AEW star Jon Moxley has come under intense criticism from veteran wrestling personality Jim Cornette, who accused Moxley of failing to learn from his time in <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE and claimed that his Shield teammates have surpassed him significantly. Cornette’s comments targeted both Moxley’s in-ring style and his career trajectory compared to Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, highlighting what he perceives as serious flaws in Moxley’s approach to professional wrestling.
Known for his fierce and often brutal wrestling style, Jon Moxley has divided wrestling fans since joining AEW. While many applaud his dedication and intensity, Cornette has openly voiced his disdain for Moxley’s violent methods. On Cornette’s Drive Thru podcast, he harshly criticized a bloody spot in Moxley’s Texas Deathmatch against ‘Hangman’ Adam Page at All In, arguing that Moxley’s mindset toward such extreme match elements contributed to his downfall in WWE and left him behind professionally.
Jim Cornette Criticizes Jon Moxley’s Risky Wrestling Style
During the podcast, Cornette detailed a disturbing moment from the All In match where Moxley allowed Page to stab him in the head with a fork repeatedly until it bled. Cornette mentioned that Moxley later used a blade to intensify the bleeding but emphasized that the injuries were real. He questioned Moxley’s mental state and compared him to a “psychopath serial killer,” linking his fascination with violent wrestling to a harmful mindset that ultimately caused him to fail in WWE.
[Jon] Moxley actually had [Hangman] Page stab him in the head with the fork about 20 times and puncture his head so he would start bleeding. Now, he augmented it later on with a blade because the fork didn’t do that. But no, that was real because this guy– Somebody needs to do a mental evaluation, and he has one of these self-harm fetishes, or he thinks he’s some goddamn famous psychopath serial killer. He fantasizes about that Nick Gage garbage, and he’s been to–. We know why he flunked out of the WWE because of the mindset that he has, but he’s been there. He didn’t learn anything. Two guys he was with left him in the fu**ing dust.” — Jim Cornette
Cornette’s remarks also referenced Moxley’s former Shield stablemates—Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins—as examples of wrestlers who advanced far beyond Moxley during and after their WWE days. He used these comparisons to underscore what he views as Moxley’s inability to grow and adapt.
Concerns Over the Impact of Violent Matches on Wrestling’s Credibility
Cornette touched on a broader concern with the style of wrestling Moxley represents, particularly how it affects the portrayal of the sport’s storylines. He lamented that the violent spots, like those seen in the Moxley-Page match, undermine the illusion of wrestling as a sports entertainment narrative. According to Cornette, these brutal, real injuries highlight the scripted nature of wrestling while simultaneously resulting in genuine harm to the performers.
Now, everything about both of these guys has told everybody, ‘This is all completely fake. It’s all pre-arranged. We’re cooperating with each other, but we’re really going to slice each other up.’ So, at the same time as they are calling attention to how fake wrestling is, they’re really hurting each other and making each other look like goddamn subhuman sideshow fu**ing freak dwellers that like to inflict punishment on each other before they bite the head off the fu**ing live chicken.” — Jim Cornette
Cornette’s harsh language reflects his frustration with what he sees as increasingly dangerous and gratuitous wrestling stunts that alienate traditional wrestling fans and blur the line between entertainment and real violence.
Ongoing Rivalries and Future Developments in AEW
Despite Cornette’s criticism, the rivalry between Jon Moxley and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page appears far from over. Recent episodes of AEW Collision have shown Moxley further escalating tensions, including an attack where he bloodied Page’s ally, Colt Cabana. This continued feud underscores the violent and intense narrative that Moxley thrives in, even as it draws criticism from wrestling veterans.
Moxley’s career remains a focal point of debate within the wrestling community, with some viewing his hardcore style as groundbreaking, while others, like Cornette, see it as reckless and damaging to wrestling’s broader reputation. As AEW’s storylines progress, Moxley’s in-ring choices and persona will likely continue to spark strong opinions both among fans and industry insiders.
