5 WWE backstage stories Jon Moxley revealed in his book

Jon Moxley’s autobiography, MOX, was released on November 2. The AEW star told several stories about people he worked with in WWE, from Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to Triple H and Vince McMahon.

Moxley, formerly known as Dean Ambrose, worked with almost every top superstar in WWE during his eight-year run with the company. His book mostly focused on positive stories from his career, with the exception of the criticism he aimed at WWE executive producer Kevin Dunn.

The former Shield member gave a fascinating insight into what life is really like for superstars behind the scenes in WWE. He also discussed the early days of his relationship with Renee Paquette.

In this article, let’s take a look at five backstage WWE stories that Jon Moxley revealed in his book.

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#5 Reason why Jon Moxley dislikes Kevin Dunn

Jon Moxley’s Dean Ambrose character won the United States Championship from Kofi Kingston at WWE Extreme Rules 2013. Following the match, Moxley told the referee to “give me my f***ing belt.”

As swearing is forbidden in WWE, Moxley received a warning from WWE producer Road Dogg after he returned backstage. Two days later, he was told by another producer, Michael Hayes, that he needed to apologize to Kevin Dunn.

Moxley issued a heartfelt apology to Dunn and thought their conversation went well. However, the WWE executive producer seemingly did not believe that the then-United States Champion’s apology was sincere enough.

“I thought it was a positive experience. About an hour later, Michael [Hayes] comes up to me in the hallway again. He don’t look happy. ‘Weeell,’ he says, ‘I don’t think … that was the right kind of apology … for the push we wanna give you,’” Moxley wrote.

The former WWE Champion said he was “flabbergasted” by Hayes’ comment, as he genuinely thought Dunn was trying to look out for him. He went on to accuse Dunn of having an “old, rich boys’ club ego.”

#4 Jon Moxley and Renee Paquette’s first backstage conversation in WWE

Jon Moxley told lots of stories about Renee Paquette (f.k.a. Renee Young) in his book, including the time they had their first conversation in WWE.

The AEW star wrote that he was bouncing on his toes backstage as The Shield waited to make their entrance through the crowd. Paquette, a WWE interviewer at the time, approached him and revealed that people on Twitter thought they were dating.

Moxley made a remark about Paquette’s appearance while he continued jogging backward down the hallway:

“In less than a second, I will complete my rotation and disappear into the distance. But not before speaking the first words I ever will … to my future wife. ‘Well, hey. It looks good on ya.’ Bullseye. I don’t care what Renee says. At this exact moment, it was all over. Her goose was cooked. It would take a while to reel her in, but she was firmly hooked,” he wrote.

Jon Moxley and Renee Paquette began dating in 2013 and married in 2017. Their first child, Nora, was born on June 15, 2021.

#3 Jon Moxley received useful advice from Bryan Danielson

In December 2011, Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley faced each other under their Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose personas at a WWE live event.

Bryan’s “Yes! Movement” era had not yet started, but he was still one of WWE’s top up-and-coming stars at the time. Moxley, by contrast, was part of WWE’s Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) developmental system.

Before their match, Bryan told his opponent backstage that he should not ask any main-roster WWE Superstars for advice.

“What I remember most was sitting in the locker room beforehand and Bryan coming up to me, his head on a swivel, looking around to make sure we were alone. He told me in almost a whisper, ‘Don’t ask anybody for advice.’ Reason being, if you did and were given stupid or bad advice, everyone would be watching the next time to make sure you did what you were advised to do,” Moxley wrote.

Jon Moxley said WWE rookies would receive a bad reputation backstage if they listened to a veteran’s advice and failed to take it on board. He added that Bryan’s words gave him an insight into the “Machiavellian s***” that happens in the locker room.

#2 Triple H asked Jon Moxley if he knew what a “paradigm shift” is

It emerged in Jon Moxley’s book that his Paradigm Shift finisher was likely named after a remark that Triple H once made to him.

Moxley uses a version of the double underhook DDT as his finisher. The move is called the Paradigm Shift in AEW and the Death Rider in NJPW. Before his WWE exit, Moxley’s move was known as the Dirty Deeds.

Recalling a conversation he had with Triple H, Moxley said he felt insulted when he was asked if he knew the term "paradigm shift."

“I remember Hunter talking to us in the early days of The Shield. We’re all standing on the ramp at TV. ‘Do you know what a paradigm shift is?’ he asks us in a patronizing way, like he’s talking to third graders. I found the way he said it insulting. I made some kind of small remark. I don’t remember what. I was real testy back then. What? You don’t think we know what words mean? ‘Yeah, we know what it means. … Go on,’” Moxley wrote.

Triple H went on to explain that he wanted The Shield to “be a paradigm shift” in WWE. In other words, he challenged the trio to change WWE’s atmosphere through their in-ring performances and desire to succeed inside and outside the ring.

#1 Jon Moxley thought Big E was going to be part of The Shield

Jon Moxley made his main-roster debut alongside fellow Shield members Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in November 2012 at WWE Survivor Series.

A month before the pay-per-view, all three men were ready to debut at WWE Hell in a Cell. Big E, who had yet to appear on the main roster, was also backstage at the event.

Moxley recalled how all four up-and-coming superstars thought they were going to become a faction on RAW and SmackDown:

“The first we heard of it was in October: rumors, rumblings, some kind of angle involving new callups. Could be bad. Could be good. Could be some jobber s***, but it was something. Interests were piqued. Me, Seth, Roman and Big E were all in Atlanta for the Hell in a Cell PPV. If there was truth to these rumors, this mystery angle would likely involve some or all of us — we didn’t know who,” he wrote.

As it turned out, WWE’s decision-makers opted to separate Big E from Jon Moxley, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.

Big E, then known as Big E Langston, had to wait another two months for his main-roster debut. The former NXT Champion attacked John Cena on the December 17, 2012 episode of RAW, forming an alliance with AJ Lee and Dolph Ziggler in the process.