5 dream matches for Jon Moxley outside WWE

When The Shield went their separate ways, Jon Moxley was destined for a long run as a main eventer. However, he was held back by a poorly-written character and an inability to adapt to WWE's scripted promos. Moxley eventually left the company after growing frustrated with his predicament.

Although he would have had some great opponents if he stayed, he has compiled an impressive body of work and put on great matches with talents from AEW and NJPW after he departed from WWE.

Moxley also took his work on the microphone to a new level when he was the AEW World Champion and established himself as one of the best performers in professional wrestling.

With that being said, here are five dream matches for Jon Moxley outside WWE:

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#5 Jon Moxley vs. Kazuchika Okada

Since debuting on NJPW as The Death Rider, Jon Moxley has adapted Japanese wrestling like a duck to water. The former Shield member has put on incredible matches with Tomohiro Ishii and Minoru Suzuki, establishing himself as a star in front of a brand new audience.

However, Moxley hasn't yet locked horns with Kazuchika Okada, one of NJPW's biggest stars in the last decade. With growing suggestions of NJPW running out of ideas for Okada, it might be time for The Rainmaker to walk through the forbidden door.

If Okada were to confront Moxley on an episode of Dynamite, he would set the world of professional wrestling abuzz.

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#4 Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson

As part of Team Hell No, Bryan Danielson locked horns with Jon Moxley and The Shield many times after the latter's main roster debut. Danielson even forced Seth Rollins to submit on an episode of SmackDown, handing the upstart group their first-ever defeat in a six-man tag team match.

However, Danielson and Moxley have both changed drastically since their WWE days. While Moxley portrays an edgier character that is true to himself, Danielson is a lethal grappler reminiscent of Royce Gracie from the early days of the UFC.

Both stars now work a more violent style and would certainly bring out the best in each other.

#3 Jon Moxley vs. CM Punk

While Jon Moxley has worked with CM Punk as part of The Shield, he has not had a singles feud with The Straight Edge Superstar. Liberated by the creative freedom in AEW, Moxley is now an entirely different animal than his goofy WWE character.

He is also one of the few performers who could hold their own with Punk on the microphone. Moxley's hard-hitting style of wrestling would also present Punk with more challenges in the ring. Both stars have the chops to steal the show in any arena around the world.

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#2 Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay

One of the most entertaining performers in the world, Will Ospreay regularly takes the audience's breath away with his acrobatic wrestling style. Even though he's only 28 years of age, Ospreay has already won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, among many accolades.

The British star has also been awarded 16 five-star matches by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and won the publication's Most Outstanding Wrestler honor for 2019.

Ospreay's high-flying style would be an exciting contrast to the grounded Moxley. The former AEW World Champion has proved to be a remarkable base for the high-flying Darby Allin in the past and will be a great competition to Ospreay.

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#1 Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

One of the greatest professional wrestlers, Hiroshi Tanahashi, was set to make his biggest splash in North America when he wrestled Jon Moxley at AEW All Out. Moxley even called out the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion on an episode of Dynamite in anticipation.

However, the plans hit a snag, and the timing wasn't feasible for this dream match. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AEW still believes that Tanahashi will wrestle Moxley at some point down the road. Fans might see the two titans of professional wrestling collide at Full Gear on November 13, 2021.