AEW has pulled a Twitter post hyping up MJF vs. Wardlow.
Tonight (May 29), Double or Nothing will take place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AEW has been building a long-term storyline with MJF and Wardlow that is expected to be paid off tonight.
The problem is, Maxwell Jacob Friedman and AEW have been having major issues as of late.
Here is the tweet from AEW that has since been removed advertising the match:
For those who have been out of the loop the past 24 hours, MJF no-showed a meet and greet scheduled for the AEW Fan Fest on Saturday. PWInsider reported that initially, AEW officials couldn’t contact him.
Fightful later reported that MJF had a flight booked out of Las Vegas for late Saturday night. The report noted that it wasn’t known whether or not he’d actually board the flight.
PWInsider followed this up, reporting that MJF remained in Las Vegas and did not board the flight to Newark, New Jersey.
For what it’s worth, AEW has posted a hype video on its official YouTube channel for MJF vs. Wardlow within the past hour and as of this writing, that hasn’t been taken down.
UPDATE: PWInsider is reporting that MJF remains in Las Vegas despite being booked for a flight out of “Sin City” one night before AEW Double or Nothing. He did not board the plane to Newark, New Jersey.
ORIGINAL:
It looks like the MJF-AEW situation has reached a boiling point.
Earlier today (May 28), MJF failed to show up to a meet and greet during a Fan Fest. PWInsider reported that this wasn’t a work and AEW officials couldn’t contact him despite several attempts.
In an update, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has reported that MJF is physically fine and that he has a flight booked out of Las Vegas tonight.
I can confirm a flight out of Las Vegas tonight has been booked for MJF.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) May 29, 2022
The report notes that it isn’t known whether or not MJF will get on the flight tonight, just that it has been booked.
There is currently no word on why this flight was booked for tonight. It’s been said in the report that some within the company are “very unhappy” with how this situation has unfolded.
MJF has made it clear that he’ll be weighing his options once his AEW contract expires in 2024. He’s dropped several hints of testing the waters with WWE.
It was reported that MJF has been frustrated with his pay. AEW has reportedly been willing to negotiate a new deal but MJF hasn’t been receptive to those overtures.
While MJF has blurred the lines between performance and reality, this report seems to be as real as it gets.
There is yet another layer to the MJF-AEW madness.
Ahead of this Sunday’s (May 29) big Double or Nothing PPV event, AEW held a Fan Fest. MJF was scheduled to attend a meet and greet but he failed to do so.
PWInsider is reporting that MJF’s failure to appear was not a work. The report notes that Maxwell Jacob Friedman didn’t respond to AEW’s attempts to contact him.
One fan on social media claims he was spotted at a casino instead.
Fans who paid for autographs and photos for the MJF showing were offered refunds and exchanges.
Those who may be worried about MJF’s physical well-being can rest easy, at the very least. Sean Ross Sapp confirmed he is okay.
I'll have a big update on MJF and AEW on https://t.co/jy8u4a7WDa. I can confirm he's physically okay for those that asked.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) May 29, 2022
MJF is currently scheduled to take on Wardlow at the Double or Nothing PPV. The stipulation is that if Wardlow wins, he’s free from MJF’s contract. If he loses, he can never sign a deal with AEW.
Maxwell’s contract with AEW is legitimately coming due in 2024. The PWInsider report notes that some within the company feel MJF has been disrespectful to AEW President Tony Khan as of late.
There’s no word on if Khan, himself, feels this way.
MJF has dropped several teases that he’ll ditch AEW in favor of WWE when his contract is due. He’s even made those references on AEW TV.
Fightful’s Will Washington reported earlier this month that not too many people within AEW are on MJF’s side with how he’s been handling things behind the scenes.
It’ll be interesting to see if this situation impacts the Double or Nothing card.
WWE Hall of Famer and AEW performer Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts has praised MJF’s work as a heel, comparing him to the late ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper.
MJF has proven to be a stand-out talent for AEW due to his heel persona and refusal to break character when appearing in public.
Speaking on his DDP Snake Pit podcast, Roberts was asked about just how similar MJF is to the former WWE Intercontinental Champion.
“Absolutely (on the piper-mjf comparrison.) Because he rants on you, man. he gets in your face. he throws sh*t at you quick and fast.”
Jake Roberts
MJF is expected to face Wardlow at Double or Nothing 2022 on May 29.
