---
title: "Jon Moxley: The Principle of Maximum Responsibility That Drives Professional Wrestling Longevity"
url: "https://authoritymag.co/articles/jon-moxley-the-principle-of-maximum-responsibility-that-drives-professional-wrestling-longevity"
publisher: "Authority Magazine"
author: "Authority Magazine Editorial Staff"
authorUrl: "https://authoritymag.co/authors/authority-magazine-editorial-staff"
interviewee: "Jon Moxley"
company: "AEW"
category: "Pop Culture"
datePublished: "2024-10-31T02:10:12.930Z"
dateModified: "2026-11-12T17:06:09.381Z"
tags: "Pop Culture"
---

# Jon Moxley: The Principle of Maximum Responsibility That Drives Professional Wrestling Longevity

*The renowned AEW World Champion reflects on his unconventional childhood, the realities of life in the ring, and why embracing maximum responsibility is the key to true adventure.*

> Wrestling is the Ellis Island of sports and entertainment, so to answer your question: by the very nature of this, everyone is interesting.

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As*a part of our series called “*[5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Professional Athlete](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/search?q=NFL)*” I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jon Moxley.*

*Jon Moxley has become one of the most recognizable and respected figures in modern professional wrestling. Rising through the ranks of the independent wrestling scene, Moxley gained notoriety for his intense, no-holds-barred style and uncompromising attitude. His talent and dedication led to a successful stint in WWE under the name Dean Ambrose, where he became a Grand Slam Champion and a member of the iconic faction, The Shield. In 2019, Moxley shocked the wrestling world by debuting in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he has since become a cornerstone. As a three-time AEW World Champion, he has delivered countless memorable matches and moments, cementing his legacy in the industry. Outside the ring, Moxley is known for his candid nature and passion for the business. He’s also a published author, with his autobiography “MOX” receiving critical acclaim. With his unyielding spirit and undeniable charisma, Jon Moxley continues to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of professional wrestling.*

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**Thank you so much for doing this with us! We are honored to have you with us. Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?**

My sister and I were very much what you’d call latchkey kids. Our mom worked nights stocking shelves at Thriftway and my dad worked 2 jobs. He ran a machine on the shop floor in a plastics factory and eventually got promoted to an office gig, but it meant he had to relocate. My mom didn’t want to move, so we stayed and with only one parent around my sister and I became even more autonomous. Our neighborhood was just a big swath of crappy apartment buildings in varying states of decay. Everyone who lived there did so essentially because it was the only place they could afford, it was kind of a catch all, the sense of lower classes was obvious even to a kid. That said, I honestly don’t think I’d have rather grown up anywhere else. We played football in the street, rode bikes, etc. We didn’t spend any time indoors. Nobody had anywhere nice to go back to anyway.

**It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?**

I’ve begun to wonder if mistakes even exist. I think real mistakes are much fewer and far between then how we generally think of them. Most of what you call mistakes are just experiences that eventually orient you in the right direction. But to answer your question as far as funny mistakes, I’ve probably made thousands. I wouldn’t remember them being that I was probably out of my mind at the time but I’m sure plenty of other people do.

**What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now?**

That’s one of the unique qualities of Professional Wrestling. In a way you’re always working on a project. There’s no off season, no season finale. 52 weeks a year it’s a living breathing thing playing out. I might have an idea today that I can implement tomorrow. I might have an idea I’m saving for 6 months from now. I might keep something tucked away in my brain indefinitely. I might get out there and decide to just toss out everything I had in my head and go in a different direction. That’s the beauty of live television. Even if everything goes to shit, there’s still next week. The adventure never stops. My focus right now is primarily on every Wednesday. AEW Dynamite and what that’s going to look like in the future. Wrestling is probably the most dynamic, versatile form of live television that you can find. It’s always evolving, ebbing and flowing. I’m not sentimental so I’m not afraid to burn a forest down to grow a new one.

**Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?**

Wrestling is a treasure trove of interesting people. It’s a menagerie of personalities from all walks of life. Athletes, entertainers, carnies, people totally full of their own BS and some of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet. We might have nothing whatsoever in common on the surface but since we’ve been brought together by this thing we call wrestling, this absurd craft we’ve dedicated our lives to, we have an inherent connection. Wrestling is the Ellis Island of sports and entertainment, so to answer your question: by the very nature of this, everyone is interesting. Bit of a cop out, but if you think THAT’S a boring answer you should try interviewing hockey players sometime.

**What would you advise a young person who aspires to follow your footsteps and emulate your career? What advice would you give?**

Work. Get out there and work. Everywhere you can. Anywhere you can. As much as you can. The answer to almost every question you can ask is…get experience. There’s just no substitute for it.

**How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?**

I just try to be as transparent about who I am and where I come from. I don’t try to be some big, fancy thing or be someone I’m not. That way, anyone who wants to do something that might seem crazy or impossible to everyone else can look at me and say maybe it’s not so crazy…”Well if he did that, I could surely do THIS!”

