LAS VEGAS, NV – AEW World Champion MJF, currently riding high after securing the title for a second time, recently sat down with Chris Van Vliet for a candid interview, offering insights into his career trajectory, his near-move to WWE, and his complex relationship with CM Punk. The interview, conducted in Las Vegas, revealed a wrestler driven by a potent mix of ambition, spite, and a relentless pursuit of success.
When asked directly if he believes himself to be the best professional wrestler never to compete in WWE, MJF didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, it’s not even close. It’s not even close,” he stated, adding that before him, that distinction belonged to Sting, who eventually did wrestle for the company. This bold assertion underscores MJF’s confidence and his belief in his unique marketability.
The conversation then turned to Kenny Omega, a fellow star in the wrestling world. While acknowledging Omega’s accomplishments, MJF asserted his own greater prominence. “No, stop it. I love Kenny to death. If you put our names into a search engine, I can assure you, more people are looking my name up than his,” he explained. He conceded Omega’s potential to be considered one of the greatest of all time, but maintained that the question was about recognition outside the core wrestling fanbase. “Kenny Omega has done some awesome voiceover work. He’s been involved in some massive video games, but he’s not MJF,” he said, clarifying it wasn’t a criticism, but a statement of fact regarding public interest.
The topic of WWE’s interest in signing him when his AEW contract was nearing expiration was also addressed. MJF confirmed that there was “a lot” of interest, describing “nice calls” with high-ranking officials. He acknowledged their continued interest, attributing it to his value as a performer. However, he emphasized his professionalism, stating that he would have considered a contract with the “right amount of money.” He also highlighted the transactional nature of his public pronouncements regarding AEW, admitting he’s paid to promote the company, but stopping short of definitively stating his true feelings. “No matter what promotion I’m working for, I’m going to shamelessly shill what’s going on,” he said.
Looking back on his career highlights, MJF identified several matches as particularly significant. He cited his Iron Man match against Bryan Danielson, his Dog Collar match against CM Punk, his bout against Hangman Page at Revolution (last year), and his match against Darby Allin at Full Gear as standout performances. He also included his match against Mistico and his Collision match with Kenny Omega. He even mentioned his match against Samoa Joe at Grand Slam and his encounter with Adam Cole in front of 82,000 fans, describing the latter as “absurd” and “the loudest” he’d ever experienced. He also named both of his matches with Will Ospreay as key moments. However, he expressed frustration that he hadn’t won all of those matches, emphasizing that victory is paramount to his satisfaction.
The interview also delved into MJF’s history with CM Punk, revealing a connection dating back to MJF’s youth. He recalled meeting Punk around the time of his Bar Mitzvah, when he was approximately 14 years old. Their eventual rivalry was then discussed, with MJF asserting his dominance in the verbal exchanges. “Match? No. I mean, watch the tape. You tell me who got the better of who verbally during that entire rivalry,” he challenged. While acknowledging Punk’s current success in another promotion, MJF pointed out perceived inconsistencies in Punk’s messaging, contrasting his own unwavering persona. “Since I’ve jumped into pro wrestling, I’ve been saying the same thing since the jump, my tune has not changed. I’m Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and I’m better than you, and you know it,” he stated.
Finally, MJF addressed the question of his long-term future in wrestling. At 29 years old, he doesn’t foresee retirement anytime soon, contrasting himself with veterans like John Cena and AJ Styles who are in their 40s and 50s. He believes he’s only just beginning to reach his potential and anticipates continued growth and success for the next 20 to 30 years. “I’m a baby, you know what I mean? I’m a top act, and it’s very rare for somebody my age, if ever, to be in the situation that I’m in,” he said, expressing confidence in his ability to evolve and improve over time.
