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With Cody Rhodes shockingly returning to WWE this year in a turn no one ever expected, questions have arisen as to who else from AEW might jump to WWE. The biggest name speculated is one Jon Moxley, the former AEW World Champion and eight-year veteran of WWE. With Moxley’s AEW contract running out in 2022, would Moxley return to WWE? Given the heavy criticism, Moxley laid out on his former employer as he walked out the door, the answer to that question is probably a big hell no, but stranger things have happened. If Moxley was to return to WWE, he would have the potential to be the company’s biggest star.
Moxley Was A Huge But Also Misused Star During His WWE Run
Jon Moxley, as Dean Ambrose, was pushed as a megastar from his debut. The story and importance of The Shield have been examined to death over the years, but their impact can’t be understated. They were the biggest faction in the company since DX, and all three members would go on to become among the biggest acts in WWE.
While Roman Reigns has been pushed to the moon as the face of the company and Seth Rollins has enjoyed massive success, Moxley’s days in WWE were up and down. Sure, he was part of The Shield, and he was a WWE Champion, but he was also misused. One month he was hot, the next he was forgotten. One month he came across as a serious badass, the next he was making bad jokes.
It all led to Moxley leaving WWE for the upstart AEW. From the moment of his debut, Moxley has been able to realize his full potential and be who he wanted to be. A mix of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin crossed with Brian Pillman, Moxley’s character resembles more of who he is in real life. He would become the AEW World Champion and the face of the company, and even when he stepped back as he has now, he is still making waves as part of The Blackpool Combat Club. In AEW, Moxley has accomplished everything. And maybe that’s the problem.
Moxley Would Get The Cody Rhodes Treatment If He Returned To WWE
Cody Rhodes left AEW partially because he felt like he had done everything there was to do there and also to make up for the bitter taste left in his mouth by his WWE run. Moxley’s path is very similar to Rhodes’. Would Rhodes’ instant success in his return to WWE make Moxley curious about his own potential?
Vince McMahon knew what he had in Jon Moxley. It’s why his goodbye celebration in the company seemed to last for months. Despite his criticism of WWE, even Moxley was stunned by how kind the company was to him in his last days. If Moxley was to return to WWE, McMahon would not mess that up again.
Fans were shocked not only when Rhodes returned to WWE, but also by the presentation. He was allowed to keep “The American Nightmare” moniker, the same attire, the same entrance music, and the blonde hair. McMahon wanted to buy what Rhodes had become. One would have to imagine that the pursuit of Moxley would be the same. There’s not a chance in hell that he would be known as Dean Ambrose again. Even the casual fan knows who Jon Moxley is. The personality would come along with him, even the music. WWE knows what they lost, and they would want back what he gained without them.
Moxley Would Be The Perfect Replacement For A Potentially Leaving Reigns
While there might be a push to reform The Shield for nostalgia’s sake, it wouldn’t work. Those days are in the past. That doesn’t mean that Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins should be forgotten. Though Moxley could have great feuds with the likes of Rhodes, Edge, and AJ Styles, Reigns and Rollins are where the money is at. Sure, they’ve faced each other ad nauseam, but never like this, never these versions of their characters. Moxley vs the perfect character Seth Rollins has become would be huge. Even bigger would be Moxley vs The Tribal Chief. WWE would finally have someone worthy of beating Reigns and taking his titles.
WWE would also have someone worthy of succeeding him. With Reigns’ recent comments that hinted at the possibility of him soon leaving WWE, one has to wonder who would replace him as the face of the company. Moxley would be the easy solution. Casual fans and families know who he is and love him. Hardcore fans know who he is and love him. WWE could anoint Moxley as the next chosen one and not lose a step.
Will Moxley ever return to WWE? Maybe one day. Most do at some point. Will he return to WWE in 2022? Probably not. But if he did, it would work. If he did, Jon Moxley would fix the only negatives in his career and see himself reach levels he’s never reached before.