Jon Moxley – The Lunatic Fringe of Professional Wrestling

Jon Moxley, known as Dean Ambrose during his WWE run, is one of the most thrilling and captivating professional wrestlers today. With his intense wrestling style, unconventional personality, and never-say-die attitude, Moxley has captured the imagination of wrestling fans worldwide, including myself. Let‘s take a closer look at the life and stellar career of this wrestling superstar.

Early Life and Training

Jonathan David Good was born on December 7, 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio. From an early age, he was drawn to professional wrestling, idolizing legends like Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Mick Foley. The passion for wrestling was clearly in Moxley‘s blood.

Moxley started training to become a wrestler when he was just 16 years old under Les Thatcher at the Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) in Cincinatti. He adopted the ring name Jon Moxley and quickly made a name for himself on the independent circuit for his willingness to take extreme bumps and his unpredictable, hardcore wrestling style.

As a longtime fan, I vividly remember seeing a young Moxley cutting his teeth in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW). He immediately stood out for his natural charisma and death-defying style. It was clear early on that Moxley had the potential to become a major star.

WWE Career as Dean Ambrose (2011-2019)

In 2011, Moxley signed a contract with WWE and joined their developmental brand Florida Championship Wrestling using the ring name Dean Ambrose. He made his main roster debut in November 2012 alongside Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins as part of The Shield faction.

Ambrose went on to have tremendous success in WWE as part of The Shield and then as a singles competitor. He had an impressive 407-day reign as United States Champion and won the Intercontinental Championship three times. He also won the 2016 Money in the Bank ladder match and cashed in to become WWE Champion.

As a fan, I always appreciated Ambrose‘s unique style and "Lunatic Fringe" character. While other wrestlers conformed to the WWE style, Ambrose retained the unpredictable, dangerous qualities that first made me a fan on the independents. He stood out in WWE as someone who fans could never take their eyes off.

Leaving WWE and Joining AEW

In April 2019, Ambrose declined to renew his WWE contract, later citing creative frustrations. He reverted to using his old ring name Jon Moxley on the independent circuit. His first post-WWE match was against Juice Robinson at a New Japan Pro Wrestling event in May 2019.

As a fan, this felt like the start of an exciting new chapter. I couldn‘t wait to see Moxley unleashed creatively again without the constraints of WWE.

Later that month, Moxley made a shocking unannounced debut at Double or Nothing, the first pay-per-view event of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He attacked Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega to signal his arrival and immediately established himself as a major player in AEW. The wrestling world buzzed with excitement about AEW getting a star of Moxley‘s caliber.

AEW World Champion

Moxley went on to become one of the pillars of AEW‘s early success. He engaged in a bloody feud with Omega that culminated in a brutal Unsanctioned Lights Out Match at Full Gear 2019. As a devoted fan, their chemistry and the creative freedom of the match exceeded all my expectations.

At Revolution in February 2020, Moxley defeated Jericho to become the second-ever AEW World Champion. He held the title for 277 days, establishing himself as the face of AEW before losing it to Omega at Winter is Coming in December 2020.

When Moxley won the AEW Championship, it felt like validation for him as a wrestler after being underutilized at times in WWE. His reign established AEW as a credible challenger to WWE with a world champion of Moxley‘s talent.

Other Promotions and Achievements

While signed to AEW, Moxley has worked dates in other promotions like New Japan Pro Wrestling and Game Changer Wrestling. He made history by becoming the first wrestler to concurrently hold titles in AEW and NJPW.

Some of Moxley‘s other accolades over his stellar career include:

• 3x WWE Intercontinental Champion
• 2x WWE Raw Tag Team Champion
• WWE United States Champion
• 2016 Money in the Bank Winner
• 2019 AEW World Championship Tournament Winner

As a fan, it‘s been amazing watching Moxley rack up accomplishments across so many top promotions over the past decade. He has undeniably cemented his legacy as one of this generation‘s greatest wrestlers.

In Ring Style

Moxley is renowned for his chaotic, no-holds-barred wrestling style featuring:

• Brawling: Relentless strikes, dirty tactics, using the environment
• Grappling: Power slams, suplexes, submission holds
• High Flying: Suicide dives, top rope moves, throws caution to the wind

Moxley incorporates weapons, tables, and brawls through the crowd. His matches become violent battles where Moxley excels. His conditioning allows him to maintain an exhausting pace bell-to-bell.

In my opinion, Moxley is one of the most well-rounded wrestlers today. He can brawl, grapple, and fly while seamlessly blending styles for a unique in-ring experience.

Personality and Charisma

A key part of Moxley‘s appeal is his enigmatic, unpredictable personality that shines through both in and out of the ring. His "Lunatic Fringe" character provides an air of danger and excitement that fans love.

On the mic, Moxley expertly delivers intense, passionate promos. He speaks his mind bluntly in interviews and promos with conviction and believability.

Inside the ring, Moxley‘s mannerisms like the throat slash gesture and playing to the crowd generate electricity. He has an unmatched connection with the audience.

Combine his magnetic personality with his wrestling skill, and it‘s easy to see why Moxley has become one of wrestling‘s most popular stars.

Passionate Fan Base

Moxley has cultivated one of wrestling‘s most passionate fan bases that closely follow his career. Fans are drawn to his authenticity, anti-hero persona, and underdog spirit.

His fanbase rallies behind him as "Their Guy" andsee him as someone who beats the odds through resilience. They feel invested in his journey proving his doubters wrong.

Personally, I‘m proud to call myself a member of Moxley‘s loyal fanbase. I‘ll never forget seeing his rise from the independents to headlining sold-out arenas.

The Future is Bright

At 37 with a Hall of Fame resume already, Moxley remains in his prime. His star power has only increased since joining AEW and broadening his horizons. With his explosive wrestling style and natural charisma, every Jon Moxley match is must-see.

As a fan, I can‘t wait to see what‘s next for Moxley in AEW, NJPW, and beyond. Dream matches with opponents like MJF, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Page still await. There are surely more legendary moments on the horizon for the wrestler they call "Mox."

One thing is for sure – Jon Moxley has cemented himself as one of this generation‘s greatest wrestlers. His journey from the independent scene to WWE and AEW stardom has been both memorable and inspiring. Moxley continues to prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of wrestling talent.