Opinion

Tony Acero: Jon Moxley & The Paradigm Shift

Jon Moxley is the creative type, and that offers Tony a much needed perspective.

Published

6 years ago

June 2, 2019

Tony Acero

Tony Acero is alive and well at The Chairshot, and is diving headfirst to talk about Jon Moxley, the notion of art, and so much more!

“I had so much fire in me and so many plans.” – Claude Monet

On May 25, 2019, All-Elite Wrestling was on-air all over the world with their inaugural event, “Double or Nothing,” Praised heavily practically everywhere, it was a huge shot to the veins of what some would claim is the dying body of wrestling, reinvigorating the industry and fans alike. This syringe placed to the pulsing arm of the wrestling fandom had a surprise dosage at the end in the form of Jon Moxley, and while some are comparing his appearance on DoN akin to Scott Hall and Kevin Nash showing up on WCW programming, others see it as more of a TNA move more than anything. Still, the fact is that people are talking.

Speaking of talking, Jon Moxley had a visit from Chris Jericho and laid it all out on air, speaking heavily on topics of creative disagreements, his decision to leave the WWE, his attempts to reclaim the passion he felt he lost, and various other things. The podcast itself was over an hour long and is so full of topics and interesting segues that I could write a series of columns regarding his feelings on the WWE alone! However, it would be unlikely I’d be able to say anything different than numerous other columns, podcasts, and wrestling fans already have. Instead, I’ll focus on the one point I noticed that kept popping up, and just how interesting it is; that of passion.

As a writer, I tend to look at the WWE product with a different lens. I also recap RAW on a weekly basis to the point where it’s become almost second nature to predict the most minute of details. Aside from that, I do a podcast immediately following RAW to supplement the report. This is all to say that fatigue is very very possible, and the way I see the show is more from a writer’s perspective than anything. Because of this, I don’t particularly care about work rate, ratings, number of championship wins, heel and face dedication, or even kayfabe. At the end of the day, I care mostly about the writing. It is because of this that the idea of passion, specifically Moxley and Jericho’s conversation around it, stuck out to me enough to dust the keyboard off the metaphorical typewriter and come back to the wrestling writing world…

About halfway into the podcast, Jon Moxley brings up how, as a child, he would cut promos by himself; how he would stare in a mirror and just go to town; how he was a huge fan, and in one of the rare audible moments outside of shilling Omaha Steaks, Jericho agreed and even had something to say regarding said passion. The idea wasn’t so much that these guys were looking to get rich by obtaining their dream of wrestling for the mecca of the wrestling world; but that they could portray these larger than life characters with the passion that they garnered by way of simply loving wrestling. One such word stuck out in their back and forth.

ART

This, I believe, is where the massive divide of wrestlers – and to a degree, their fans – is both apparent and important, yet gets shunned quite often due to blind rage of a fan behind a keyboard. While one may claim that this carny sideshow act that we call wrestling is anything but art, and while these “some” have the right to this opinion, the wrestlers themselves couldn’t really give any shit less. They consider what they do as art. Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley consider what they do art. Let that sink in for a bit. ART. They feel that every single aspect of what they do is art.

This strikes a chord with me so heavily, because although I am not putting my body on the line on a weekly basis, every single word that I type onto a metaphorical piece of paper to be read is something that I consider art, and with that thought comes an expectation of appreciation of art. Likewise, it comes with a responsibility to those who appreciate said art. If, in fact, this column is read by 5 people, and all 5 hate it, then that is a burden I carry. If, however, it is read by 5,000 people and the all-powerful Greg DeMarco tells me that I must do something to hinder this art, I will feel degraded, minuscule, and even worse if people hate it.

Moxley reached a point in his career where someone took his art, mangled it to a point where it was unrecognizable, and churned it out to the masses disguised as humor, wrestling, and episodic television. His “art” was lost behind a cloud of 20+ heads and two geriatric hands. This wasn’t a disagreement of character; this wasn’t a butting of creative heads; this was one man seeing his art becoming anything but.

