Former AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been very open regarding his Hollywood ambitions, with MJF previously making a transient appearance in 2023’s “The Iron Claw” before taking up a bigger role in Netflix’s upcoming “Joyful Gilmore 2.” In conversation with Sports Illustrated, MJF once more commented on his acting profession and explained why it would profit AEW, even when it means he is probably not around as often.
“Tony Khan — while he’s a mark, he isn’t a dumb mark,” MJF said. “He’s obviously aware of the undeniable fact that the larger I construct my name, the more people who find themselves going to Google search me and go, ‘MJF, AEW, what’s AEW? All Elite Wrestling? I used to look at wrestling as a child. TBS, Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Alright, I’ll give it a shot.’ And that is the ability that I bring to the table.”
When asked if he ever intends to depart wrestling behind in favor of acting, MJF simply stated that he has a degree in his mind when he knows he’d wish to retire from performing full-time. While not willing to specify an age, MJF hinted that it will be sometime in his 40s, and it would not necessarily mean he would never wrestle one other match.
“I most actually have a tough out,” MJF continued. “Nevertheless, hard out to me means I’m not going to be on weekly TV, right? Nevertheless it doesn’t suggest that I can not come back to pop a crowd, to pop the boys, to sell some tickets, to sell some merch. That, I do not think, ever goes away if you happen to love this.”
MJF brought up the comebacks of individuals like Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Bryan Danielson, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, none of whom had any financial must return to wrestling. Nevertheless, he believes they did it out of affection for performing.
In case you use any of the quotes in this text, please credit Sports Illustrated with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