Will MJF jump to WWE?
MJF may be one of the most popular acts in AEW, but according to reports, he’s not happy with the promotion.
MJF has reportedly been at odds with Tony Khan in recent months and has openly teased going to WWE, saying he would have a “tremendous” match with Roman Reigns.
AEW’s MJF has praised the work of WWE’s Performance Center and the various Superstars who got their start at the Florida venue.
The WWE Performance Center opened its doors in July 2013, with a second branch opening six years later in London, England.
On Twitter, MJF highlighted the success of Pat Buck and Brian Myers’ Create A Pro wrestling school, calling the school where he learned “where Real wrestlers are taught Real wrestling.”
When a fan responded by saying that the Performance Center has tied up millions of dollars and produced no one, MJF fired back, listing stars including Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, former WWE Champion Big E among others.
According to a source within AEW, much of the roster is frustrated with the company for a variety of reasons.
“A source from the AEW locker room tells us that MJF is hardly the only talent feeling some level of discontent, describing the backstage atmosphere as ‘chaotic’ with a lack of structure, with common complaints ranging from not knowing angles or finishes until close to showtime, and things like redundant finishes and angles to set up matches being very frustrating.
“Every single one of us is pulling out hair out, according to one source. While not on the same level of WWE issues like Monday Night RAW often being rewritten the day of or even on the fly as the show is airing, we are told that AEW is not all sunshine and rainbows.”
MJF’s contract with AEW will expire in January 2024 and WWE, in addition to their network partners has shown interest in him.
Will MJF jump?
After trying out for WWE Tough Enough in 2015, could MJF be finally joining the promotion in 2024?
With his incredibly rude heel persona and colorful language, it’s hard to see MJF making a splash in the PG waters of WWE.
There are some new details regarding the situation with MJF and AEW.
It’s clear that MJF is poised to be the hottest thing in pro wrestling when 2024 rolls around. As it is, he’s one of the top heels in the business and his stock continues to soar.
Of course, 2024 is important because that’s when MJF’s contract with AEW expires.
Latest On MJF & Tony Khan
Will Washington of Fightful recently claimed that the issue at hand with MJF and AEW President Tony Khan has to do with a contract extension. He claims that the word is that MJF wants more money but Khan isn’t willing to fulfill his request if his top heel won’t sign an extension.
Furthermore, Will claims that not many within AEW are taking MJF’s side on the matter because they feel he must honor the original agreement.
It’s important to note that someone could very well be feeding one-sided information to put pressure on MJF. After all, if things aren’t going someone’s way, it’s easy to put out something negative on the person who won’t cooperate.
It isn’t difficult to understand why MJF would want more money. He’s definitely exceeded the value of his 2019 deal. With that said, if he truly wants more money yet doesn’t want to sign on beyond 2024, you can see why AEW wouldn’t want to do that.
Since signing his initial AEW deal, MJF has seen the likes of Bryan Danielson and CM Punk get big money contracts.
Social media has already been abuzz with AEW fanboys and detractors chiming in. The fanboys are roasting MJF, while the detractors are buttering him up in hopes that he’ll make the jump to WWE.
MJF has been the talk of the town and in 2024, he’ll be the biggest story in wrestling.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is a top heel in AEW and even though he’s a star now, the 26-year-old hasn’t even scratched the surface. Many see Plainview’s finest as a major player in the industry for years to come.
While AEW has its golden goose for now, things could change in 2024. That’s when MJF’s contract with the company will expire. Reports have claimed that MJF is a bit unhappy with Tony Khan after a chat regarding taking media interviews without permission.
While that ultimately could turn out to be nothing, Maxwell has teased testing the market both on and off-air. It’s left many wondering if MJF will be making the big jump to WWE.
If he does, here are five WWE superstars who would be perfect opponents for him:
The Miz
(via WWE)
You knew this was coming, so might as well get it out of the way now. If WWE signs MJF, he’s bound to have a program with The Miz. Wrestling fans have long made comparisons between the two.
It makes sense. After all, both characters have a sense of entitlement, enjoy the finer things in life, and think they’re better than everyone else.
Heck, CM Punk even referred to MJF as a “less famous Miz” during their AEW feud.
MJF and The Miz have actually exchanged pleasantries. Back in late 2021, Maxwell appeared on SiriusXM’s Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha and he expressed his belief that Miz is “tremendous” as a performer.
