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    Stephanie McMahon Says Jon Moxley Leaving WWE for AEW Was a Mutual Decision

    Adam WellsApril 9, 2021

    FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, file photo, American businesswoman Stephanie McMahon participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series at AOL Studios in New York. World Wrestling Entertainment is used to making headlines this time of year leading up to WrestleMania. But the company has more on its plate leading up to its showcase event on April 10 and 11, 2021. “Bringing back fans was needed, and we’ve been able to try things out that we have thought about but not had the chance,” WWE chief brand officer McMahon said. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
    Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File

    WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon called Jon Moxley's decision to leave the company a "mutual decision."

    McMahon addressed Moxley's departure from WWE in April 2019 during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast (h/t Jason Ounpraseuth of Wrestling Inc.): 

    "In his particular case, he was leaving anyway, and I do believe that was a mutual decision. Though, I wasn’t a part of those conversations. His case is a little bit different, but I remember back when it was WCW and the Monday Night Wars and our talent were getting stripped away and showing up on their show. I think it taught us a lot about business. Handshake deals don’t necessarily matter at the end of the day. You need to have contracts. You need to do business differently."

    It was well known at the time that Moxley, who wrestled for WWE as Dean Ambrose, was leaving the promotion.

    WWE even acknowledged his final television appearance on the April 8, 2019 episode of Raw, though his last appearance came 12 days later in a six-man tag match with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins against Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin. 

    After leaving WWE, Moxley appeared on the Talk is Jericho podcast and said his desire to leave stemmed from a lot of creative differences with Vince McMahon. 

    Stephanie McMahon Says Jon Moxley Leaving WWE for AEW Was a Mutual Decision
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    Moxley debuted in AEW at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 25, 2019. He attacked Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega after their main-event match that Jericho won to become the first champion in AEW history. 

    Over the course of Moxley's WWE run as Ambrose from 2012-19, he was WWE champion and United States champion once, intercontinental champion three times and Raw tag-team champion with Rollins twice.