MJF is back in the title picture, but he hasn’t forgotten the lessons—or the controversies—of his previous reign.
In a recent interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, the former AEW World Champion opened up about the pressure of being the top guy and the criticism he faced during his 2023 run. He specifically addressed the infamous table spot at Full Gear 2023 against Jay White, where the table collapsed prematurely.
“I had placed Jay White on a table and I wanted to put him through it… In that moment, I thought to myself, ‘Fuck it. These people bought a ticket to see me beat the fucking shit out of this Kiwi bastard. I’m gonna do it,’” MJF explained. “I have such a love-hate relationship with this sport… but I love pro wrestling most days. So you put your body on the line for it.”
Friedman also reflected on the fickle nature of the fanbase and the reality that no one stays on top forever.
“You can’t be on top of the world forever… even Superman has an off day every now and then.”
MJF is set to challenge for the AEW World Championship in a four-way match at Worlds End after cashing in his Casino Gauntlet contract.