Miz returned the favor, telling Peter Rosenberg that MJF is no copycat. Miz also said he feels MJF has done a great job in a short period of time.
Kevin Owens
(via WWE)
When you think of Kevin Owens, you don’t think of the prototypical WWE superstar.
KO is so good that he ended up being a Swiss army knife for Vince McMahon’s empire. You can put Owens in any role and he’s going to succeed.
For a feud with MJF to work, however, there’s no doubt that Owens will have to play the babyface role. Maxwell would thrive in this situation being the snotty, rich brat running down the hardworking Owens who was never meant to grace the cover of GQ Magazine.
As a heel, Owens has a way of making the audience hate him. As a face, he’ll make the WWE Universe love him. He’d be the perfect good guy in this feud.
This would be a home run.
John Cena
(via WWE)
This one is a bit tougher to pull off since John Cena is a busy man these days with Hollywood.
With that said, this would be a fantastic rivalry.
When you think back to Cena’s feuds with the likes of AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, and others, he always brought straight heat on the mic. He and MJF would have some memorable verbal battles and the match would also likely deliver.
As he proved during his rivalry with Styles, Cena does a great job handling programs with stars who had been established in another promotion. He knows how to hit close to home with his words and sell the audience on the significance of the match.
If MJF ends up in WWE and Cena’s schedule allows for it, this match is a must.
Roman Reigns
Photo: WWE.com
Roman Reigns is easily the top star in WWE today.
Ever since transitioning to his “Tribal Chief” character, his stock has soared. Reigns has been such a dominant force that he’s running out of legit contenders on TV.
If MJF enters WWE and feuds with Reigns, fans will get the added bonus of witnessing Maxwell and Paul Heyman go at it on the mic. Much like Cena, Heyman knows how to make things more personal and he’d likely do the same for an MJF-Reigns storyline.
The idea behind Reigns’ character is that he thinks he’s in “God Mode.” All of the opposition are supposed to fear him but MJF is quick-witted and would greatly challenge the “Head of the Table” in promo battles.
The question is, will Roman Reigns be around in 2024 if MJF makes the jump?
Reigns has signed a new deal to take fewer dates and some question whether or not he’ll be on his way out of WWE sooner rather than later should Hollywood come calling.
Cody Rhodes
This one is a no-brainer.
There is simply too much history between MJF and Cody Rhodes to ignore. The two had been booked as best friends on AEW TV until Maxwell turned on Cody by booting him in the nether regions.
The two ultimately collided at the AEW Revolution PPV back in Feb. 2020. MJF emerged victorious, putting an end to their rivalry although it definitely felt like there was some unfinished business that would be addressed after some time passed.
Cody made the shocking jump to WWE at WrestleMania 38 back in April. For WWE to book a high-profile feud with two of AEW’s golden boys would probably be a huge feather in the cap of company officials.
There’s no doubt Cody would push for this to happen if WWE snags MJF and he’d likely get his wish.
Stars from AEW are preparing to step out of the ring and into the car as part of the next season of Carpool Karaoke: The Series.
The Emmy Award-winning show, now entering its fifth season is based on the Carpool Karaoke segment from “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”
AEW stars appearing on the upcoming season include:
CM Punk
Bryan Danielson
Britt Baker
MJF
Christian Cage
Powerhouse Hobbs
Ruby Soho
Other celebrity guests appearing on this season include Zoey Deschanel (New Girl), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), and Sydney Sweeney (The Handmaid’s Tale).
Carpool Karaoke: The Series’ fifth season will premiere on May 27.
Watch the Carpool Karaoke season 5 trailer here:
AEW’s burst into the mainstream
AEW’s Nyla Rose teamed with MARVEL recently to co-write Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1.
While it’s not uncommon to see WWE Superstars and personalities appear on late-night interviews or other non-WWE programming, AEW has made a big splash in a relatively short amount of time.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, and Kris Statlander will appear on the upcoming season of Netflix’s ‘Floor is Lava.’
The show features contestants trying to cross an obstacle course without falling into the ‘lava’ underneath.
AEW isn’t just making their presence felt in programming, as former Women’s World Champion Nyla Rose recently teamed with MARVEL, co-writing the ‘Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1 which hit shelves this month.
MJF isn’t holding back with his latest comments about former WWE Superstars who have come to AEW.
