The Maryland State Athletic Commission has confirmed that All Elite Wrestling was fined $10,000 for their Unsanctioned ‘Lights Out’ match between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley at the Full Gear pay-per-view last November. POST Wrestling’s John Pollock reached out to the commission and the following was sent back:
“In response to your via email inquiry, the Maryland State Athletic Commission (“Commission”) is confirming that a consent order (please see attached document) was entered into recently between licensed promoter All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the Commission as a means of settling Case No. MSAC-20-02. The Commission considers the actions it has taken in the consent order, and the requirements within, to be a deterrent to any future violations of a similar nature.”
The complaint about the match was filed by former WCW announcer Christopher Cruise. He put up a post on Facebook and shared his thoughts about the fine and how things would ultimately play out:
“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 30 days to pay the fine. A few weeks after the complaint was filed, it was noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Chris Cruise contacted the commission and asked about their rules regarding blading and whether a match can continue or not if a wrestler is bleeding. The commission told Cruise that it, “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.”
Jon Moxley was victorious in the aforementioned match against Kenny Omega and fast forward to present day, Moxley is set to defend his AEW World Championship against Brodie Lee on May 23rd at Double Or Nothing.
