In a recent interview with GQ, AEW World Champion MJF discussed his work ethic, his dedication to his on-screen character, his strategy to entertain the audience during his matches, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On getting the audience to react: “That’s what makes it interesting. It’s visceral. You can see that through the screen and I’m making you have an emotional response. Other guys in our sport, they’re beating the shit out of each other and hitting moves that look crazy. And if you listen to the crowd, they’ll come up when the big thing happens. But you’ll also hear the big gaps of silence because they’re not emotionally invested in the participants. You’re emotionally invested in MJF, and you’re emotionally invested in anybody I get in the ring with because I give you no choice. I’m involved, and you care about what I’m doing because you care about me.”
On loving wrestling after watching Brock Lesnar vs. The Rock in 2002: “When they hear that, it almost hurts them. When they talk about their childhood wrestler, maybe it’s Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, or The Rock, and I’m over here talking about Brock as the guy when I was a kid. It makes people sick.”
On getting the Kangaroo Kick over: “There’s a level between being able to put your hands up like two kangaroo paws and a crowd literally freaks out and screams at the top of their lungs. Other guys have to do something like a reverse hurricanrana off the top rope to the floor to elicit the same noise level. That’s the difference between me and everybody else.”
On being ‘our scumbag’: “Nobody wants to cheer for a dude who’s squeaky clean. I think there’s a reason why Superman movies have almost never hit, bro. I love Superman, but Batman’s where it’s at because Batman’s more interesting. There’s more depth there. The guy’s not perfect, and that’s something that everyone can relate to.”
