reason to suspect he has over a decade of top shelf performances ahead of him. All that said, Ospreay only started full-time with AEW this year, so there’s a long road ahead before anyone could seriously suggest he’s meant more to the company than Mox.
It’s telling that Jon Moxley is such a bedrock performer for AEW now, Moreover, it’s telling how open he has been about his past unhappiness in WWE. While Mercedes Mone has already openly discussed an eventual return to WWE, and it seems likely talents like Ricky Starks will eventually make their way over there, all indications are that Mox is on team AEW for good. He’s a defining AEW talent and the company’s best signing.