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Tag: MJF

  • MJF: If You Show Up And Work Hard In AEW, There’s No Need To Burn Bridges

    MJF: If You Show Up And Work Hard In AEW, There’s No Need To Burn Bridges

    MJF had this to say about anyone who thinks they can use All Elite Wrestling as a leapfrog back to the WWE.

    In the last couple of months to a year, the locker room for AEW has been at an all-time high in regard to morale and satisfaction, according to many wrestlers and talents backstage in the locker room.

    While speaking with Ariel Helwani, MJF detailed the good shape of the locker room and who he believes was the biggest offender in the last couple of years when it came to All Elite Wrestling.

    “I attribute that to the fact that there are no longer people in the locker room who look at my company as a stepping stone; they look at it as a legitimate company. We had a lot of guys, I shouldn’t say a lot, but we had some guys that came in and they were like, ‘I’m going to show up, be top guy, and go back to Vince.’ Really, motherfucker, you’re going to leapfrog me? Good luck, pussy. Not going to happen on my watch, and it didn’t. No one is nearly as good as me, Hangman, Swerve, Kenny, Ospreay, Samoa Joe. A lot of guys came in and thought they could “brother brother” themselves to the top and it didn’t happen. We no longer have that in the locker room, and it’s a breath of fresh air. I no longer have to look at anyone in the eye and think to myself, ‘This guy doesn’t want to be here.’ Everyone in my locker room wants to be here. People had to get weeded out,” he said.

    Asked for names, MJF replied, “The biggest offender? I think it’s pretty obvious that’s Malakai Black (Aleister Black in WWE). I don’t know the guy on a personal level. Do I think he’s a bad guy? No. Do I think he was a mark for ‘Oh, I need my Mania moment.’ Yeah. There were a couple of guys like that, and they got weeded out. They went over there and some found out the grass isn’t greener. Perhaps, for them, the grass was greener. The majority of guys that were like, ‘I’m going to use AEW to go to WWE or back to WWE,’ you’re going to see a lot of those guys get asked for a 50% pay cut or get released. It’s unfortunate because if you show up to our company and work hard, there is no need to burn bridges. I’m not shitting on him, I’m simply telling you what I was told by the majority of the locker room about this specific individual.”

    Aleister Black / Malakai Black was released from the WWE a year after making his return to the company.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • MJF: The New Day Are Massive Stars Who Know Their Worth

    MJF: The New Day Are Massive Stars Who Know Their Worth

    MJF would love to see the New Day become All Elite one day.

    On May 2, the New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods departed from the WWE following a meeting with TKO higher-ups where they were apparently asked to take a 50% cut on their current contracts.

    Two days later, the New Day would confirm their departure from the WWE and many talents from around the world have praised their work and hope they could work with Kofi and Austin Creed when the time does come.

    While speaking with Ariel Helwani, MJF was asked the question on if he would love to see the New Day become All Elite.

    “Yeah, absolutely. I don’t know what their contract situation is, but whenever they are legally allowed to come over, I think those are guys that would be incredible additions to the AEW roster. They are both crazy talented, massive stars, and guys who know their worth, which to me is the most impressive thing,” he said.

    Many big names have been pushing for the New Day to sign with All Elite Wrestling when the time does come for their non-complete clauses to be officially over with.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • AEW Double or Nothing Ticket Sales Update

    AEW Double or Nothing Ticket Sales Update

    AEW’s upcoming Double or Nothing pay-per-view has now distributed 13,736 tickets, according to updated data from WrestleTix.

    This years show will take place live from Queens, NY – Louis Armstrong Stadium on Sunday May 24.

    The event is one of AEW’s biggest annual shows and continues to show strong momentum at the box office as the pay-per-view draws closer. Ticket sales are expected to continue increasing in the final days leading up to the event. We are officially on sell out alert.

    Double or Nothing has served as a cornerstone event for AEW since the company’s launch in 2019 and regularly features major championship matches.

    Stay tuned to BodySlam for a complete card update soon.

  • Top 10 Greatest Mic Workers in Pro Wrestling History

    Top 10 Greatest Mic Workers in Pro Wrestling History

    A finishing move can end a match. A great promo can end a career — or launch one into the stratosphere. These 10 wrestlers understood something most never fully grasp: in professional wrestling, the microphone is the most dangerous weapon in the building.

