Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF). Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Is MJF playing it smart by being off AEW programming?

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Nov 19, 2024 3:32 PM ET

Despite the occasional recorded cameo, MJF has been absent from AEW programming in recent months. He is currently on set for the new "Happy Gilmore 2" movie, where he will take his first big step into becoming a household name.

There's no denying that MJF is one of the biggest stars in AEW. He's an exceptional storyteller, a fantastic wrestler and has a way of pulling the audience into his aura, making them love or hate him, depending on his current arc.

Due to MJF's continued rising star, Eric Bischoff believes he's being smart by remaining off AEW's weekly TV schedule. Bischoff believes MJF is protecting his value within the wrestling industry and that being associated with "Dynamite" or "Collision" is hurting the company's talent.

"Now if I was MJF agent or manager, I would tell him stay on that movie set as long as you possibly can," Bischoff said on a recent episode of his "83 Weeks" podcast. "Do not get near an AEW camera until you’re absolutely forced to by court order. Because the more he’s involved in what’s going on in AEW right now, the more his stock is going to go down."

Bischoff's comments are building off a recent podcast episode where he questioned AEW's ability to build talent and turn it into stars. He pointed toward The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega as three stars who would no longer draw interest from a company such as WWE.

"When you talk about Kenny, and you talk about where The Young Bucks are today, I think their perceived value was much greater before going to AEW than it is now," Bischoff said. "I think the perception of them has been taken down enough that it's just probably not as attractive to WWE as it would've been three or four years ago."

Bischoff has long been known for taking shots at AEW. He has been championing for Tony Khan to fail for years. Assuming that MJF would lose value within the industry by wrestling on one of the biggest shows in the world feels far-fetched.

Yes, AEW has endured its fair share of issues this year. And yes, the audience has declined in a big way. Yet, AEW is currently proving that it's turning a corner. The new storylines are fresh and exciting. MJF has been involved without being on the ground. And when Full Gear comes around on Nov. 23, his match will be among the most anticipated.

MJF is reaching a point where he will become a major draw for the company. His popularity is exceeding that of the AEW fan base, and that is why Bischoff is so off base with his latest rant on the budding wrestling brand.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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