On Friday night, Jon Moxley made history when he won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, making him the first pro wrestler to hold the top title in WWE, AEW, and New Japan. However, in an interview he gave to New Japan prior to the match, he would say winning the prestigious Japanese title wouldn’t matter as he is the “overlooked, disrespected, forgotten about, and taken-for-granted wrestler in the history of this business.” And while that sounds quite disproportionate considering his success, it’s fair to say some fans don’t show him the gratitude and appreciation he deserves in comparison to his peers.
38-year-old Moxley initially broke into the business as a teenager by selling snacks and helping set up the ring for Les Thatcher Heartland Wrestling Association. However, once he was old enough, he began training and subsequently made his name on the independent circuit, working for promotions like Chikara, CZW, and IWA-MS. And while he would have a tryout for TNA in 2008 and worked a couple of matches for ROH in 2009, it would be WWE that signed him to a full-time deal in 2011, where he would go on to become one of their most prominent stars thanks to being part of The Shield.
