Jon Moxley Injury Causes Major Change To AEW Dynamite & WrestleDream

A new report reveals the original plans for Jon Moxley on AEW Dynamite & WrestleDream.

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.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, Moxley’s injury and the surprise title change had major ramifications for both the September 27th episode of Dynamite and the upcoming WrestleDream pay-per-view.

Original plans called for a non-AEW wrestler to appear on Dynamite to challenge Jon 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.

AEW Referee Rick Knox Has “Heavy Heat” After Jon Moxley Botch

After Moxley called an audible that the match finish should be changed, he was given a scary-looking piledriver by Rey Fenix. Despite Moxley not kicking out, referee Rick Knox refused to count to three, instead acting as though Moxley’s shoulder had been raised off the mat.

The champion was visibly upset with Knox, and following another piledriver, Rey Fenix was declared the winner and new International Champion.

Knox has been the subject of much criticism after the bout, and Fightful Select notes that 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 Jon 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.