MJF has never been one to shy away from controversy, and his recent comments about the All Elite Wrestling roster have ignited a firestorm of speculation. In an interview with TV Insider ahead of AEW’s All In: Texas PPV on July 12, MJF took aim at former AEW talents, particularly ex-WWE stars, whom he accused of expecting to coast to success without putting in the necessary work. Describing AEW as a company for elite performers, not “average” or “mediocre” wrestlers, MJF’s remarks have led fans and insiders to speculate about the specific individuals he was targeting. Backstage reports from Fightful’s The Hump podcast and other sources point to Miro (Rusev) and Malakai Black (Aleister Black) as the likely subjects, with additional chatter about Andrade.
During the TV Insider interview with Scott Fishman, MJF expressed frustration with wrestlers who joined AEW expecting instant stardom based on their past accolades, particularly from WWE.
“We’ve had a lot of guys in the past come in and think they are going be king sh*t just because they had their time in the sun for a millisecond in other promotions. That’s not it f*ckin’ works. It’s called All Elite Wrestling. Not All Average Wrestling. Not All Mediocre Wrestling,” MJF said. “If you think you’re going to come into my company, and yes I said my company because I’ve been here since day 1, and I’m the best professional wrestler in the world. If you think you’re going to come into my company and barely put in work, you’re out of your goddamn mind. You don’t belong here. We don’t want you here. So stay where you are and be miserable over there because you don’t belong swimming in the ocean of sharks that is AEW, and you’re talking to the biggest shark of all in MJF.”
MJF’s remarks were part of a broader discussion about working with AEW President Tony Khan and the evolution of the company’s locker room. He credited Khan for recognizing his value as a top star and emphasized that the current roster is filled with wrestlers who are committed to AEW’s mission of being a mainstream wrestling alternative. However, his comments about “mediocre” talents sparked immediate debate, with fans and analysts speculating about who he was targeting.
On The Hump podcast, Sean Ross Sapp provided context for MJF’s comments, suggesting that his frustrations were rooted in long-standing issues from his 2024 contract dispute with AEW. Sapp specifically pointed to Miro and Malakai Black as the likely targets of MJF’s criticism, noting that MJF had been vocal about these issues even before his temporary departure from the company.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, on his Grilling JR podcast, backed MJF’s perspective, suggesting there was “a lot of truth” in his assessment of the AEW roster.
Amid the speculation, Fightful Select clarified that MJF’s remarks were not aimed at CM Punk, despite online rumors suggesting otherwise. Punk, another high-profile WWE star, had a tumultuous AEW tenure marked by backstage conflicts and his eventual return to WWE. This clarification was big, as it narrowed the focus to other former WWE talents like Miro and Malakai Black, whose AEW runs were less controversial but still underwhelming to some.
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