Jon Moxley’s infamous No Holds Barred match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 has long been a source of frustration for the AEW star. For years, Moxley has spoken openly about his disappointment with the bout, claiming his creative ideas were shut down by a seemingly disinterested Lesnar.
However, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman has offered a very different perspective on why the match failed to deliver. During a appearance on Inside The Ropes, Heyman argued that the problem wasn’t Lesnar’s lack of creativity, but Moxley’s own attitude going into the encounter.
Heyman pointed to Moxley’s much-discussed appearance on the Stone Cold Podcast as a reflection of the mindset he may have brought to the ring that night.
“I’m sure Ambrose is very frustrated with it. Is he frustrated with his own performance on the Stone Cold Podcast? I didn’t insult him. I’m speaking the truth. You ask a question, you get an answer from me. Sorry that I’m being blunt. Come on. Did you see his performance on the Stone Cold Podcast? Did it p—ss off Steve Austin? Did it p—ss you off, too? And you think he didn’t come into the match with Brock Lesnar with the same attitude?”
The crux of Heyman’s argument is that there are unwritten rules when stepping into the ring with someone like Lesnar. He warned that anyone who “takes liberties” with The Beast risks the match turning into a legitimate, one-sided beating, citing Braun Strowman, Randy Orton, and The Undertaker as examples of this harsh reality.
He then laid out his “conspiracy theory” bluntly, detailing the severe consequences of crossing Lesnar:
“Ask Braun Strowman what happens when you take liberties with Brock Lesnar. Ask Randy Orton what happens when you take liberties with Brock Lesnar. Ask The Undertaker what happens when you take liberties with Brock Lesnar. If that’s what happened—because I’m not telling you that’s what it was—I’m just throwing out a conspiracy theory for you to think about. You mess with Brock Lesnar, the match is not going to be that good. You’re just going to get your a—s kicked. You’re going to get stretched. You’re going to get thrown around, dumped on your head, and Brock Lesnar is going to go out, have dinner, and call you when it’s all over. That’s it.” (h/t Ringside News)