    10. MJF

    AEW • 2019–PRESENT

    Maxwell Jacob Friedman is the best heel talker of his generation and the strongest argument that elite mic work is not a relic of a previous era. MJF is clearly a student of the game. His promos are technically constructed with the precision of a trained writer — knowing exactly when to go personal, when to break kayfabe and when to let the crowd’s hatred fuel the next sentence. Just recent turning 30, MJF has already produced promo work that belongs in the same conversation as the legends above him on this list. You can see bits and pieces from the rest of the field in his work  

    9. Steve Austin

    WCW / WWE • 1989–2003

    Stone Cold Steve Austin’s mic work was deceptively simple — short sentences, blue collar attitude and a consistent philosophical code about beer, stubbornness and not taking orders. That simplicity was pure genius, because every word Austin said felt like something a real person in the audience would actually think or want to say themselves. His promos didn’t just over deliver on crowd reaction; they created a cultural identity that resonated far beyond wrestling fans. Add in the raspy Texas accent and 99% of the time you could feel his words.

    8. John Cena

    WWE • 2000–2025

    John Cena’s mic work is one of the most underrated in wrestling history, largely because his babyface run drew so much heat that fans overlooked how technically accomplished he was at promos. His rap-influenced early character gave him a comedic edge and quick wittedness that few main event stars of his era could match. When Cena went serious — particularly in feuds with CM Punk and The Rock — he consistently delivered the kind of composed, layered promo work that belongs in any legitimate conversation about the best talkers of his generation.

    7. Paul Heyman

    ECW / WCW / WWE • 1987–PRESENT

    Paul Heyman is the closest thing to a pure orator professional wrestling has ever produced — a man who could take the most absurd premise and present it with the conviction of a closing argument before a jury. As both a performer and an advocate for Brock Lesnar, he demonstrated that great mic work is fundamentally about persuasion, not volume. His promos don’t just sell matches; they reframe the entire narrative around his client as inevitable and undeniable. 

    6.  Roddy Piper

    NWA / WCW / WWE • 1975–2011

    Roddy Piper was the original unpredictable — a man who could shift from hilarious to genuinely unnerving in a single sentence, and frequently did. His Piper’s Pit segments set the template for the wrestling talk show format precisely because he could not be scripted into a corner; he found the live wire in every exchange and grabbed it with both hands. Piper’s gift was making everyone around him seem like they were improvising just to keep up.

    5. Jake “The Snake” Roberts

    WWE / WCW / INDIES • 1974–2018

    Where most wrestlers screamed to get their point across, Jake Roberts whispered — and arenas went dead silent. His mic work was psychological rather than theatrical, built on menace, metaphor and the unsettling calm of a man who had already decided what he was going to do to you. Roberts proved that restraint could be more terrifying than anything a louder wrestler could offer.

    4. The Rock

    WWE • 1996–PRESENT

    The Rock turned catchphrases into cultural currency and crowd work into an art form, operating on a comedic timing and rhythm that most stand-up comedians would envy. His genius was making the audience feel like participants rather than spectators — his call-and-response style gave arenas of 20,000 people the illusion they were having a private conversation with him. No wrestler before or since has crossed over into mainstream entertainment on the strength of mic work alone quite like Dwayne Johnson did.

    3.  CM Punk

    ROH / WWE / AEW • 2002–PRESENT

    CM Punk’s 2011 “pipe bomb” promo remains the most electrifying unscripted moment in modern wrestling, but it was no accident — it was the product of a career built on sharp, specific and brutally honest mic work. Punk spoke with the controlled rage of someone who actually meant every single word, which made him uniquely credible in an era of polished corporate promos. Even his detractors concede that when the microphone was in his hand, you could not change the channel.

    2.  Dusty Rhodes

    NWA / WCW / WWE • 1974–2010

    The American Dream spoke directly to working-class audiences in a way no other wrestler in history has managed to replicate. His promos were loose, rambling and deeply emotional — yet somehow always landed exactly where they needed to. Dusty turned vulnerability into a superpower, and crowds didn’t just cheer for him; they believed him.

    1.  Ric Flair

    NWA / WCW / WWE • 1972–2011

    No one in wrestling history combined volume, charisma and pure spectacle the way Ric Flair did every time he grabbed a microphone. His promos were operatic performances — part carnival barker, part Shakespearean villain — delivered with a conviction that made every word feel like gospel. Whether he was bragging about limousine rides and jet plane flights or begging for mercy on his knees, Flair was incapable of giving a dull moment. I’m sure if you asked all men ranked behind him, they would agree he would be #1.

     

    ALL OPINIONS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR

     

     

     

     

  • AEW Dynamite Results – April 29, 2026

    AEW Dynamite Results – April 29, 2026

    On April 29th, 2026 AEW aired the 343rd episode of Dynamite live in Fairfax Virginia inside Eagle Bank Arena & was live on TBS & HBO MAX (United States), TSN (Canada) & MyAEW (International).

