Danielson on why he calls Moxley one of the best in the world

Ask a random group of wrestling fans for their opinion on AEW’s Jon Moxley, and you’ll get a range of opinions.

People love Mox, and people loathe Mox. For some he’s a modern day Terry Funk who’s spreading the gospel of pro wrestling around the world (when he’s not carrying AEW on his back). For other he’s a glorified backyard wrestler with a penchant for overacting who sets a bad example for the entire business.

It’s one reason that while I was not at all surprised to see Moxley’s friend and Blackpool Combat Club teammate Bryan Danielson call him “one of the best in the world”, I was curious to read the reasons why.

Those answers — at least the portion of them posted by SI.com’s Justin Barrasso, the person Danielson gave them to in an interview promoting Moxley’s IWGP World title defense this Sunday at New Japan’s Dominion event — aren’t terribly in-depth. But they do get to something that’s at the core of why I and many enjoy or are at least interested in Mox’s work:

“He has a mindset unlike anyone else. There will never be another Jon Moxley. There is no one like him.

“I admire what he’s been able to do. I admire the risks he’s taken and the performances he puts in every single time he goes out there.”

Perhaps this is something that comes up at the BCC’s training sessions (or their book club), because Danielson’s answer isn’t too different from one Mox gave Barrasso last month:

“When it’s all said and done, and I’ve been eaten by a cougar or something and people look back on everything, I like the idea that you won’t know where to classify me in history. You don’t know where to put me on your lists or your rankings or whatever the f***.

“You have no idea where to classify me, but you can’t ignore me, so you’re going to have to give me my own space. I like that.”

Let us know what you think, Cagesiders. Is Mox one of a kind? Does that have any impact on your enjoyment of his work or opinion about him as a performer?