Jon Moxley’s toughness and injuries have been a subject of admiration within All Elite Wrestling (AEW), as revealed by AEW President Tony Khan. During a recent conversation with Sports Illustrated’s Jon Alba, Khan commended Moxley, the 2025 Continental Classic winner, for persevering through a significant injury at the beginning of the year.
Khan explained that at the start of the year, Moxley was fiercely dedicated to competing, even while dealing with injuries.
“pretty hurt at the start of the year.”
– Tony Khan, AEW President. Rather than taking a break, Moxley continued his wrestling schedule, which Khan believes contributed to his gradual recovery throughout the year.
Khan reflected on the current era of professional wrestling, emphasizing how rare it is for athletes not to take extended periods off due to the sport’s intense focus on televised events over constant touring.
“And then now, in this era where so much of the focus in pro wrestling is on TV and not touring six, seven days a week anymore, that’s really something that I think people don’t understand is, Jon’s wrestling was awesome all year,”
said Khan. He added,
“He put out his very best all year. At the beginning of the year, he was pretty banged up, and actually came back and got healthy through the year while he was still wrestling and never taking time off.”
– Tony Khan, AEW President. However, specific details about the nature of Moxley’s injuries were not disclosed by Khan during the interview.
Recognizing Moxley’s Impact on AEW’s Growth and Success
Khan underscored Moxley’s remarkable contributions to AEW, calling him “a marvel” and affirming that the company is deeply indebted to the wrestler. He cited Moxley’s major rivalry with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page—winner of Sports Illustrated’s Rivalry of the Year award—as a testament to both his value to AEW and the compelling narratives he has been a part of.
“I can talk at length about ‘Hangman’ Page and Jon Moxley, how valuable they both are to AEW, and Jon Moxley being the villain. Sometimes, the villain doesn’t get the love and the accolades that a fan favorite might, and ‘Hangman’ deserves all these accolades. He deserves all three of those awards,”
explained Khan. Importantly, he noted,
“And I just wanted to mention, since the rivalry award is shared between Hangman and Mox, Mox deserves so much praise, and is such a huge part of why the company has been so strong for years.”
– Tony Khan, AEW President.
Setbacks and Triumphs at AEW Worlds End Event
Jon Moxley’s reputation for perseverance was further highlighted during AEW Worlds End, where his injury woes persisted. In the Continental Classic semifinal, Moxley reportedly lost a front tooth following an intense match against Kyle Fletcher. Despite this fresh setback, Moxley pressed on and secured a major victory later in the same night, overcoming Kazuchika Okada to win the Continental Classic tournament—a testament to his resilience and drive to succeed, even while battling through pain.
As AEW continues to rely on seasoned performers like Moxley, his ability to withstand physical adversity and deliver high-caliber matches plays a crucial role in the promotion’s ongoing momentum. His compelling performances, even amidst notable injuries, serve as an example of his dedication and grit, cementing his status as a central figure in AEW’s success.