Dissenters will point out that this is to be expected; that the WWE machine has been unchanged for quite some time, and their method of creativity is one that works (as shown by numbers), and one that is set in stone. They will quote people like Booker T who says that he was so successful because he was given a script and did said script the best he could. They will highlight most other jobs where people everywhere do something they don’t want to simply because their boss told them to. Some will even consider Moxley’s martyrdom as a sign of someone who didn’t get what they wanted and left; essentially, taking their ball home ala Austin.

But even if we were to look at Austin, what really was he upset about? Was it losing, or was it the lack of story? How about Sasha Banks? Was she REALLY mad that she lost titles? Do her numerous previous title reigns really count considering how much of a “reign” really were? To be fair, Jon Moxley deserves all the praise in the world for doing everything he could “as right” as he could. From going through with nearly every idea given to him, to attempting to meet with Vince directly, to going out on his back, to assuring his last day would be his last day, and not appearing anywhere else with a title in hand ready to be dumped into a trash can.

A man by the name of Patrick O’Dowd tweeted after hearing the podcast:

Here's what I've gathered from this Jon Moxley interview: Jon had specific expectations of what the creative process of a wrestling company should be. The WWE/Vince did not share that vision. Jon thought it sucks, left &moved on to somewhere that meets his expectations.

— Patrick O'Dowd (@WrestlngRealist) May 29, 2019

I find this to be a very important assessment because, Patty O is 100% correct. The truncated version of any column should, essentially, be this tweet. One could look at this situation a billion ways, and that tweet will almost always be the end result. That, however, would be a disservice to sites everywhere. We writers love to hear/read our own voice/words.

Look, I can write numerous columns on just HOW MUCH I HATE the creative process of the WWE machine, and HOW MUCH I LOATHE what they present on television weekly (and believe me, people, I will), but keeping in line with what struck me the most, I have to accompany O’Dowd’s tweet with the fact that it wasn’t just a difference of expectations; it was also a loss of passion <i>due to</i> the difference in creative expectations.

Find me a wrestler on the roster of the WWE who oozes passion, creatively. It will ultimately be a matter of opinion, but I’m hard pressed to find someone whose passion I believe on the screen (this, while knowing full well that a majority have it embedded in them permanently). I see it in glimpses; Ricochet’s first time on Raw, The Iiconics winning the tag team titles (a decision I disagreed with, but we’re talking about passion here), Gargano in the Rumble, Candice LaRae in the Rumble. But look at all those! Those are easy stories of a “rookie” making it to the big time. It’s a story that needs no writer. The creativity needed for those moments is null. What happens in five years? Ten years? Two years, even – when these guys are asked to do a comedy skit that simply doesn’t add to any story that is currently being presented in any way, shape, or form, and make no mistake – comedy has a place in wrestling, as in life.

As a creative, it’s hard to differentiate ego from work. I can tell you, right now, that I am a great writer. I firmly believe that. I’d like to prove it. If, given a specific writing assignment, I’d kill it to the best of my ability, but I am – ultimately – at my best when I’m given a blank page and a general direction. Jon Moxley, Chris Jericho, Sasha Banks, Steve Austin, and countless others understand the model of the company, but at various times, they perhaps felt that it was working against them far more than it was working with them. Do you truly think, that any of the aforementioned wanted or want the WWE to “fail?” No. True, they are challenging the current status quo, but not because it doesn’t suit just them. They are all still fans, just like us, and they see a product – supposedly the GREATEST amongst them all – losing CREATIVELY (not monetarily, not buyrate, not Network numbers, not butts in seats) on a weekly basis.

There are tons of arguments out there; creative freedom versus scripts, bullet points versus freestyle, storyboards versus rehearsals, and not one of them is the “RIGHT WAY,” but when it comes to someone who sees wrestling as ART, who screams passion with every word that comes out of their drool-dripping lips, who bleeds because they think the story calls for it – when it comes to that person, there is no RIGHT WAY, but there are plenty of wrong ways, and the WWE seems to know them all.

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams

Tony Acero is better than you in almost nothing except Scrabble.

Twitter: @TonyAcero411

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Up Next

Rob: What Are They Gonna Do?

Don't Miss

Tiffany’s Takes: WWE NXT Takeover XXV (6/1/19)

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY – POD is WAR (Los Tres Friends)

FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network
Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts… Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Listen on your favorite platform!

iTunes | iHeart Radio | Google Play | Spotify
Listen, like, subscribe, and share!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1