“I’m higher than you, and you realize it.” This has been greater than a catchphrase for Maxwell Jacob Friedman. The All Elite Wrestling star who trash talks with the very best of them, however then usually backs it up. Nowadays the previous AEW World Champion additionally brings backup as a member of the Damage Syndicate. A formidable group of athletes additionally made up of Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley and MVP.
The faction is discovering success with Benjamin and Lashley reigning AEW Tag Titles. MJF appears so as to add to the gold rely by reclaiming the AEW Championship. A approach to assist get him there could be by profitable the On line casino Gauntlet match on July 12 at All In: Texas. He secured the second spot, whereas Mark Briscoe earned the coveted primary spot, main into the multi-man bout the place the only survivor leaves with a future title shot.
A victory on such an historic present will solely sweeten an already busy month for MJF. The 29-year-old performs considered one of Adam Sandler’s sons within the much-anticipated Completely satisfied Gilmore 2, premiering July 25 on Netflix. One might say the entertainer was destined for the intense lights of Tinseltown going all the way in which again to his first TV look as a toddler with huge goals on The Rosie O’Donnell Present.
Right here the assured AEW expertise and budding Hollywood actor pulls no punches about what he has been as much as and his future.
MJF/Lee South/AEW
I really feel AEW has been in a rebuilding section within the final yr or so…
Maxwell Jacob Friedman: Yeah, it has actually been all on my again, however go on.
Being with the corporate since day one, you’ve seen the evolution of the corporate. I really feel like proper now there may be some momentum constructing on the proper time with the Globe Life Subject present in Arlington on the horizon. Do you’re feeling there’s a change within the air?
In all sincerity, there’s a change within the air, and I’ll let you know why. Everyone that’s within the AEW locker room proper now desires to be within the AEW locker room proper now, believes in what AEW stands for, believes that skilled wrestling couldn’t be monopolized and believes within the spirit of what skilled wrestling is meant to appear to be. The spirit {of professional} wrestling isn’t speculated to be company. It’s a sport. Very similar to all the very best American pastimes like soccer or baseball. I feel the cash facet, whereas being necessary, it simply can’t supersede the attractive, violent artwork that every one sports activities are. That goes throughout the total spectrum. Not simply professional wrestling.
The opposite factor I’ve seen. I’ve been right here for six years, and listed here are simply the info. Followers hate info. They love emotions. I’m the actual fact man. For six years I’ve been primary, with a bullet, probably the most constant, highest drawing, minute-for-minute rankings draw that we’ve. There have been occasions the place I actually felt like I used to be pulling seven gigantic airplanes on the identical time, all on my own. Now greater than ever, whereas I don’t like every of those folks, you’ve MJF but in addition Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, Hangman Web page and Jon Moxley. Then you’ve so many characters that I wouldn’t ever name the supporting forged. You may have your Kyle Fletcher, [Konosuke] Takeshita and the Damage Syndicate, which I’m part of. We have now been probably the most constant and largest a part of the present. You may have your Adam Cole, Daniel Garcia, the record goes on and on. I don’t suppose this roster has ever been extra hungry. This roster has by no means been extra on the identical web page in relation to simply eager to show what AEW is all about and AEW stands for.
The Damage Syndicate/Lee South/AEW
On the floor, you becoming a member of the Damage Syndicate could seem misplaced. Nonetheless, given your historical past with MVP, you see there’s a deeper that means behind it. What are your ideas on the group’s dynamics and the way you all have been in a position to mesh collectively?
The very fact of the matter is I’ve identified MJF since I used to be 18. I’ve been selecting his mind ever since then. I met him on the impartial circuit after I was a free agent. I realized lots from him, and due to that, I ended up being a generational expertise. I turned the youngest and longest-reigning and biggest AEW World Champion of all-time. With out MVP, I’m undecided there may be an MJF. Now what is admittedly neat is I get to be a part of probably the most harmful tag workforce in skilled wrestling in Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley. The tag workforce division has been became mud, and it’s as a result of, who’s going to cease these guys? No person goes to cease these guys. They’re monsters. They’re animals. It has simply been an superior symphony of violence that I’ve received to be part of since I’ve joined the Damage Syndicate. I’m going to be within the On line casino Gauntlet. Clearly, I’m going to win. After I try this, I’m going to be subsequent in line to be World Champion for a second time.
