AEW star MJF isn’t shying away from the reality of wrestling’s ongoing promotional war. In a recent interview with TV Insider’s Scott Fishman, the former AEW World Champion gave his take on WWE’s pattern of scheduling programming directly opposite AEW events — a move some fans view as a clear act of counter-programming.
Known for his brutal honesty, MJF delivered a candid and pragmatic assessment. While some might expect criticism, MJF instead praised WWE’s top brass — including Nick Khan (“jolly old St. Nick”) and Triple H (“Trips”) — for doing what he called smart business.
“You mean shows that are running at the exact same time as us, even though they claim we’re not competition? How do I feel about it? I think it’s a smart business practice,” MJF said.
“I give jolly old St. Nick and Trips a whole lot of credit. At the end of the day, if you can stomp out your competition, you’re doing what is necessary. Don’t judge them for it, but also, don’t be stupid. They’re not doing this by happenstance. This isn’t circumstantial. None of it is.”
The remarks come as AEW and WWE head into a high-stakes July weekend, with AEW’s All In: Texas pay-per-view airing Saturday, July 12 from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas — set for an afternoon start. At the very same time, WWE will present NXT Great American Bash, followed by a primetime edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC.
MJF has recently returned to in-ring action after a brief hiatus. Since losing to “Hangman” Adam Page at Revolution in March, he’s been aligned with the Hurt Syndicate, playing a role in their AEW World Tag Team Championship defense at Dynasty. Most recently, MJF scored a win over Místico at AEW Grand Slam: Mexico — his first televised singles match since his return.
As AEW navigates through an increasingly competitive landscape, MJF’s blunt acknowledgment of WWE’s tactics — without outrage or denial — reflects not only his own confidence but also his awareness of the game being played at the highest level.
