Current All Elite Wrestling Interim World Champion Jon Moxley is one of AEW’s biggest stars since debuting for the company at AEW’s Double or Nothing Pay-Per-View in May 2019. Dazzling viewers with his violent in-ring style, fantastic promos, excellent championship reigns, and of course, tremendous matches, Moxley has received two 5* ratings from Dave Meltzer at the ‘Wrestling Observer Newsletter’.
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However, there are still numerous matches of Moxley’s which Meltzer has both overrated and underrated. Which Jon Moxley matches across numerous companies rank as the most overpraised or underappreciated by Dave Meltzer and his star-rating system?
10 Overrated: Vs. Kyle O’Reilly, AEW Dynamite #141, 4.5*
A great Dynamite main event to determine who would become AEW’s number one contender for the Interim World Championship, but an overrated one at that by Dave Meltzer at 4.5*. Very strong, physical in-ring action as the two traded hard-hitting strikes and crafty submission work. However, Moxley’s win was never in doubt despite the two stars doing their best to convince viewers otherwise. Nothing tremendous unfolded here that would warrant a 4.5* rating, but still a very fun, strong showing from Moxley and O’Reilly.
9 Underrated: Vs. AJ Styles & John Cena, WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Triple Threat, WWE No Mercy 2016, 3.75*
This was a fantastic triple threat match to open WWE’s No Mercy PPV in October 2016. Stellar in-ring action involving all three men in creative, enthralling spots, with a hot crowd to boot. While some viewers were disgruntled by the double submission false finish on Styles, this did not hinder the match up overall. A clever finish was the icing on the cake here as Styles used a steel chair to pin John Cena to retain, in a logical move given the no DQ nature of triple threat bouts. Awesome three-way match that is underrated by Dave Meltzer and viewers alike.
8 Overrated: Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, AEW Interim World Championship, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 4.5*
A very good main event at AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling’s crossover PPV Forbidden Door, but not an amazing, 4.5* level bout. Although possessing strong in-ring work, good crowd investment, and a big fight feel, the match never quite kicked into another gear with a great final few minutes but nothing spectacular. An unnecessary blade job from Moxley that made little sense, as well as a predictable result, left this dream match never reaching the excellence it could have.
7 Underrated: Vs. Seth Rollins, WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Ladder Match, WWE Money In The Bank 2015, 4*
A spectacular Ladder match at 2015s Money in the Bank PPV, as Moxley, then known as Dean Ambrose in WWE, challenged Seth Rollins in their best match together. Not relying on your typical spot fest formula, this was a masterful display of psychology, selling, and intensity as the two stars used the stipulation to tell a brilliant story.
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Very creative spots involving ladders and other weapons as Rollins brutalized Ambrose who valiantly continued to fight. A fantastic ending as well which simultaneously proved Rollins could win on his own whilst protecting Ambrose in defeat. Surely an underrated bout at 4*.
6 Overrated: Vs. Rush, Interim AEW World Championship, AEW Dynamite #147 – Fight For The Fallen, 4.5*
Great match to open AEW’s Fight For The Fallen edition of Dynamite, however not a spectacular bout as 4.5* suggests. A hot crowd, enthralling in-ring action, and a stellar AEW performance for Rush here as the two went back and forth in a highly physical bout. Moxley would retain after Rush kicked out of the Death Rider, only to be subsequently choked out by the champion. Extremely fun, high-octane opener, but nothing more than that as Meltzer’s 4.5* rating implies.
5 Underrated: W/ CM Punk Vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler), AEW Dynamite #123, 4*
A tremendous tag team encounter on AEW Dynamite between the exciting team of Moxley and CM Punk facing the spectacular FTR. Fantastic pacing that built to a blistering final few minutes with nail-biting drama, with great back and forth throughout.
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Some viewers were upset with Punk and Moxley going over here, but it did not hurt FTR in the slightest as the four men tore the house down. An extremely fun, sensational television tag team clash that would have been fitting on an AEW PPV. Underrated at 4* by Dave Meltzer, undoubtedly.
4 Overrated: Vs. The Young Bucks, AEW World Tag Team Championship, AEW Double Or Nothing 2021, 4.75*
An excellent tag team championship match at AEW’s Double or Nothing PPV in May 2021, with the Young Bucks successfully defending against Moxley and Eddie Kingston. However, not a 4.75* show stealer as the rating implies.
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While there was stellar storytelling and a hot crowd for Kingston and Moxley, as well as enthralling in-ring action, this never quite reached the next level a 4.75* match requires with Meltzer having a habit of overrating Young Bucks matches.
3 Underrated: W/ The Shield Vs. The Wyatt Family, Six-Man Tag, WWE Elimination Chamber 2014, 4.25*
An amazing six-man tag match between The Shield and The Wyatt Family at 2014s Elimination Chamber PPV. The two factions were arguably in their prime here and despite both being heels, the crowd was red-hot for this encounter chanting ‘This is Awesome’ before the action even began. Once it did, it was simply sensational with fantastic, non-stop action particularly in the unbelievable final few minutes. The Wyatt Family would prevail after taking out each member of the Shield, ending with Reigns being pinned. A classic tag team encounter that deserved higher than 4.25* from Dave Meltzer.
2 Overrated: Vs. Bryan Danielson, AEW Revolution 2022, 4.75*
This was a fantastic, brutal bloodbath between Moxley and Bryan Danielson at AEW’s Revolution PPV earlier this year. However, a quiet crowd certainly hurt the encounter as did the fact that MJF and CM Punk had already stolen the show with their bloody ‘Dog Collar’ match. Still, an incredibly physical, stellar contest, as the two went to war with brutal strikes and excellent mat work, but not the 4.75* classic Dave Meltzer suggests.
1 Underrated: Vs. Wheeler Yuta, AEW Rampage #36, 4.75*
This was a 5-star classic without a doubt, as Wheeler Yuta looked to prove himself against Jon Moxley on this edition of AEW Rampage in their third meeting. He passed with flying colors, in a star-making performance as he bled buckets surviving everything Moxley threw at him until passing out to a sleeper hold. A white-hot crowd, phenomenal storytelling, unbelievable drama and near falls, and a brilliant post-match segment with the Blackpool Combat Club led to an instantaneous classic here on Rampage. One of the greatest matches in AEW history and surely a 5* match.
