
AEW star MJF isnโt shying away from the reality of wrestlingโs ongoing promotional war. In a recent interview with TV Insiderโs Scott Fishman, the former AEW World Champion gave his take on WWEโs pattern of scheduling programming directly opposite AEW events โ 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 WWEโs top brass โ including Nick Khan (โjolly old St. Nickโ) and Triple H (โTripsโ) โ for doing what he called smart business.
โYou mean shows that are running at the exact same time as us, even though they claim weโre not competition? How do I feel about it? I think itโs a smart business practice,โ MJF said.
โI 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, youโre doing what is necessary. Donโt judge them for it, but also, donโt be stupid. Theyโre not doing this by happenstance. This isnโt circumstantial. None of it is.โ
The remarks come as AEW and WWE head into a high-stakes July weekend, with AEWโs All In: Texas pay-per-view airing Saturday, July 12 from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas โ set for an afternoon start. At the very same time, WWE will present NXT Great American Bash, followed by a primetime edition of Saturday Nightโs Main Event on NBC.
MJF has recently returned to in-ring action after a brief hiatus. Since losing to โHangmanโ Adam Page at Revolution in March, heโs 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 Mรญstico at AEW Grand Slam: Mexico โ his first televised singles match since his return.
As AEW navigates through an increasingly competitive landscape, MJFโs blunt acknowledgment of WWEโs tactics โ without outrage or denial โ reflects not only his own confidence but also his awareness of the game being played at the highest level.