“Heavy Heat” On AEW Referee Following Scary Botch

Those backstage weren’t pleased with one AEW official after a major botch on Dynamite.

At AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, Jon Moxley put his International Championship on the line in one of four title matches on the night. He faced off against Rey Fenix inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, and while he was planned to retain his championship, an injury early in the match caused him to make a change and Fenix was instead crowned International Champion.

Early in the match, Fenix dove to the outside and hit Moxley with his knee, causing Moxley to suffer a mild concussion. While he initially tried to continue, he began to feel worse throughout the match made the decision to change the finish of the bout, asking Fenix to pin him in the middle of the ring.

Fenix gave Moxley a scary-looking piledriver, and while Moxley didn’t kick out, referee Rick Knox refused to count to three, instead acting as though the champion’s shoulder had been raised. Moxley was visibly upset, and following another piledriver, Fenix was declared the winner and the new International Champion.

Knox has received heavy criticism online for refusing to count to three, and according to a new report from Fightful Select, there is “heavy heat” on him backstage in AEW as well. Those critical of him say not only did he not count to three as he was supposed to without a kickout, he also lacked regard for Moxley’s safety in the moment when he attempted to make the match continue. Despite multiple talents saying they generally like the man, they said this isn’t the first time an incident like this has taken place.

AEW WrestleDream Changed After Jon Moxley’s Injury

The report from Fightful Select also reveals that Moxley’s injury at Rey Fenix’s title win caused major changes to the upcoming WrestleDream pay-per-view on October 1st. Original plans called for a non-AEW wrestler to appear on the September 27th episode of Dynamite to challenge Moxley to an International Championship match at WrestleDream, but when Fenix was made champion instead, the plans for a challenge were scrapped.

There is no word on who the planned opponent for Moxley was set to be.