    • TNT Title Match
      Kevin Knight (c) defeated MJF via Roll Up (15:18) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!).
    • Tag Team Match
      The Brawling Birds (Alex Windsor & Jamie Hayter) defeated Jordan Blade & Emily Jaye via 2 Birds, 1 Stone on Blade (1:19).
    • International Title Match
      Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Ace Austin via Rainmaker (11:15) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!).
    • Tag Team Match
      Adam Copeland & Christian Cage defeated Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta) via Pop Up Spear on Beretta (12:43).
    • Women’s Tag Team Titles Match
      Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne & Lena Kross) (c) defeated Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida via Double Chokeslam on Shida (12:29) (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!).
    • Rush defeated Steven Fuerte via Bulls Horns (1:39).
    • AEW World Title Match
      Darby Allin (c) defeated Brody King via Coffin Drop (16:33) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!).
  • The Top 10 Matches in AEW History, Ranked

    The Top 10 Matches in AEW History, Ranked

    Sometimes I forget how young AEW still is. It has not been around that long, yet it already has a backlog of matches that feel historic. These are the kinds of matches you rewatch on a random weeknight on HBO Max or send to a friend with a simple message: you have to see this.

    Once Forbidden Door became an annual event, the number of dream matches only grew. This is not a technical breakdown or star-rating list. This is a fan list. Some matches are left off, and that’s okay, they are still great. These are the matches people still talk about, rewatch, post clips of and hold onto years later.

    Let’s count it down.

    10. Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Will Ospreay,
    Forbidden Door 2024

    This one can get overlooked because Forbidden Door cards are always loaded, but it delivers. Two elite athletes move at full speed with no hesitation. Once Ospreay arrived in AEW, this matchup felt inevitable, and it delivered.

    Each sequence builds on the last, faster and more intense. By the end, it feels unreal. It also felt like a preview of AEW’s main event scene for the next decade.

    9. MJF vs. CM Punk
    Dog Collar Match, Revolution 2022

    Pure hatred defined this match. Chains, blood and old-school callbacks made it feel deeply personal. Not storyline personal. Real personal.

    This was also the night MJF cemented himself as a top star. After this, there was no denying it.

    8. Mariah May vs. Toni Storm (c)
    Hollywood Ending Falls Count Anywhere, Revolution 2025

    This match still feels surreal. It blended cinematic storytelling with chaos. The action moved through the arena and into complete disorder, yet it never felt over the top. It felt dramatic, emotional and intense.

    Storm fully embraced her Hollywood persona, while May matched her at every level. It felt bigger than a title match. It felt like the climax of a film.

    It also served as a fitting sendoff for May and capped what may be the best feud in AEW history. This stands as the top women’s match in company history and proof the division can headline.

    7. Kenny Omega (c) vs. Bryan Danielson,
    Grand Slam 2021

    A dream match that lived up to expectations. The atmosphere in New York felt massive as two of the best faced off. Danielson was fresh from leaving WWE, and the dream matches could finally come to life.

    Thirty minutes of wrestling with no wasted motion. Even the draw felt right. It felt epic, like two gods testing each other.

    6. Bryan Danielson vs. MJF (c)
    60-Minute Iron Man Match, Revolution 2023

    MJF proved himself again here. Going an hour with Danielson is a test few can pass. He did.

    The pacing, storytelling and final stretch kept the crowd engaged throughout. It had a classic, old-school feel that worked perfectly.

    5. Young Bucks (c) vs. Lucha Bros
    Steel Cage Match, All Out 2021

    One of the wildest tag matches ever. Blood, near falls and unforgettable moments defined it.

    By the end, no one was sitting. I was there live and by the end I had no voice. This is the match to show anyone that doubts tag team wrestling can deliver the best matches.

    4. Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland Texas Death Match, Full Gear 2023

    This match was violent and relentless. It was not about technique. It was about damage.

    Barbed wire, glass, staples and more turned it into a brutal spectacle. It also solidified Strickland as a true main event star. This match helped solidify this feud as one of the best ever.

    3. Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay,
    Dynasty 2024

    A showcase of elite wrestling. Counters, strikes and constant motion made it impossible to look away.

    Danielson’s technical style blended with Ospreay’s speed and creativity. Every near fall felt significant. It is the kind of match that reminds you what peak in ring storytelling looks like when two of the best push each other to the limit.

    2. Hangman Page and Kenny Omega (c) vs. Young Bucks,
    Revolution 2020

    For a long time, this stood at the top. It remains AEW’s best tag team match ever.

    The storytelling carried everything. Friendship, tension and rivalry played out in every move. It was not just a match. It was a story that touched every emotion.

