Jon Moxley. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Brutal honesty is what fuels AEW's Blackpool Combat Club

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Nov 4, 2024 4:14 PM ET

Jon Moxley is one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling. He's also the leader of the Blackpool Combat Club, which is currently the hottest faction in AEW. Right now, the biggest storyline outside of WWE's Bloodline is how the BCC are at war with the AEW locker room.

Moxley is flanked by Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Pac and Marina Shafir, making them a fearsome opponent for anyone within the company. Not only is the BCC a terrifying opponent, but it's also a well-oiled unit. The members work out and train together behind the scenes, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

However, being part of such a close-knit group means that sometimes there are difficult conversations to be had.

“I started to let my physique go a little bit, and then Claudio is like ‘Hey man, you have to stand next to me every week on television," Yuta said during an appearance on 'The Mark Hoke Show.' "You might want to work on that a little bit. He was very kind when he said it...That’s something I’ve been very fortunate to have with the guys in the BCC is they’re always very honest with me."

As the leading faction within AEW, it makes sense that each member holds the others accountable — not only for their appearances on screen but also for their work ethic and continued improvement.

Tony Khan is banking on the BCC making enough noise to start attracting or re-attracting more fans. The company has struggled with ticket sales and viewership throughout this year. The new storyline is hot enough to raise interest among casual viewers and former AEW enjoyers, but only if the product matches the promotion.

If some tough conversations and challenging training sessions are what it takes to help AEW bounce back from the most difficult period in its young life, then that's a small price to pay for the company's continued success and talent.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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