Just a few months ago, Jon Moxley and the Death Riders were riding high atop All Elite Wrestling. Moxley was the AEW World Champion, and the group dominated everyone who stood in their way. Yet, fans quickly grew frustrated with his reign – and rightfully so. The angle wasn’t working, and there were hopes that Tony Khan would pivot. That pivot came, but not until AEW All In 2025 and not in the way fans initially hoped. But by the end of the run, the response to Moxley’s defeat once again proved he’s the most important performer on the roster.
When Moxley defeated Bryan Danielson at AEW WrestleDream 2024, the first thing he did was stuff the championship into a bag. His opinion was that the fans and the locker room did not deserve to see the championship, not until things changed around the promotion. It was an odd position to take but looking at how things turned out and the reaction to them, it was the right call.
Listen to how fans cheered the final few moments of the AEW All In 2025 main event. “Hangman” Adam Page was on the ropes. Swerve Strickland came in to help his biggest rival. Page took that momentum and defeated Moxley, once again forcing him to tap out by hanging him over the top rope with a chain. The minute Moxley taps, the fans let out a huge cheer, as if they were letting out a sigh of relief that Moxley’s reign was finally over. For some, it was because the run wasn’t the greatest. But for many in the moment, it was because Page defeated the biggest threat to the promotion they love.
Listen to the reaction immediately after that. The moment Page gets the briefcase open and fans can see the championship, they respond with an even bigger pop. It had been months since anyone laid eyes on the championship. It still had Danielson’s side plates, further cementing the idea that it was locked away in the darkest of realms. This was the moment that the story of AEW’s darkest moment ended. A story that was spearheaded by Jon Moxley.
Jon Moxley is a four-time AEW World Champion. He’s become the man that the company calls on when things need to change. So far, he’s proven that he’s the right man for that position. The angle with the Death Riders has entered a new chapter, one that should be interesting to watch now that he’s no longer the main event. But that doesn’t change the point that Jon Moxley is the most important performer on the AEW roster.