Jon Moxley AEW booking mistakes are in sharp focus after his latest triumph at AEW Worlds End 2025, where he clinched the Continental Championship by defeating Kazuchika Okada. As Tony Khan determines what comes next for Moxley, the stakes are high to avoid repeating past errors and to ensure his momentum as champion continues to build intrigue in the company.
Avoid Sudden Character Shifts After Moxley’s Face Turn
The last year has seen Jon Moxley, flanked by Pac and Claudio Castagnoli, endure a wave of setbacks, including losing the Men’s World Championship and suffering singles defeats at the hands of Darby Allin and Kyle O’Reilly. Despite these losses, Moxley entered the Continental Classic with renewed purpose and ultimately won the finals against Okada, suggesting a key turning point in his AEW trajectory.
Since spearheading The Death Riders, Moxley’s goal has been clear: disrupt the complacency running through All Elite Wrestling, pushing peers to harden themselves in response. The resulting chaos drove the likes of Hangman Page, Darby Allin, and Kyle O’Reilly to rise up, even managing the rare feat of defeating Moxley one-on-one. However, after a determined tournament run, Moxley’s victory and subsequent promo appeared to strike a more appreciative and sportsmanlike tone, which sparked speculation of a potential babyface turn.
Yet, shifting Moxley abruptly into his pre-Death Rider persona would risk undermining the narrative impact of his past actions and betray his complex journey from ruthless disruptor to possible locker room leader. To maintain authenticity, Tony Khan should preserve Moxley’s intense promo style and physical approach in-ring, allowing his character to gradually transition, and ensuring ongoing tensions with both peers and rivals reflect the lasting consequences of his faction’s previous reign of terror.
Do Not Split The Death Riders From Moxley Too Soon
The Death Riders, notorious for their heel tactics that ended Bryan Danielson’s full-time career at WrestleDream 2024, have loomed large as AEW’s most contentious faction. Supported by his stable, Moxley reigned as World Champion until finally being dethroned by Hangman Adam Page at All In: Texas, heightening speculation among viewers and fans about his standing within the group.
Moxley’s string of high-profile defeats had many questioning whether his leadership was under threat, a sentiment echoed during C2 commentary when Bryan Danielson noted that Moxley’s inability to beat Claudio Castagnoli in AEW could fuel a search for a new figurehead. Nonetheless, the recent scene of The Death Riders celebrating Moxley’s Continental Classic victory suggests internal bonds remain strong for now.
Removing Moxley prematurely would squander the rich potential for further group storytelling. Letting the faction operate as a unified—if complicated—front for a few more months allows for deeper character development and dramatic tension, making any eventual betrayal far more powerful when it happens down the line. Tony Khan should resist the urge to accelerate this split, maximizing its emotional payoff and the creative opportunities that come with it.
Resist the Temptation to Have Moxley Defend the Belt into the Next Continental Classic
Extended title runs, when deployed thoughtfully, elevate both the championship and the wrestler holding it; however, if mishandled, these reigns can lead to stagnation and lose their spark. The case of Kazuchika Okada’s tenure as Continental Champion is instructive, as even a high-caliber competitor can face criticism when their reign lacks dramatic stakes or fresh rivalries.
The AEW landscape has seen its share of unpredictable title changes, such as Samoa Joe’s surprise victory over Hangman Page at Full Gear 2025, indicating Tony Khan’s comfort with shaking up the championship scene. While Jon Moxley deserves a meaningful stint as Continental Champion, he should avoid holding onto the belt straight through to the 2026 Continental Classic—especially as a defending champion in the next tournament. This approach risks both audience fatigue and diminishing the significance of the title, undercutting other performers’ opportunities for standout moments.
Ideally, Moxley’s championship run should have a fixed endpoint before the next major tournament, whether through an upset, dramatic loss, or other storyline twist, keeping the scene vibrant and ensuring the Continental Classic retains its must-see unpredictability for both talent and fans alike.
With Jon Moxley’s recent win placing him once again at the forefront of AEW’s main event scene, the company and Tony Khan stand at a creative crossroads. Strategic, steady booking decisions—avoiding abrupt character changes, premature faction splits, and overlong title reigns—will be essential in maintaining both Moxley’s allure and the competitive vitality of AEW’s championship picture. The coming months will determine how this pivotal chapter in Moxley’s career unfolds, closely watched by his fans, rivals, and the entire wrestling industry.
Fully turning Mox face and not doing the turn immediately is actually so good because now we are afraid our supercool babyface is gonna get killed bro https://t.co/D5wNXoTULo
— 𝐌𝐎 (@MosesMysterio) December 28, 2025
