The ruling is in and AEW has been fined $10,000 by the Maryland Athletic Commission for the Lights Out match between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega at Full Gear in November 2019.
According to the commission, Maryland "prohibits wrestlers from deliberately lacerating themselves or their opponents, or introducing human or animal blood into the match, none of which happened in that match." Omega and Moxley both bled in the bout, which featured a barbed wire spider web, broken glass, a mouse trap board, and more.
AEW has 30 days to pay the fine.
The complaint was filed by former WCW announcer Chris Cruise, who took to Facebook to comment and show the consent order given to AEW. You can see the consent order and Cruise's comments from Facebook below.
AEW fined $10,000 by Maryland State Athletic Commission. Consent Order attached. pic.twitter.com/dsgGI6HuL6
— Justice (@ChrispyCruiser) May 6, 2020
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.
AEW has yet to comment on the matter.
