Jon Moxley discusses his journey to sobriety.
On November 2, 2021, Tony Khan took to social media to announce that Jon Moxley would be entering an inpatient alcohol treatment program. Moxley was one of the main stars on AEW television and was scheduled to face Orange Cassidy on the November 3 episode of AEW Dynamite in the semi-finals of the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament.
Moxley would be off television until January 19, 2022 when he made his return.
Moxley has been sober for nearly two years, but things remain difficult, just in a different way.
"It’s f---ing hard," Moxley told The Messenger. "It’s not the same hell as before, but it’s a completely different challenge every single day where you don’t know what direction it might go in. I would love to give you like a positive, self-help book-type answer or something about f---ing sunshine and rainbows and fairies and sh--, but that's really not reality. It's been good on the whole, it's been good. I'm the luckiest guy in the world. But, you know, you will pay for it on the other side, your choices you make in your life. You f--- up your brain chemistry. It takes a lot of time for your body and the physical damage you’ve done to yourself to regulate itself. I'm not always the easiest person to be around. I have crazy mood swings and sh-- like that."
Moxley said he "used to envy people who were living normal lives and not going through the same sh-- that I was going through. Now I still kind of envy people who aren’t going through the same sh-- I’m going through. It’s just different sh--."
Moxley said he can "see the world with so much more clarity," which has resulted in his patience meter hitting empty.
"Pro wrestling specifically is full of bullsh-- and bullsh--ters," he said. "I’ve always had a very low tolerance for bullsh--. But now it’s f---ing non-existent, my level of patience for bullsh--," he stated.
Moxley credited his wife Renee Paquette for saving his life and being there to support him. He also said their daughter gives him a new motivation.
"I plan on being here for a long f---ing time and accomplishing a lot more," he declared. "I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface on what I’m capable of."
Moxley was sidelined following AEW Dynamite Grand Slam with a concussion but returned on Saturday's episode of AEW Collision to help save the Blackpool Combat Club.
His in-ring return has yet to officially be announced.
