Report: AEW Fined $10,000 By Maryland State Athletic Commission Because Of Lights Out Match At Full Gear

The Lights Out match between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley divided opinion within the professional wrestling world. Some considered it to be a hardcore classic, while others thought it contained an unnecessary level of violence.

One such person was former WCW announcer Christopher Cruise who contacted the Maryland State Athletic Commission after the pay-per-view. The commission also opened an official investigation into the match which concluded on April 28. 

In the official consent order, the commission noted that Moxley and Omega used a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and a broom wrapped in barbed wire to make each other bleed. It deemed All Elite Wrestling responsible for the actions of both wrestlers. 

The MSAC then issued a fine of $10,000 to AEW for violating the following regulations: 

• "Unsportsmanlike or physically dangerous conduct."
• "Deliberately lacerating oneself or one's opponent, or, by any other means, introducing human or animal blood into the ring."

AEW has 30 days to pay the fine.

Christopher Cruise posted the official consent order on his Facebook profile and wrote: "Look, the easy thing to say in response to the $10,000 fine levied on AEW by the MSAC is that it is pocket change for a billionaire. I get that. But it ain't nuthin. And it is public, or will be on May 20th when the Commission meets and then posts the consent order on its website, and distributes it to all other commissions throughout the country. And keep in mind that the next violation will result in a revocation of their license in Maryland and possible show stoppage. In the middle of a match. The Commission is on notice now that others are watching its actions. This puts AEW on notice, as well, and it embarrasses the company. By this time tomorrow the story will have spread far and wide. And it will appear in mainstream publications. This is a black eye for AEW and for the business."

Cruise's involvement has received an overwhelmingly negative reaction within the professional wrestling world. The former WCW announcer's post has been bombarded with 373 negative comments, and even podcast host Conrad Thompson commented on the matter as he tweeted: "Chris Cruise sucks."