Following his controversial referee stoppage victory over Bandido on the January 14 “Maximum Carnage” edition of AEW Dynamite, MJF addressed his decision to assault his opponent after the bell. In an interview with Down Under the Ring, the AEW World Champion dismissed the idea that he felt threatened, claiming the beatdown was a necessary lesson. “The boy needed to be humbled. And the boy was humbled. You’re welcome,” MJF stated. He clarified that while he believes Bandido has championship potential, “there’s no way you’re getting that title from me.”
When asked about potential challengers who keep him up at night, MJF projected supreme confidence, noting he has already defeated top names like Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, and Jon Moxley. However, he did single out one name he has yet to face in a singles capacity. “The only person who is a mystery to me now… is probably Swerve [Strickland],” MJF admitted. Despite the constant insults he hurls at the audience, MJF believes his dominance is why fans continue to flock to arenas, including the upcoming Grand Slam in Australia. “I’m a god to them. Nobody’s on the level of the devil… But at the end of the day, no matter what, you’re going to have people buying tickets to see MJF.”