    1. Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega (c),
    Forbidden Door 2023

    This is the one.

    From start to finish, it delivered at the highest level. Ospreay entered as the outsider, while Omega defended both his championship and his ground.

    The match featured constant momentum swings, creative offense and near falls that kept the crowd engaged throughout. Ospreay’s speed matched Omega’s precision, creating a near perfect balance.

    It felt like two of the best in the world pushing each other to the limit. Every sequence raised the stakes.

    When it ended, it left a lasting impression. The kind of match that defines a company. The kind you recommend every time. Only time will tell if we get a third match.

    Maybe All In 2026?

  • AEW Dynamite: TNT Championship Match Made Official For Next Week

    AEW Dynamite: TNT Championship Match Made Official For Next Week

    The AEW TNT Championship was almost on the line on tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite, but it’s been delayed until next week, thanks to MJF.

    MJF kicked off tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite and was furious over the fact that he lost the AEW World Championship last week against Darby Allin. MJF said he was cheated out of a win, and wanted Darby to come out and hand him the title right now.

    Instead came ‘The Jet’ Kevin Knight. Kevin is of course the new TNT Champion, and flaunted that fact to MJF. Knight also made it clear that he had MJF beat a few weeks ago until MJF cheated, so if anyone was scammed out of gold, it was him. But, Kevin Knight had no problem ripping MJF a new one in Rip City and putting his championship on the line tonight.

    MJF gladly accepted and brought a referee out, ready to fight for the AEW TNT Championship. But, once the match was about to begin, MJF left, and said he’d see Kevin next week. It was then made official minutes later. Next week on AEW Dynamite; Kevin Knight versus MJF for the TNT Championship.

  • The 10 Greatest Wrestling Heels of All Time, Ranked

    The 10 Greatest Wrestling Heels of All Time, Ranked

    Professional wrestling thrives on conflict, and few elements are more essential than the heel. While fan favorites generate support, it is the villains who fuel emotion, create tension and elevate the stakes. The most effective heels do more than win matches. They provoke audiences, blur reality and make fans eager to see them lose.

    10. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

    Yeah, you’re reading that correctly. Maxwell Jacob Friedman has mastered the art of modern villainy. Rarely stepping outside his persona, he delivers cutting, personal promos designed to generate real animosity. In a landscape where many heels are cheered, MJF consistently draws genuine disdain by embracing old-school tactics with a contemporary voice. His importance to the history of AEW also is key for him cracking the top 10 at such a young age. When you associate the world “heel” with AEW, you immediately think of MJF.

    9. Bobby Heenan

    Bobby Heenan, known as “The Brain,” mastered the art of drawing heat without ever needing to step fully into the spotlight as a wrestler. As the leader of the Heenan Family, he surrounded himself with top-tier talent while constantly inserting himself into matches through distractions, arguments and well-timed interference.

    His sharp, often sarcastic promos blended humor with arrogance, allowing him to insult fans and elevate his clients at the same time. Even on commentary, Heenan stayed in character, openly supporting villains and mocking fan favorites, which only deepened audience resentment. His awareness of timing and ability to control the tone of a segment made him one of the most effective and influential heels in wrestling history. If the younger generation want to show their bad side, I would immediately recommend studying Bobby’s work.

    8. Triple H

    Triple H developed into one of wrestling’s most dominant antagonists through authority and control. As a central figure in D-Generation X and later Evolution, he combined in-ring skill with backstage influence. His calculated promos and willingness to manipulate outcomes made him a consistent and imposing heel presence.

    Add in that you’re married to the bosses daughter, and your back stage politicking bleeds into real life, it just naturally comes off that you have an ego and are a “bad guy”. If you really want to stretch it out, his booking since taking over creative has been so inconsistent, you’d think he was trying to agitate the fans still.

    7. Edge

    Edge leaned into controversy and opportunism to build his heel legacy. Whether exploiting situations or creating them, he consistently positioned himself as a manipulative force. His rivalries often felt personal, amplifying audience reactions.

    6. “Hollywood” Hogan

    The transformation of Hulk Hogan into Hollywood Hogan reshaped wrestling. By abandoning his heroic image and embracing arrogance, he shocked audiences and led one of the industry’s most influential factions. The shift proved how powerful a well-executed heel turn could be. The night that Hogan joined the NWO changed the wrestling business forever.

    5. Shawn Michaels

    Shawn Michaels developed into a compelling antagonist through ego and betrayal. From his infamous split with Marty Jannetty to later controversies, he embraced a self-centered persona that consistently drew strong reactions from fans. Unfortunately, his real life struggles bleed through onto the screen, and that heightened his cocky persona.

