MJF single-handedly retained the ROH World Tag Team Championships against The Righteous in the opening match of the AEW WrestleDream 2023 main card.
During the post-show media scrum, MJF addressed the labeling of his match as a gimmick refuting that notion and explaining his philosophy around his wrestling style.
You can check out some highlights from the presser below:
On the notion that the match was a ‘gimmick match’: “Let me say something very quick, very quickly… [Referring to Bryan Alvarez in the audience] You said the match was incredible, but it was a gimmick match. And I would like to — no, no, I didn’t tell you to speak. Here’s what I’m going to say. I feel professional wrestling for an incredibly long time went south. In my opinion, I think people decided that they need to absolutely murder themselves or their opponents, not even considering trying to get a win. All they were considering was trying to get a cheap pop or a cheap reaction. What I’m trying to do is bring back a flavor of ice cream that I love and dare I say, is just as much professional wrestling and most certainly is not a gimmick. And that is to make people so emotionally invested in the person that is inside the squared circle that if they hit a bodyslam or a headlock takeover or a Kangaroo kick, it gets just as loud of a reaction as Darby Allin being thrown onto the steel stairs which was the most insane thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
On AEW having a variety of wrestling: “I am not faulting you, you’re a good man, Charlie Brown. All I am simple saying is, nothing I do is a gimmick. I believe that professional wrestling in all shapes in sizes is important. It’s all different flavors of ice cream, but I also believe to me, for my two cents, if you can do what I do and get that reaction? I think it’s much harder actually than doing a triple indie whatever-the-f**k. Obviously they’re going to clap, it’s insane. Can you make them absolutely freak out and have a damn near panic attack when you do little to nothing. To me, that is professionals wrestling. And everybody’s thoughts on what pro wrestling is is different. And I am really, really really really really really proud of all of the flavors of ice cream that we showed on tonight’s card. I think this is quite possibly one of if not the best PPVs we’ve ever done.”
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MJF, also known as Maxwell Jacob Friedman, recently made headlines in the world of professional wrestling by single-handedly retaining the ROH World Tag Team Championships against The Righteous in the opening match of the AEW WrestleDream 2023 main card. Following the match, MJF addressed the labeling of his match as a gimmick and explained his philosophy around his wrestling style.
During a post-show media scrum, MJF responded to a comment about the match being a ‘gimmick match’ by stating that he believes professional wrestling has lost its way. He expressed his opinion that many wrestlers today focus on performing dangerous stunts and high-risk moves solely for the purpose of getting a reaction from the crowd, rather than focusing on winning the match. MJF aims to bring back a more traditional style of wrestling that emphasizes emotional investment in the wrestlers and their moves, rather than relying on cheap pops or reactions.
MJF believes that professional wrestling comes in various forms and styles, comparing them to different flavors of ice cream. He acknowledges that there is value in all types of wrestling but asserts that his style, which focuses on eliciting strong emotional reactions from the audience with minimal physicality, is just as valid as any other. He challenges the notion that high-flying, acrobatic moves are the only way to captivate an audience and argues that his ability to generate intense reactions with simple maneuvers is a testament to his skill as a performer.
In the media scrum, MJF also expressed his pride in the variety of wrestling showcased at AEW WrestleDream 2023. He believes that the event featured an array of different styles and flavors of wrestling, making it one of the best pay-per-views AEW has ever produced.
For fans who want to hear more from MJF, a video of the post-show media scrum is available, where he passionately discusses his views on professional wrestling and his approach to captivating audiences.
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In conclusion, MJF’s recent match and subsequent comments have sparked a conversation about the different styles of professional wrestling and the importance of emotional investment in the sport. Whether you prefer high-flying acrobatics or a more traditional approach, it is clear that MJF is determined to make his mark in the industry by captivating audiences with his unique style and ability to generate intense reactions.