With the Damage Syndicate by my facet, I simply don’t see a actuality the place I don’t make my final title reign appear quick compared. We’re simply probably the most dominant steady. Not simply in AEW however all {of professional} wrestling. The cool factor about us is I really feel like we’re a mixture of Legion of Doom with Bobby and Shelton, however you even have MJF. Somebody who dare I say is that this technology’s mixture of Shawn Michaels and Ric Aptitude nearly wrapped in a bow. Then you’ve MVP, who is actually the mentor. The chief, J.J. Dillon. I really feel like we’re this epic mixture of those lovely skilled wrestling tag groups, stables, stars, wrapped up in a bow. What number of occasions are you able to consider the Legion of Doom and 4 Horsemen when a gaggle of males? I’m saying that could be a large rarity. The very fact is all of us clear up good. We’re all very horny. We’re all very gifted and harmful in our personal approach. I’m having a blast with the Damage Syndicate. We’re doing nice quantity merch-wise and rating-wise for All Elite Wrestling. I see all of us leaving Texas victorious.
How has it been working with Mark Briscoe the previous few weeks?
Sadly, sure, I do work in the identical locker room as him. He’s horrible. He’s white trash. He’s a redneck. He has about as many tooth as he does mind cells. He’s nugatory. That’s how I really feel about Mark Briscoe. Supposedly, he desires to have a talky discuss with me on Wednesday on Dynamite. That’s the dumbest sh*t I’ve ever heard in my total life. He desires me to go on the market alone. To be completely trustworthy with you, I don’t need to take heed to him. He’s not my boss. Tony Khan is barely my boss. So if I wish to go on the market and beat the wholly hell out of him with the Damage Syndicate, I’ll. And admittedly that’s in all probability what I’m going to do. Everyone is anticipating this talky discuss. I don’t suppose it’s going to go down.
How would you describe working with Tony Khan? What do you suppose he has taken from his previous experiences in relation to operating AEW?
He has realized I’m his largest star, which is why he pays me the large bucks. He understands what I convey to the desk greater than ever. The opposite factor I might say Tony Khan has realized is you need folks in your locker room that not solely wish to be there however are worthy of being there. We’ve had a variety of guys prior to now are available and suppose they’re going be king sh*t simply because that they had their time within the solar for a millisecond in different promotions. That’s not it f*ck’in works. It’s referred to as All Elite Wrestling. Not All Common Wrestling. Not All Mediocre Wrestling. Not All…I’m going to point out up, money a examine and anticipate to be world champion wrestling. It’s All Elite Wrestling.
Proper now, everybody in that locker room is on the identical web page. We aren’t coming there to money a examine. We aren’t coming to provide 50 p.c. We’re all giving 110 p.c. If you happen to suppose you’re going to come back into my firm, and sure I mentioned my firm as a result of I’ve been right here since day 1, and I’m the very best skilled wrestler on the earth. If you happen to suppose you’re going to come back into my firm and barely put in work, you’re out of your goddamn thoughts. You don’t belong right here. We don’t need you right here. So keep the place you’re and be depressing over there since you don’t belong swimming within the ocean of sharks that’s AEW. And also you’re speaking to the most important shark of all of them in MJF.
Do you discover you’ve an even bigger chip in your shoulder realizing AEW has different reveals within the market [WWE] which were operating towards you?
You imply reveals which can be operating at the very same time as us, although they declare we’re not competitors? How do I really feel about it? I feel it’s a sensible enterprise follow. I give jolly previous St. Nick and Journeys a complete lot of credit score. On the finish of the day, in the event you can stomp out your competitors, you’re doing what is important. Lord is aware of I might. Everyone seems to be judging them for it. I feel that’s foolish. Don’t decide them for it, but in addition, don’t be silly. They’re not doing this by happenstance. This isn’t circumstantial. None of it’s. The distinction between me and everybody else is although I do know that, I’m not going to faux that isn’t the reality or going to face right here and faux that’s not an extremely clever factor to do. I might stomp on anybody’s neck if it meant I might get forward. I’ve performed it 1,000,000 occasions in my profession. That’s my ideas on that.