    4. John Bradshaw Layfield

    On a personal level, I absolutely hated this man as a kid. The millisecond his music hit my ears, I was immediately mad. John Bradshaw Layfield crafted a character built on status and superiority. Presenting himself as a financial success, he often spoke down to audiences and opponents. His dominant championship run reinforced his role as a deeply disliked figure. There was no fancy presentation, heavy metal music, or over the top physique, just pure arrogance and ego. It felt too easy for John.

    3. Randy Orton

    Randy Orton’s approach to villainy is calculated and deliberate. Known for precise, often sudden attacks, he developed a reputation as a cold and methodical competitor. His willingness to target anyone, including allies, made his actions feel personal and impactful. 20 years later, and Randy is still relevant with his heel work. Recently he was in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 42, and closed the show by punting in the skull of Cody Rhodes.

    2. Ric Flair

    Ric Flair defined the arrogant champion. His flashy lifestyle, constant boasting and reliance on shortcuts made him a consistent antagonist. Flair’s ability to draw both admiration and resentment ensured his lasting influence as a heel. As a wrestler, he is the best heel ever, but there is one man so evil, that he outshines Ric on an overall scale.

    1. Vince McMahon

    Vince McMahon blurred the line between fiction and reality like few others. As the authority figure fans loved to hate, he embodied power, control and corruption. His rivalries, particularly against rebellious stars, created some of wrestling’s most memorable moments. McMahon’s presence elevated entire storylines, proving that the most effective villains are often those who feel real.

    Many names are responsible for the attitude era boom, and his name is tied to it all. Whether it’s his legendary feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, or literally trying to put his rival out of business, he was the epitome of a heel— pure evil. Unfortunately, his personal life would full of corruption, and should not be ignored. This is not a celebration of the man, but just a recording of the history of professional wrestling.

    Closing Thoughts

    The role of the heel continues to evolve, but its importance remains constant. From outspoken modern stars to dominant authority figures, the best villains understand how to create emotional investment. Their ability to draw genuine reactions ensures that, no matter the era, the heel remains at the center of professional wrestling storytelling.

  • AEW Dynamite Spring Break Thru Full Results 4/15/26

    AEW Dynamite Spring Break Thru Full Results 4/15/26

    AEW Dynamite Spring Break Thru was live from the Angel Of The Winds Arena in Everett, Washington and on HBO Max and TNT.

    The show was headlined by a AEW World Championship Match between MJF and Darby Allin. Plus, Will Ospreay was in action against Hechicero and more. You can see the full results below.

    AEW Dynamite Spring Break Thru Results

    • Tommaso Ciampa def. Dezmond Xavier *Post-Match, Ciampa calls for a AEW World Title Match*
    • TNT Championship: Kevin Knight(c) def. Claudio Castagnoli *Post-Match, Kevin Knight says he has his eyes on the main event championship match*
    • Chris Jericho in-ring interview ends with him being beaten down by The Demand.
    • Will Ospreay def. Hechicero *Mark Davis lays Ospreay out post-match*
    • Thekla interview ends with Alex Windsor challenging her for a Collision match.
    • Jon Moxley warns Nick Wayne before their Continental Championship Eliminator on Collision
    • TBS Championship Match: Willow Nightingale(c) vs. Kamille
    • AEW World Championship: Darby Allin def. MJF *New Champ*

    AEW Spring Break Thru Collision will be on tomorrow, as a special Thursday event. Stay tuned for more AEW Coverage.

  • Darby Allin defeats MJF to win the AEW World Championship

    Darby Allin defeats MJF to win the AEW World Championship

    Darby Allin has captured the AEW World Championship on Wednesday night, defeating Maxwell Jacob Friedman, in a defining main event match on the “Spring Break Thru” edition of AEW Dynamite.

    Darby Allin, New AEW Champion

    The victory marked a full-circle moment for Allin, who won the title roughly 20 minutes from where he first began training as a professional wrestler. Competing in front of a charged crowd in Everett, Allin delivered the most significant performance of his career, overcoming all odds and a collective doubt amongst wrestling fans.

    For Allin, the win represents the culmination of years of growth within AEW. Once viewed primarily as a daredevil, he has steadily evolved into a complete performer capable of carrying the company’s top prize.

    This victory also echoed Allin’s resilience outside the ring. Just one year removed from successfully summiting Mount Everest, he once again proved his ability to overcome extreme odds. Much like that climb, Allin’s path to the AEW World Championship demanded high risk and an unshakable mindset.

    On this night in Everett, those same qualities carried him to the top of the wrestling world.