‘Absolutely Wild Scenes’: Moxley retains AEW World Championship title in brutal street fight against Cope but gets a spiked bat stuck in his back

The March 19 episode of AEW Dynamite, held amid a blizzard in Omaha, featured a brutal Street Fight as Jon Moxley defended his AEW World Championship against Cope in one of the most grueling matches in recent memory. The match kicked off with Copeland ambushing Moxley during his entrance, reigniting their heated rivalry from Revolution.

Weapons quickly came into play as Moxley gained control by hitting a Paradigm Shift on the announce desk before the first commercial break. Targeting Copeland’s previously injured neck, Moxley looked to put him away, but Cope turned the tables with his signature weapon, ‘Spike’—a nail-studded board that lodged itself into Moxley’s back in a horrifying scene. Moxley screamed in agony as blood poured from the wounds, and Wheeler Yuta rushed in to help, struggling to remove the embedded weapon.



Despite the carnage, Moxley retained his title, choking out Cope to secure the victory. However, controversy struck when Christian Cage made a surprise appearance, attempting to cash in his title opportunity. Moxley, already battered, managed to overpower Cage and put him to sleep, preventing an upset.

The chaotic battle featured multiple AEW stars, including Nick Wayne, Claudio Castagnoli, FTR, Marina Shafir, Willow Nightingale, and Kip Sabian, all getting involved in the action.

With this victory, Moxley now sets his sights on AEW Dynasty, where he will defend the championship against Swerve Strickland, who earned his shot by defeating Ricochet in a No. 1 Contender’s match at Revolution.

Meanwhile, Cope’s future remains uncertain. Following his defeat, tensions flared with FTR as Dax Harwood refused to help him up and even shoved his own partner while leaving, hinting at a new storyline shift for the Rated-R Superstar.

Viewers Shocked
Many viewers took to X to express their thoughts on the match.

"Never in my life have I witnessed what Moxley just went through... Everyone was right, AEW is for sickosssss. This is why I live, breathe, and die for AEW! #THANKYOUMOXLEY #SPIKE #AEWDynamite," one fan wrote.

Another said, "Ayooo the spikes are legit in Moxley’s back!! #AEWDynamite."

Sharing a video, one X user wrote, "There’s not a lot of gore in wrestling that makes me uncomfortable, but this is kinda up there. This is terrifying—that thing is STUCK! #AEWDynamite."

Mox's reign hasn't been the best, but his physical risk-taking has been admirable. A little more respect for Jon F**ing Moxley!*" commented another.