AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Jon Moxley has talked further about his time in WWE, how he handled his money and his thoughts on wrestlers being independent contractors.
Sitting down with his wife, Rene Paquette, on her Oral Sessions Podcast – on which previously Moxley had discussed travelling with Shield brothers Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins – the artist formerly known as Dean Ambrose highlighted his beginning in WWE and how he went from a nobody to the member of a boy band:
“When [The Shield] first started doing meet and greets, we were in FCW, an island literally of nobodies; nobody knew who we were. The group I was with, we were from the equivalent of a farm system in wrestling in Florida. We were nobodies. Nobody knew who we were. We were making gas money, came upon the scene in a matter of months later. All of a sudden, we’re the fu–ing Backstreet Boys.
We were like a boy band. We were going to malls and chicks are going crazy. I’m meeting all these people, and I didn’t know how to talk to people. It was very weird to me. People were like, ‘Oh my God, I love you so much!’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know you. Thank you.’ I didn’t know to behave in a scenario. Being in WWE kind of helped me learn better social skills. I learned how to talk to people I don’t know, especially in these Make-A-Wishes, these people are shy. You have to make these good experiences with them. I learned how to be a person in the public eye. It took actual work. It’s like, a skill to develop.
Even in WWE, when you first walk away with potentially a lot of zeros on it, the fiscal responsibility to your family of, ‘Is this irresponsible of what I’m doing? Is it selfish?’ Yes, so always on my mind is saving, being frugal, and not all of a sudden trying to become something that I’m not.”
Reaching the type of success and notoriety The Shield attained in such a short amount of time afforded Moxley something he’d never had before. Namely, money. However, according to the star, he didn’t waste what he earned and cited his poverty stricken childhood as why he’s so frugal with money now:
“When I was doing my taxes in WWE, because you’re an independent contractor – which is not true – you’re a fu–ing employee. So, you have to pay your taxes. In the developmental first couple of years, I didn’t make that much money. I was able to do them myself on TurboTax.
When I had been on WWE for a while and working on a bunch of different states, I started to make more money and taxes became more confusing. So, I look up an accountant; I didn’t know s**t. I only had a bank account for two years. So, I find my accountant and financial advisor, I walk into their office, and I explain my situation. They asked what do I want to do with my future. I said, ‘Well, I’m finally making some money now. I don’t know when this is going to end. This could end tomorrow, so I just want to save as much as humanly possible.’ So then, in five years, if this all goes to s**t, I’m good.
That was my plan when I just started to make a little money in WWE. I was going to hoard it and save it because this could end at any moment. Went up, and had really nice, long run. Went over five years, but I still have that same mentality. I don’t ever want to depend on anyone else for a paycheck if that was the case.”
Despite being one of the highest paid talents on the AEW roster, Jon Moxley hasn’t changed his stance on money and still doesn’t like to spend money for fear of being poverty stricken once more:
“That’s why I don’t like to spend money,” stated Moxley Even in WWE, when you first walk away with potentially a lot of zeros on it, the fiscal responsibility to your family of, ‘Is this irresponsible of what I’m doing? Is it selfish?’ Yes, so always on my mind is saving, being frugal, and not all of a sudden trying to become something that I’m not.”
Currently, Jon Moxley is scheduled to defend his AEW World Heavyweight Championship against Kenny Omega on December 2, at AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming.
The pair are currently expecting their first child together.
Credit for the interview: Oral Sessions
h/t for the transcription: Wrestling Inc.