While the All-Elite promotion is home to several ex-Superstars, including Adam Cole, Malakai Black, Bryan Danielson, and more, MJF worked for CZW and MLW before signing with Tony Khan in January 2019.
Sitting down with Brandon Walker on Rasllin’ MJF said that the company is “inaccurate” for giving high-profile contracts to ex-WWE talent.
“All these f***ing ex-WWE guys that are making an absurd amount of money when, quite frankly, they can’t sniff my f***ing jock [strap] when it comes to the ratings I pull in whenever I’m on screen, I think they can all go to hell. Somebody in the upper management has a problem with me and it’s very obvious if you see what I’m dealing with week to week.”
“They can’t sniff my f***ing jock [strap] when it comes to the ratings I pull in whenever I’m on screen, I think they can all go to hell.
MJF
When asked about Shawn Spears, an ex-WWE Superstar who now works with MJF in the Pinnacle, the Salt of the Earth said he’d be treated differently in WWE than the former Tye Dillinger.
“When I go over there, I’m not gonna have to deal with the same type of bulls**t that poor Shawn Spears had to deal with.”
MJF
Will MJF jump ship?
A young MJF tried out for the 2015 season of WWE Tough Enough, with his application video still available to watch on WWE’s official YouTube channel.
MJF may be one of AEW’s most prominently featured stars, but the relationship between him and Tony Khan is reportedly strained.
The Salt of the Earth has made no secret that his AEW contract expires in January 2024 and has openly discussed jumping to WWE.
Last December, it was reported that WWE’s television partners are “very interested” in MJF and Wardlow, and the company is expected to make an offer when given the chance.
MJF knows he’s going to be in high demand in the near future and he’d be foolish not to weigh his options.
The young AEW star will see his current contract end in 2024. While many believe that MJF could be primed to be a main event player for AEW for several years to come, the Plainview native hasn’t been shy in entertaining an offer from WWE when the time is right.
It’s also been reported that perhaps things haven’t been as rosy between MJF and AEW President Tony Khan lately. Back in March, Maxwell had an interview with Ariel Helwani that apparently wasn’t cleared by AEW beforehand, leaving Khan upset.
A report from Fightful claims that the relationship between wrestling’s hottest prospect and the AEW boss has soured a bit since then. It’s important to note that MJF has built the reputation of being a top-notch heel worker.
The lines have been blurred ever since MJF started publicly talking about his contract situation. While reports have surfaced about MJF being unhappy, nothing has changed in terms of any negotiations.
He knows his contract is up in 2024 and continues to be featured prominently on AEW programming.
At the end of the day, Tony Khan would be remiss to not give MJF a massive offer when it’s time to renegotiate. On the flip side, WWE must do their due diligence and make MJF a substantial offer to get one over on the competition.
With so much momentum built up already, MJF isn’t likely to re-up with AEW before he’s able to test the market. Letting WWE know he’d be all ears way ahead of time is a good way to keep his name in the minds of those in Vince McMahon’s circle.
MJF can see himself having a “tremendous” match with WWE Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman currently competes under the AEW banner, while Reigns dominates in WWE as both the WWE Champion and Universal Champion.
Despite this, MJF tells Brandon Walker (via the Barstool Rasslin podcast) that he thinks he’d have a “tremendous” match with The Tribal Chief, if they shared the ring.
“I would imagine. I think me and him would have a tremendous match. I think it would be a friendly competition. I would also love to wrestle Seth Rollins. I would love to wrestle The Miz.”
MJF Teasing a WWE Run
A match between MJF and Reigns certainly isn’t outside of the realm of possibility. MJF has been very open about the fact that his contract with AEW is set to expire at the beginning of 2024.
In fact, he’s even gone as far as saying that he’s willing to jump ship to WWE if Vince McMahon shells out the money. For now, MJF will have to play out his contract in AEW, as he’s currently locked in a feud with Wardlow.
“Now, if/when I were to go over there, I’d have me a ball, because I built my brand and established myself here. When I go over there, I’m not gonna have to deal with the same type of bullshit that poor Shawn Spears had to deal with”
– MJF on a potential WWE run
Reigns and The Bloodline, on the other hand, continue to wreak havoc on both the RAW and SmackDown brands now that Reigns holds both World Titles.
If Reigns and MJF ever do get to cross paths in the near future, it will certainly be a match wrestling fans will be paying very close attention to.
