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New Interim All Elite Wrestling World Champion Jon Moxley is one of the wrestling world’s biggest stars. Currently residing atop the mountain of AEW thanks to his victory over Hiroshi Tanahashi at AEW and NJPW’s Forbidden Door Pay-Per-View event, Moxley has been on fire since leaving WWE in early 2019.
He has taken the wrestling world by storm with incredible matches across the globe in promotions such as NJPW, GCW, and of course, AEW. Despite being a megastar, there have been numerous occasions where Moxley was defeated in singles competition. Which losses rank as the best in terms of match quality and the story told?
10 Vs. Toru Yano, NJPW G1 Climax 29 – Day 12
For anyone familiar with New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Toru Yano, this was exactly what you’d expect in a very short and comedic bout in 2019’s G1 Climax 29 tournament. Moxley interacted well with the always entertaining Yano, losing his first G1 match in hilarious fashion after being taped to Shota Umino on the outside forcing a count out.
Like every Yano match, very different to the typical NJPW bout but quite entertaining nonetheless in a comical defeat for Moxley as he looked shell shocked post-match.
9 Vs. Hirooki Goto, NJPW G1 Climax 29 – Day 16
A good bout that never kicked into another gear due to its short run time, lasting only under nine minutes, this was regardless a very solid first-time clash between Moxley and Hirooki Goto.
Great striking exchanges as both men brought the physicality they are known for, with good chemistry displayed in the back-and-forth. Goto would score the upset with a great reversal to defeat Moxley in surprising fashion. Good match overall for what it was.
8 Vs. Jay White, NJPW G1 Climax 29 – Day 14
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A very strong match between Moxley and Jay White in their first-ever meeting in 2019’s G1 Climax 29. A great dynamic with the underhanded White opposite the fiery Moxley as White grew in desperation as the match progressed. It was paced very well with excellent character work from both men as always, with stellar sequences and exchanges throughout.
Unfortunately, the finish did not have the full impact it needed with White going over Moxley after interference from Gedo. Regardless, a very entertaining, strong match-up here.
7 Vs. Josh Barnett, GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 6
This was an MMA-style bout in the main event of Game Changer Wrestling’s Bloodsport in this big fight feel between Moxley and Barnett. A great match unfolded with splendid mat wrestling and technical exchanges early on, but the carnage truly began when not only Barnett, but Moxley, were busted open with the intensity off the charts.
Barnett would prevail with a Death Valley Driver and repeated stomps to the head in a very strong main event fight.
6 Vs. Adam Page, Andrade El Idolo, Matt Hardy, Lance Archer, Orange Cassidy, & PAC, Casino Ladder Match, AEW Dynamite #106 – 2nd Anniversary Show
A great Ladder match to close the 6th of October 2nd Anniversary edition of Dynamite, with the six men and the Joker entrant vying for a chance to challenge Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship. Every competitor had his chance to shine in this bout with more room to breathe than your usual ladder spot fest, with Orange Cassidy, Andrade, and PAC in particular dropping jaws with unbelievable spots.
Some good storyline progressions interwoven, but this was all about ‘Hangman’ Adam Page’s triumphant return to a huge ovation as he deservedly emerged victorious.
5 Vs. Juice Robinson, NJPW G1 Climax 29 – Day 18
While not the level of their first meeting in Moxley’s first match outside WWE for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, this was still a great rematch between Moxley and Juice Robinson in 2019’s G1 Climax 29. Robinson would play the role of underdog to perfection here as Moxley targeted the knee of Juice early on, dominating and attempting to introduce weapons.
Great technical work throughout Robinson would stay true to himself, however, making a stellar comeback in the final third with a hot crowd to boot as Moxley let his anger distract him in the end with Robinson overcoming the odds for the victory with a roll-up. Great match and a great story told here.
4 Vs. Lance Archer, Texas Deathmatch, IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, AEW Dynamite #95 – Fyter Fest 2021: Night 2
The second Texas Deathmatch between Moxley and Lance Archer for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, this time taking place in AEW rather than NJPW. As expected, simply brutal action from start to finish in this Dynamite main event with the violence off the charts. Incredible spots involving weapons throughout including a fork, with Moxley taking some brutal bumps in particular.
Both men were busted open at one point with a war of attrition between the two men in just under fourteen minutes. Archer would prevail to be crowned champion in his hometown of Texas to a huge ovation after Chokeslamming Moxley through two tables topped with barbed wire. Absolute carnage in a great bout.
3 Vs. Kenny Omega, AEW World Championship, AEW Dynamite #62 - Winter Is Coming
This was a sensational main event at December 2020s edition of AEW Dynamite – Winter Is Coming, with Moxley defending his AEW World Championship against Kenny Omega in a much-anticipated rematch after their Full Gear Lights Out bout.
The two reignited their chemistry immediately without the use of weapons, with a great methodical first half and a blisteringly stellar second half with superb in-ring work throughout. The ending was simply brilliant as Omega emerged victorious to be crowned new AEW World Champion, thanks to help from Don Callis in a wild heel turn. Excellent top to bottom.
2 Vs. Kenny Omega, Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch, AEW World Championship, AEW Revolution 2021
This was a fantastically brutal Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch as Moxley looked to reclaim his AEW World Championship at AEW’s Revolution 2021 PPV. Both men put their bodies on the line in a barbaric encounter with excellent wrestling, beautifully violent spots, incredible intensity, and great use of the stipulation particularly when Moxley used the exploding ropes to survive the One-Winged Angel.
While not the same level of deathmatch as seen outside AEW, this was a superb effort from both stars as Omega retained although the laughable ‘explosion’ post-match did not excite as intended. Regardless, a spectacular bout.
1 Vs. Juice Robinson, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Will Ospreay, IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Four-Way, NJPW Capital Collision 2022
Incredible four-way for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship at NJPW’s Capital Collision event in May taking place in the United States. With a blistering pace all four men traded high-impact offense from the get-go, with breathtaking spots throughout and stellar sequences in a superb sprint.
There was never a dull moment with the U.S. crowd red-hot for the action, with each wrestler shining in their role particularly Moxley and Ospreay. After just over fifteen minutes, it would be Juice Robinson emerging as new champion after pinning Ospreay, with Ospreay’s foot under the bottom rope to protect him in defeat. Fantastic top to bottom in a tremendous four-way bout.