MJF knows where his strengths are. While some wrestling on the Independent scene search for a GIFable moment or try to trend with their in-ring performance, MJF is trying to make money.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, MJF discussed what makes him different than everyone else and why he remains, better than you.
“The funny thing about the independents is you got bookings based off of GIFs, the GIFs you see on Twitter. Someone doing a 759-30-splat-yada-yada, Darby’s coffin drops with the f---ing skateboard attached to his back, Orange Cassidy kicking people in the shins real slow, Jungle Boy doing flippity do-dahs and flippity-ays, the list goes on and on. I had a chuckle after my match with Jungle Boy when I saw everybody saying, ‘I had no idea MJF was such a great wrestler!’ Well, I knew. But why on earth would I put myself in a situation where I have to take these stupid moves? I’ll watch other matches and see moves and ask myself, ‘Why?’"
He continued, "I’m as old-school as it gets in this modern era. I’m the last of a dying breed. I didn’t care about GIFs. I didn’t care about making people go home happy. I didn’t care about people going, ‘Oh, my god, his work rate is absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to see his next five-star match.’ What I care about is making sure that when the people watching me put their head to their pillow, I’m the last thing they think about. Not because I hit the coolest moves, not because I’m putting my body on the line for their entertainment, but because I’m captivating. I do things my way. I don’t do things to make people happy or appease them. That’s what makes me different."
MJF did impress fans with his in-ring ability in a recent match against Jungle Boy. And even though he hasn't gotten a chance to showcase himself in the ring like others on the roster, he is confident that he can hang with anyone in any aspect.
He later added, "There is nobody I can’t hang with in our company or in all of professional wrestling. No one can do what I do, and no one has my personality. If you took my personality away from me, I’m nobody. I’m Joey Janela, I’m Jungle Boy, I’m Luchasaurus. But I’m not reading off a script. This is me."
MJF is scheduled to face Cody at AEW Revolution on Saturday, Feb. 29.
Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Revolution beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