Would you like to see MJF and Reigns share the ring one day? Sound off in the comments!
Wardlow is currently feuding with MJF and is set to meet him for a contract signing at tonight’s AEW Dynamite from Long Island. The contract signing will also reveal when a match will take place. It’s most likely to be set for the Double or Nothing pay-per-view event on May 29.
AEW President Tony Khan discussed Wardlow and his contract while speaking to Barstool Rasslin’. He said that the storyline has evoked a lot of interest from fans (as transcribed by SEScoops):
“It’s the evil genius that is MJF, I think, at work. I mean, you’re seeing what he has done to Wardlow is tormenting the guy, and it’s been very compelling to see. Unfortunately, that’s kinda the evil mastermind at work,” Khan said.
Wardlow makes his entrance with handcuffs and no music and it is something that is different and sets Wardlow and his presentation apart. Tony Khan is pleased with the way everything comes together every week on Dynamite.
Khan said things have shaped up well for the upcoming big match as there is a contract signing tonight. He added that it’s a big night to see how the crowd reacts to Wardlow as he’s going against his boss, MJF, who holds Wardlow’s future in his hands. Khan said it’s gonna be really interesting because of the conditions in the contract.
Khan was asked if he has considered buying Wardlow’s contract from MJF since he can afford to.
“MJF’s family has a lot of money. To be fair, I am making smart business decisions for the company,” said Khan. “Wardlow is still performing for the company right now and it’s on MJF’s dime. We’ve worked with a lot of people through the Forbidden Door so this is no different.”
Elsewhere on the show, matches for The Owen Hart Foundation Men’s and Women’s Tournaments will take place, and FTW Champion Ricky Starks will defend his title against AEW World Tag Team Champion Jungle Boy.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has an all-time dream opponent, and it just so happens to be a WWE Hall Of Famer.
Recently, MJF took part in a Q&A during the For The Love Of Wrestling convention in Liverpool, England. During the Q&A, MJF was asked about his all-time dream opponent. The All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star answered with WWE Hall Of Famer Rowdy Roddy Piper.
“Roddy Piper,” MJF said. “I feel the only person that in the modern who can hold a candle to me on the stick, whether I want to admit it or not, is CM Punk. Even though I beat him in his hometown of Chicago, verbally. Absolutely bent him over with my mic skills.
“Do I think Roddy Piper is the only person that could go toe-to-toe with me on the stick in the history of professional wrestling? The answer’s yes. Was the man absolutely insane, and do I think we would have a barbaric match as well that would stand the test of time? Yes.
“I got a lot of people tell me that I remind of the Rowdy one, and I think that would be one hell of a match. So, that is my answer.”
Sadly, Piper passed away in 2015. However, MJF could find his way to WWE in the near future. In January of 2024, MJF’s contract with AEW is set to expire, and he has been very open about possibly journeying over to WWE.
The 26-year-old has stated that, if Vince McMahon is willing to shell out the cash, he’ll happily jump ship. This would be a pretty big move, as only one notable star has left AEW for WWE. That being Cody Rhodes, who left AEW earlier this year and re-debuted in WWE at WrestleMania 38 against Seth Rollins.
It will be interesting to see if MJF ultimately decides to depart to WWE in 2024, or if he’ll stick around with AEW for the foreseeable future.
One WWE legend believes he knows the perfect AEW talent who could go blow for blow with The Rock on the mic.
It’s no secret that The Rock is Hollywood’s biggest star. He is highly sought after and WWE officials feel lucky anytime they get to bring him on TV.
On the mic, Rock has always been known for his scathing lines but one young AEW star has Bully Ray thinking he can take the heat and dish it out.
MJF Is Bully Ray’s Pick
MJF (Photo: AEW)
During an episode of SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio show, Bully said that he could see MJF trading barbs with The Rock and holding his own (h/t Sportskeeda.com).
“I was going back and forth between two, Hook was one of them. I don’t know if you guys are really going to consider this a sleeper pick but I’m going with him. It’s MJF. Is MJF really considered a sleeper pick? I don’t know. But he’s a younger talent, when you say sleeper, I equate it to younger. So I was like Hook, Austin Theory, MJF. MJF is the guy for me. He’s a younger talent, who, we all know, the sky is the absolute limit. Who knows what MJF [is capable of]?
