The most exciting and compelling man operating in sports entertainment today is an old-school professional wrestler.
He has never headed a Wrestlemania, pays tribute to Terry Funk in every possible opportunity and starts in the indies. And that’s exactly where Jon Moxley is heading next, the GCW main event. Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 5 on Saturday against Harry Smith, better known as Davey Boy Smith Jr.
“This is professional wrestling, exactly what professional wrestling is supposed to be,” says Moxley. “No choreographed horses — no frills, nothing that’s ironic. It’s a hard-hitting fight, that’s it Bloody sport. “
the Bloody sport The shows feature a shooter fighting style and professional wrestling fighting that has its roots in one match, the foundation of MMA. GCW first hosted the event in April 2018 under the name Matt Riddle, then moved on to Barnett after Riddle signed with WWE. This Saturday will mark the fifth of the Bloody sport shows under the name Barnett, and it will be a comeback for Moxley, who defeated rising star Chris Dickinson in Bloodsport 3 in October.
Bloody sport it is a single entity. The traditional ring is replaced by a tarp, without ropes or turnbuckles, and each match must end by knockout or submission. Given the structure, matches typically feature a higher level of athleticism, innovation and ingenuity, and Moxley is eager to return to this spartan forum.
“This it’s a destination for me, ”says Moxley. “I wanted to do this while I was with WWE when I saw Harry Smith fight [Karrion] Kross [in April 2019]. That stood out to me, and even then, I thought Harry embodied that. Bloody sport style.”
Since 2019, Smith has won all four Bloody sport encounters, defeating Kross, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Josh Alexander and Calvin Tankman.
“This is not going to be a payday; this is going to be a moment, ”says Moxley. “I can beat the guy who is undefeated in Bloody sportBut I know he can beat me too Harry is legit, and I know he’s confident thinking he’s going to kick my ass. Maybe I will. But if that’s what he thinks he’s going to do, it’ll be a long damn night.
“Bloody sport It reminds me of a fight to the death, although it is the opposite. It’s the attitude that feels the same. Bloody sport capture my spirit, we are not there to do a dance routine; We are two competitors taking risks, trying to hurt each other. This is the most shocking wrestling on the planet. This is as serious as it gets in pro wrestling, and the vibe and attitude fit everything about me. And it’s even better because I can go up against Harry Smith, this brick house that will knock you to the ground the first chance it gets. “
In addition to drawing much-needed attention to the seriously wounded indie wrestling scene, which has been rocked by the impact of the pandemic on live entertainment, Moxley is also fighting AEW champion Kenny Omega, a who will face off for the AEW Championship on explosive barbed wire. deathmatch in the Revolution pay-per-view on March 7, and New Japan Pro Wrestling star Kenta, who challenges Moxley for his US IWGP championship on February 26 at New Beginning USA.
“I’m a big game,” says Moxley. “I’m looking for the best opponents and the best experiences in the ring. Also, I want to give back to the indies. Let’s put the focus on them too. I want to be a part of helping independent wrestling get back to where it was before this pandemic.
“And I’m making up for a lot of lost time from my WWE schedule, subjecting my body to a lot of abuse but not getting the return on investment that I wanted in terms of body of work. I was able to connect with people from all over the world, and I am grateful for that, but now I can make my highlights and make each game memorable. AEW, New Japan and Bloody sport they are the perfect place to do that. “
It would be revisionist history to say that Moxley was not a massive star in WWE. He turned Dean Ambrose into a true superstar, combining with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to create The Shield. But since leaving the McMahon empire and bringing his talents to Jacksonville, Moxley has made a place for himself in wrestling history by doing business his way.
The Moxley style is a unique and distinct formula that is carefree and spontaneous. Although Jon Good is certainly tolerant, he takes great pride in delivering the best content possible. Even at the height of his WWE career, Moxley wasn’t always content with his character direction or even certain stories. This frustration led to sleepless nights and, ultimately, a change of scenery. (On a side note, can you begin to imagine how different AEW would be if Moxley never appeared on his first pay-per-view in May 2019?) And while Dean Ambrose would undoubtedly continue to play a significant role in the WWE Universe, There is no chance that WWE has allowed one of their top stars to accept independent bookings or defend a championship from another promotion. Yet that is exactly where we currently find ourselves with Moxley, who still doesn’t sleep at night, but is now due to relentless creativity around his next move.
There are many reasons for optimism in Moxley’s life. His wife, the incredibly talented Renee Paquette, has her own hit podcast and just published her cookbook. After nearly a decade with WWE, she is now a broadcasting free agent with a world of possibilities ahead of her. The couple are also expecting their first child later this summer.
“Maybe becoming a parent will change my whole perspective on everything, who knows,” says Moxley. “Another deathmatch is coming, and I’m grateful to fight, and I’m getting paid for it. And I can do independent shows, like Bloody sport. They are fun, with incredible opponents and new matches.
“Yes, I am a husband, and I am about to be a father, but I am also going to be a bad mother —— this Saturday at Bloody sport. “
A maverick in wrestling, Moxley desperately needed to exist outside the walls of WWE to reach his greatest heights. The way in which he accomplished this feat is extremely rare, although it sets an unorthodox pattern, and serves as an inspiration, for those struggling to find their destiny. Moxley’s seemingly omnipotent abilities continue like waves that can’t be cornered, and he can’t wait to do more magic for AEW, NJPW, GCW, and more.
On the edge of so much anticipation and suspense, Moxley is delivering on his promise to create more compelling stories. And the narrative coming in Bloody sport is an undefeated warrior who faces a conquering hero, in a combat both simple and raw, where the victor will be the one who is willing to endure the most pain and inflict the most violence.
“You will see complete freedom of expression through violence,” says Moxley. “We’re going to let the shit come loose and let the chips fall where they can. There is no hiding behind the pyrotechnics or your entrance, there is no crowd. There is nothing to trust more than your abilities.
“It is going to be pure freedom of expression in the most physical and violent way possible. There’s a great chance that Harry Smith will screw me, but I’m here for that. Go.”
Justin Barrasso can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Justinbarrasso.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.