This month can be huge for you as a result of Completely satisfied Gilmore 2 comes out, which you’re in alongside Adam Sandler. He’s additionally a professional wrestling fan.
He’s. He’s additionally an enormous MJF fan, and I’m an enormous Adam Sandler fan.
What was it like on set? How is it to have this chance so far as appearing involved?
That is my second movie. I additionally received to government produce The Iron Claw. This movie I’d say I for certain have an even bigger function in. I beloved each second of it. It felt like I used to be taking pictures with household. Very hardly ever do I really feel like that in any setting. I don’t know in the event you understand this about me, however I could be a little bit prickly. I loved being a Gilmore. I felt I can be a Gilmore for the remainder of my life. I really feel like no matter success that happens in my profession outdoors of the wrestling bubble I’m going to owe a lot to Adam Sandler shifting ahead. If he ever wants something, if his household ever wants something, I might be there on the drop of a dime.
What sort of recommendation has Adam or any others who’ve had huge careers in Hollywood that you just’ve taken with you?
I feel the very best recommendation got here from Adam after I was selecting his mind. He simply informed me to be myself. Whether or not I’m doing these media rounds or out in public, he informed me to be myself. That was pretty to listen to as a result of lots of people don’t actually like me very a lot. I loved that recommendation.
John Cena and MJF/X
Can we anticipate to see Adam Sandler seem in AEW down the street?
My good friend, that is skilled wrestling. By no means say by no means.
You even have a job within the upcoming film Stranglehold with Justin Lengthy, Ron Perlman and others. What are you able to tease about that one?
As soon as once more an unimaginable time. I don’t wish to give something away, however the quantity I laughed on set…I feel anybody that sees that movie can have an absolute knee-slapping time and actually get pleasure from it.
What are your appearing aspirations? Is there somebody you wish to work with or a sort of challenge you wish to do?
Clearly. I wish to work with John Cena sooner or later in my profession. That may imply an terrible lot to me. Whether or not that’s contained in the wrestling bubble or outdoors the wrestling bubble. That’s the primary title that involves thoughts for certain. I might say I’ve to throw Dave Bautista on that record too. Additionally, my good buddy Paul Walter Hauser. I feel he is without doubt one of the greatest actors on the earth. To be concerned in a challenge with him could be an terrible lot.
Again within the day when a professional wrestler was auditioning for a job, they’d be seen as a professional wrestler. Do you discover it to be simpler now to be checked out as greater than that?
It’s simpler due to the work that The Rock, Bautista and Cena put in. Additionally, I really feel so silly now as a result of Dwayne [Johnson] can be on that record I spoke about earlier too. This was an awesome query. You could be the one interview that gave me a query I appreciated. Rising up, you’re watching these guys break this mildew that sadly Terry Bollea [Hulk Hogan] created by being one of many worst actors of all-time with Santa with Muscle tissue, Mr. Nanny, and all that real rubbish. Listed below are three males who’re simply nice actors and proving to the world what we do is admittedly tough. It takes a sure sort of star energy to make it to the highest of the skilled wrestling trade. Dare I say it’s simply as exhausting or tougher than making it within the appearing trade. I feel these three guys broke the mildew and allowed a man like me to essentially get alternatives within the land of Hollywood.
That is shaping as much as be an awesome yr for AEW. As somebody who has been there for thus lengthy, what’s one factor you hope to see from the corporate? We noticed you in MLW once more lately. Is it extra partnerships? Do what they’re doing?
I feel we have to hold placing these blinders on and hold chugging alongside and shifting ahead at a 90-degree angle. Heads held down and charged ahead. I wouldn’t change something proper now. We’re filling up these venues. I like the venues we’re doing as a result of it does really feel like an alternate. It’s a very completely different vibe. Merch is coming off sizzling proper now. This quarter we had such an incredible enhance in viewership from the final. I feel we have to simply hold chugging alongside.
AEW Dynamite, Wednesdays, 8/7c, TBS
AEW Collision (Particular Evening), July 10, 8/7c, TNT
AEW All In, July 12, 3/2c, Pay-Per-View
Completely satisfied Gilmore 2 premiere, July 25, Netflix