“If anybody could ever challenge what The Rock was able to accomplish on the microphone, I think it’s MJF. I think given time, seasoning, the right people to stand across from him, the right people to tighten his screws, MJF could become the next Rock on the microphone.”
MJF is only 26 but he’s quickly emerged as a top heel for AEW. He’s been known to push the boundaries with his promo work and is never afraid to roast someone. One would think Max and The Rock could hurl insults back and forth for hours and it would keep fans entertained throughout.
Max’s AEW contract is set to expire in 2024 and he isn’t shy in letting everyone know about it. He has made media rounds teasing a jump to WWE. MJF said it’ll come down to who is willing to pay him more.
If WWE shows MJF the money, he’ll be more than happy to leave All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has established himself as one of AEW’s top heels over the course of the past three years. The 26-year-old began making a name for himself during his early days in the business, working for promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Major League Wrestling (MLW).
He eventually signed with AEW in January of 2019 and has been a huge part of the promotion ever since. However, MJF has been very open about his contract with AEW being set to expire in 2024, and WWE reportedly has interest. MJF discussed the matter further during the “For The Love Of Wrestling” convention in Liverpool recently.
In regards to potentially signing with WWE, MJF said that, if Vince McMahon is willing to shell out the cash, he’ll be more than happy to depart from AEW.
“I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but on January 1st of 2024, I’m going to be a free agent,” MJF said. “Who here would want to see me in WWE? So let me explain something to you people — I did not get into this business to make any of you happy.
“I got into this business to make as much money as humanly possible. And if Vincent Kennedy McMahon is willing to shell out more money than my good friend Tony Khan, then yes, I would go to WWE.”
Recently, there have been many WWE stars who have departed to join AEW. Its been very rare that an AEW talent leaves for WWE instead. In fact, the only notable name to have done so is Cody Rhodes, who returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 earlier this year after his AEW contract expired.
Perhaps MJF will follow in Rhodes’ footsteps come January of 2024 when his own WWE deal is up.
AEW President Tony Khan had his eyes on MJF before his promotion was officially founded.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is widely regarded as someone who can blossom into a megastar. As it stands now, many view him as the top heel in AEW. With that said, the general consensus is that he hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential.
Tony Khan Kept Tabs On MJF
During an appearance on Wrestling with Freddie, Tony Khan said that he had been following MJF’s work for a while.
“The man of the moment in wrestling. I was watching MLW and it was hard to miss MJF. For weeks and weeks and months and months all through 2018, I saw him cut a lot of promos on MLW.
“They had a lot of good people on the show at that time. So, I was watching it pretty regularly looking for people. I would go back in that summer and MJF was one of the real standout people.”
While MJF’s future is looking bright the question remains, will he stick with AEW beyond 2024? That’s the year his contract will expire and he has teased a potential jump to WWE.
AEW President Tony Khan reportedly had a heated discussion with MJF over the weekend.
Fightful Select reported today the discussion was said to have left both men frustrated and stemmed from MJF’s interview with Ariel Helwani. The hour-long interview covered various topics from his contract status with AEW to liking WWE’s Bruce Prichard and more.
2024 is when MJF’s deal expires, which looks to be a big year for the pro wrestling industry as WWE reportedly has an interest in signing the top AEW star. MJF admitted that he’s not afraid to “stir the pot” until his deal is up.
MJF said he knows for a fact that the company is interested, but he can’t discuss why for legal reasons.
The report noted, “we’re told that the contract status of MJF is what has left the young star frustrated of late, but that Tony Khan took issue with the interview being set up without notifying AEW’s PR team of such.” T
Sources in AEW didn’t think there would have been an issue with the subject matter or the interview in general if it were set up with AEW’s PR team first.
Among all the new generation of wrestlers, MJF is one star who is holding the torch of old-school wrestling. His character work has helped him become one of the most talked-about wrestling personalities at the young age of 26. The fastest-rising pro wrestler of all time recently spoke to Ariel Helwani. He discussed the current wrestling landscape and detailed his issues with the performers of the new generation.
The AEW star said that people are trying to become something that they are not. Per MJF, wrestlers nowadays are trying to fool people into believing that they are a star:
“Here’s my issue with professional wrestling today and why I stand out like no other. I feel like people are putting on a superhero costume before they go through the curtain, they are trying to be something that they’re not. They’re trying to fool people into believing they’re a star. The reason why the territory days were a beautiful thing is because these men were themselves. They were men.”
