Jon Moxley's New AEW Gimmick Inspired By Russell Crowe In Cult Classic Movie

An unlikely movie has been revealed to be the inspiration for Jon Moxley's new gimmick in All Elite Wrestling.

Moxley made his return to AEW TV on the August 28 edition of Dynamite for an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. After initially calling out Darby Allin for a conversation at a later date, Moxley suddenly looked into Tony Schiavone's eyes and delivered the following message, seemingly to AEW CEO Tony Khan: 

“I’m gonna tell you something, I want you to listen to me. It’s gonna take some time for everybody to wrap their brains around this, but we’re gonna start right now, okay? Listen to me. This is not your company anymore.”

Bryan Alvarez has since reported on Wrestling Observer Live that Moxley's new gimmick is inspired by the 1992 cult classic movie, Romper Stomper. The movie chronicles the downfall of a neo-Nazi group in Melbourne, Australia and stars Russell Crowe in his breakout role as Hando, the group's leader. 

Moxley's Dynamite promo, in particular, is inspired by one of the movie's early scenes that sees Hando and the neo-Nazis attack a Vietnamese couple after Hando tells one of the victims: "I'm gonna tell you something. I want you to listen to me, okay? This is not your country."

Bryan Alvarez said: "I actually know the movie he watched. Romper Stomper, Australian cult classic, 1992. He was playing Russell Crowe in what he was doing. I'm not making this up. That's a scoop for ya."

Movies have inspired several AEW storylines since the promotion was founded in 2019. The recent programme between Mariah May and Toni Storm was heavily inspired by All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard, while Moxley previously took inspiration from Rocky III for his 2022 feud with CM Punk. 

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