WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has taken aim at Jon Moxley and The Death Riders, calling the AEW faction a creative misfire and accusing Moxley of using the group to live out his own wrestling fantasies. Moxley currently leads one of AEW’s most violent and aggressive units, which includes Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Marina Shafir, PAC, and Daniel Garcia.
The Death Riders have been a major presence on AEW programming over the past year, often featured in high‑stakes matches and chaotic brawls. But despite their prominence, Bully Ray believes the faction has not helped AEW in any meaningful way.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray delivered a harsh critique of Moxley’s direction for the group. He argued that The Death Riders exist more to satisfy Moxley’s personal creative interests than to elevate AEW’s product. Bully claimed Moxley’s influence backstage has allowed him to shape the faction however he wants, comparing Moxley’s style to Terry Funk and saying he would have no issue confronting him physically.
Bully Ray did acknowledge that Claudio Castagnoli would be a tougher challenge, but he continued to take verbal shots at Moxley, calling him a fraud and insisting he could “beat the living s**t out of him.” Even with his criticism, Bully believes AEW still has a chance to improve how the faction is presented.
He argued that AEW should focus on booking The Death Riders in ways that draw money and fill arenas, not simply cater to what wrestlers want to see or what might get a reaction online. Bully emphasized that wrestling should always be built around selling tickets and creating demand, not chasing social media approval.
As The Death Riders continue to play a major role in AEW’s main event scene, the debate over their direction — and Moxley’s influence — is likely to continue.
Bully Ray Blasts Jon Moxley and The Death Riders
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