MJF explained that nobody had to tell people like Tully Blanchard or Ric Flair how to act. Such names became famous just being themselves. According to the salt of the earth, people like Buddy Landel were authentic just like he is:
“Just like I’m as real as it gets and that’s why, to me, that’s the golden age of professional wrestling. Right now, we’re having a resurfacing of the golden age of professional wrestling and I’m leading that charge. You’re welcome.”
During the talk MJF also revealed that WWE had shown interest in him before he joined AEW. The Pinnacle leader went into detail behind his decision to choose Tony Khan as his boss over Vince McMahon. You can check out his comments at this link.
MJF is only 26 years old and he already is one of the most popular stars in the wrestling world. He had started gaining attention even before his signing with AEW. So much so that even WWE had shown interest in bringing him on board, but the former MLW star chose to sign with Tony Khan’s promotion instead.
The Pinnacle leader explained the reasoning behind his decision during an interview with veteran MMA journalist, Ariel Helwani.
WWE Interested in MJF
MJF claimed that the biggest question in his mind was which company would let him be his authentic self. After talking to Khan, he realized that AEW was the better fit for him:
“I knew there was serious interest in me in WWE, but again, I thought to myself, ‘Are they gonna let me be me?’ That’s my biggest thing. Because I’m not fake. Everything about me is real. Are you gonna let me do what I do best? Let me be me. Then I got to talking to Tony Khan.” recalled MJF, “I was linked up with him by my good friend Cody Rhodes. Hope you’re doing good buddy. And we talked for hours on end over the phone, me and my BFF TK, about mid-south [wrestling], about AWA, about Buddy Landel, about Butch Reed.
The Long Island wrestling prodigy continued, “And I immediately thought to myself, ‘Okay, this guy gets it, and he gets me.’ That’s what was the most important thing to me. So at that point in my career [it] was a no brainer. Now, you bring me anywhere, I’m gonna be a top guy in your promotion so it doesn’t really matter. But at that point, I needed to make sure I had the perfect launching off point in my career.”
The IWC is usually known to be critical of WWE programming. MJF on the other hand, loves everything the Vince McMahon-owned company is doing. The fastest rising star in the history of pro wrestling recently had an interview with Ariel Helwani. He first discussed how he has a lot of respect for the Executive Director of Raw and SmackDown Bruce Prichard.
Speaking of the WWE programming, MJF claimed that he loves everything they are doing. This includes the recent rebranding of NXT:
“See, I think WWE is doing great. I love everything WWE’s doing. I just think we are fresh and we have fresh faces that people haven’t seen before. I think right now everything that Vince [McMahon] and Bruce Prichard are putting out there is absolutely incredible. I love it. I love NXT 2.0. I love Raw, I love SmackDown.”
MJF also praised Roman Reigns and ‘fellow member of the tribe’ Paul Heyman for absolutely killing it. He showed his sympathy for what’s going on with Brock Lesnar, before returning to the topic:
“I think they’re putting out a great product. I think the big difference, quite frankly is that AEW has MJF. That’s the biggest difference-maker you could possibly have,”
The three times Dynamite Diamond Ring winner is currently feuding with his former bodyguard Wardlow. He sent Wardlow home after the heavyweight star cost him his match against CM Punk at Revolution.
Thanks to Fightful for the quotes
Posted March 24th, 2022 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s parents are not happy with their son.
“The Nicest Guy In Pro Wrestling” turns 26 today, March 15th. While most parents would celebrate their son’s birthday, MJF parents expressed disappointment in their son’s recent attitude.
Nina and Steven Friedman posted pictures of their son on Twitter with some not-so-kind words about him. (The tweets should be taken as a joke, but they continues MJF’s gimmick of his parents being unhappy with him.)
Nina tweeted a photo of MJF that said, “Happy Birthday to this once….SWEET, ADORABLE, LOVING, ANGELIC, INNOCENT BABY BOY! I don’t know what the FU#% happened to you or where you went, but today I will choose to remember this child and pray he will be back someday soon!”
Happy Birthday to this once….SWEET, ADORABLE, LOVING, ANGELIC, INNOCENT BABY BOY! I dont’t know what the FU#% happened to you or where you went but today i will choose to remember this child and pray he will be back some day soon! pic.twitter.com/UbpdVAROc2
Another person that took a shot at MJF on Twitter was Capt. Shawn Dean, which could turn into a match on AEW.
