Maryland Athletic Commission confirms $10,000 AEW fine
Image: AEW/Lee South
While news broke Wednesday that AEW was fined $10,000 by the Maryland State Athletic Commission for blood in a match between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega, the state confirmed the fine Thursday.
Per state regulations, intentional blood isn’t allowed in pro wrestling matches. Moxley and Omega faced off in an “unsanctioned” match to close out the company’s Full Gear pay-per-view in Balitmore last November.
AEW has 30 days to pay the fine and could have issues getting regulated there in the future if other incidents occur.
Other prohibited activities per commission rules include “slamming an opponent into a ring post”, “striking an opponent with a foreign object”, “pulling hair”, and “deliberately leaving the ring enclosure during a contest.”
In their ruling, the commission said the following:
“The Commission acknowledges that while AEW took precautions to reduce the potential for injury to both Mr. Good and Mr. Smith by using materials, in certain instances, to simulate injury and merely give the appearance of bleeding, blood was introduced into the ring in other instances during this professional wrestling match through the deliberate and repeated actions of the two referenced wrestlers as scripted by AEW.”
“Smith” is Tyson Smith, aka Omega, and “Good” is Jon Good, aka Moxley.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.