**The truth is that none of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person that made a profound difference in your life to whom you are grateful? Can you share a story?**

I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from a diverse array of the best minds in the business. I’ve had so many amazing teachers and, since I’m of the mind that we have 2 ears but only one mouth, think it’s wise to listen more than you talk. However, If I had to give out an MVP trophy for the profound difference maker in my life it would unquestionably go to my wife, Renee Paquette, hands down. I might very well be dead had our paths never crossed. I was lucky enough to meet her right as I was starting to realize some material success so that was a bit of a crossroads where I could have easily veered down a more destructive path. Now I had something ACTUALLY valuable, I had this person. As it was, I still almost destroyed my entire life so thankfully, she’s been here to be the linchpin holding the whole damn thing together.

**Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?**

A funny phenomenon that often happens is that I come to some kind of conclusion, learn something or develop an idea that I spend time thinking about, but it’s sort of just an ethereal thing in my head, it’s not something I’ve even attempted to put into words. Then, all of a sudden, I read or hear a quote that contextualizes what I’ve been thinking perfectly and I’m like, “That’s it!” That just happened recently with one. I might be paraphrasing but it’s, “If you want adventure, choose the path of maximum responsibility.” I mean, what’s worth doing if there’s no stakes right?

**What do you do to prevent injuries during your workouts or during your competitions?**

Injuries are going to happen. It’s unavoidable. There is a difference, however, between being injured and being hurt. If you want to have success in this you have to accept the fact that you’re going to be hurt a lot, banged up, whatever you want to call it. You will spend a great deal of time in discomfort, pain becomes a significant part of your life. The number one thing you can do to avoid injuries is to not do anything stupid. If it gives you a funny feeling, if your brain hesitates, abort before you get out there. “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” If you’re committed to something, you’re going through with it, then you must commit 100%. Or as Patrick Swayze would put it, “Hesitation causes your worst fears to come true.**”**

**What type of workout regime has helped you to rehabilitate from injury?**

I’ve been going to physical therapy for my hip for the last few months. When it comes to rehabbing injuries, just find quality PT people and do everything they say with 100% effort. Vetting them is important. I think the biggest differentiator between someone who returns from a serious injury 100pct and someone who’s never quite the same again is simply the attitude with which they approached rehab. If you’re on crutches and all they tell you to do for the day is 15 reps of little foot flexes or something, make those the best, most focused 15 reps you can.

For me, being that I’m 38 and have been getting the crap kicked out of me for 20 years, I don’t recover as quickly as I used to. That’s been difficult to accept. There’s a principle I learned at 11 years old when I started wrestling, basically the principle that hard work beats talent, or at least it can. You may not have been given the same natural gifts; you may not have the same advantages. It doesn’t matter. Hard work evens the playing field. The ability to endure, to have discipline, a simple willingness to put in more time and effort- this was like learning some cheat code to the universe. Discovering that simple principle, changed the course of my life. That's what gave me the confidence to pursue Pro Wrestling despite the astronomical odds of success. I was a nobody; I didn’t have any advantages but who cares? I’d just outwork everyone. I read a book back then called *A Season on the Mat* and it talked about how Dan Gable wouldn’t be satisfied until he had to be carried off the mat after practice. That's how I approached my life from then on.

While it has been difficult to accept that my body can’t do everything my mind wants it to anymore, I have found that the key now is redirecting that same energy towards being disciplined about recovery. It’s about attacking all the tedious stretching, mobility and recovery practices, with intention.

**What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.**

1. Nothing that you think matters actually matters. That’s not me being cynical or nihilistic, quite the opposite. There are so many great things out there for you, they’re just not what you think they are.
2. Thankfully I was told this and I did listen, but it bears repeating. Save your money. Pay your taxes. Don’t get roped in with dodgy financial people.
3. No matter who you are. If you spend enough time, deep in the jungle, you very well may be bitten by a mosquito and get malaria. Similarly, if you drink enough for long enough, at a certain point your body will become physically dependent on it and once you cross that threshold…you’re f-ed. Something to keep in mind.
4. Years from now you’ll be asked to name 5 things you wish you’d have been told when you first started, and you’ll have a hard time with this because you’ll wonder…”what if I’d have taken some otherwise good advice from someone back then but that changed the course of my career and I wasn’t where I am now?” You will want to ponder this paradox for too long. Don’t spend too much time thinking about it, just answer the question.
5. Our life is what our thoughts make it.

**Thank you so much for joining us. This was so inspiring.**

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Source: https://authoritymag.co/articles/jon-moxley-the-principle-of-maximum-responsibility-that-drives-professional-wrestling-longevity (Authority Magazine, Pop Culture). Interviewee answers are first-person statements of the guest. Index of all pages: https://authoritymag.co/llms.txt