Dean hopes to remind MJF that he did defeat him at AEW Dynamite on Jan 5., despite it being by disqualification. In the match, CM Punk gave the Captain a GTS to make the referee disqualify MJF. Dean’s win also gave MJF his first loss of the year.
MJF refuses to acknowledge that the Captain defeated him. Regardless, Dean mocked MJF with a Happy Birthday video and showed off a T-shirt that says: “I Beat You and You Know It.” It’s unclear if AEW is interested in having a rematch or a feud between the two. However, Dean does point out that MJF has had a difficult start to his 2022 year in AEW, which the company could use for another feud for MJF.
MJF is in a unique situation in AEW. He seemingly finished his feud with CM Punk in defeat at AEW Revolution on Mar. 7. The loss to CM Punk has also removed MJF from the AEW world title picture.
It’s unclear what his employers have planned for MJF. His former bodyguard Wardlow has moved on from him and is the number one contender for the TNT Champion. AEW has teased tension between the two for several months. It’s possible MJF could feud with Wardlow next, potentially with the TNT Championship at stake.
If MJF is known for one thing, it’s never breaking his character while on camera. Whether it be on TV, doing an interview, or wishing someone on their wedding.
Disney head writer Colonel Rob Fee recently got married. The All Elite Wrestling star was among the people who took the time to congratulate the couple.
Rob posted the video message he received from the wrestling star on Twitter as seen below. MJF wished Rob good luck on their ‘future endeavors’ and he didn’t forget to mention how he recently beat CM Punk:
The 25-year-old has recently been feuding with the Straight Edge Star. These two had a match during the February 2 episode of Dynamite.
MJF won this match after Wardlow handed the Dynamite Diamond Ring to The Pinnacle Leader. The heavyweight star also provided a distraction, allowing MJF to use the weapon.
This was CM Punk’s first loss in AEW since his debut for the company in August last year. Though it doesn’t appear to be the end of this feud.
AEW’s next PPV event in Revolution will be taking place from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida on March 6. It’s likely that we are going to see a rematch between the two at the show.
Rosenberg asked the Awesome One what he thinks about MJF. Miz praised the Island loudmouth and believes that he’s not an imitation of anybody.
“I don’t think he wants to be The Miz, to be honest,” said The Miz. “I don’t think any superstar, no matter what company you’re in, wants to be the next this person. You want to be an original,”
He also believes there are comparisons, but every wrestler strives to be an original.
“I don’t think he wants to be the next Miz, I think he wants to be the first him, and honestly, I say he’s doing a great job at it.”
The Miz also praised MJF for what he’s accomplished at just 25 years old.
Listen to The Miz on the latest episode of Cheap Heat:
What’s Next for MJF
MJF is currently in a feud with CM Punk. The rivalry started two months ago, but AEW hasn’t put them in a singles match against each other. However, last night on AEW Dynamite, the company finally booked them in a match for next week.
AEW’s next pay-per-view, Revolution, takes place on March 6th at the Additional Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida. This match seemed destined to be a PPV attraction, but Punk vs. MJF will go down on TBS in just a matter of days.
The feud between MJF and Wardlow has been simmering for a couple of years now. The two on-screen partners have been building up to a split for pretty much the entire duration of AEW — one of the longest term stories that the company has told.
That split seems to finally be coming sooner rather than later. We saw MJF cost Wardlow a match against CM Punk on Dynamite two weeks ago, and with Dynamite taking place in Wardlow’s hometown of Cleveland this week, many are wondering if we could see that split finally take place.
MJF continues to build up heat for that eventual turn, most recently Sunday afternoon on Twitter.
MJF took it upon himself to wish a Happy Birthday to Will Hobbs in a way that read like a shot to Wardlow.
“Happy birthday to the best big man in AEW by a country mile,” MJF wrote.
One can’t overstate just how well the build has been to the eventual moment when the turn for Wardlow against MJF takes place. The crowd is sure to give it a massive reaction, especially if it occurs in his hometown this week. Everyone involved in the story has built Wardlow up into a cool character with an unstoppable feel around him, including Punk in the match two weeks ago. Of course, MJF, the top heel in AEW and arguably the entire business, has played his role perfectly in the build throughout.
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