Bully Ray Accused of Backpedaling After Josh Barnett Responds to His Jon Moxley Comments

Bully Ray is finding himself in hot water on two fronts after a wave of online criticism followed comments he made taking shots at AEW’s Death Riders stable and its leader, Jon Moxley.

The WWE Hall of Famer stirred the pot when he publicly questioned the creative direction of The Death Riders in AEW, going as far as calling Moxley a fraud and declaring that he could “beat the living s**t out of him.” Strong words — and they didn’t go unnoticed. The remarks drew significant backlash, and things escalated further when combat sports veteran Josh Barnett entered the picture with a challenge of his own directed at Bully Ray.

Now fans are turning up the heat on Ray again, this time accusing him of backtracking in the wake of Barnett’s response. Barnett, a decorated catch wrestler and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, is no stranger to legitimate competition, and many observers feel his involvement raises the stakes of Ray’s original bravado considerably. Critics online have been quick to point out what they see as a shift in Ray’s tone following the challenge.

It’s a familiar dynamic in the wrestling world — a veteran personality fires off a bold take or a tough-guy declaration, only to face scrutiny when someone with legitimate fighting credentials calls the bluff. Whether Bully Ray addresses the situation further remains to be seen, but for now, the court of public opinion appears to have rendered its verdict.