MJF is doubling down on his belief that too many modern wrestlers destroy the illusion of professional wrestling the second they log onto social media.
While speaking to SHAK Wrestling, the former AEW World Champion blasted wrestlers who act one way on television and then immediately become friendly, grateful, and out-of-character online afterwards.
The conversation started when MJF was asked how early in his wrestling career he realized fully living his persona in public could help separate him from everyone else. MJF responded by making it clear he does not even view himself as playing a character at all.
“I knew I wanted to be me 100% of the time because I am me. So it was not hard to do. A lot of people like to use the word ‘character.’ A lot of wrestling fans say ‘kayfabe’ even though they have no idea what it means. The fact of the matter is—I am not a character. I am not kayfabing it. I am MJF 24/7. So it’s not like I have to put up an act. I just wake up, do my thing, and go to sleep in a beautiful silk-lined bed in my lovely mansion in Long Island.”
The interview then shifted toward modern wrestlers who completely change personalities once the show ends — something MJF clearly cannot stand. He argued today’s wrestling industry is filled with people who are too afraid of offending others, while he personally believes controversy and emotional reactions are exactly what drive wrestling business.
“People are being pussies, Shaq—and I’d love to be quoted on that, and I’d love you not to bleep it. Sincerely—I mean it. We live in a society filled with weak people who are afraid of offending others. That’s not something I’m afraid of. When I offend you, you buy a ticket. When I offend you, the ratings go up. When I offend you, you have no choice but to watch me and hope that I lose against a guy like Darby Allin—which I won’t—and you’ll continue to watch me because I grab you by the balls and give you no choice otherwise.”
MJF then specifically called out wrestlers who spend weeks feuding on television only to immediately praise each other online afterwards. According to him, that completely kills the realism of wrestling and makes him want to vomit.
“Now, when I see guys—and there are some I respect—but I see guys on TV and then they go on Twitter like, ‘Oh my God, I just had such a great match with so-and-so. I’ve had so much fun at work these last couple of weeks.’ It makes me want to vomit. It’s disgusting.”
He continued by explaining that his personal vision of wrestling has always been rooted in conflict, trash talk, violence, and money — not performers publicly complimenting each other after rivalries.
“That’s not why I got into this sport. I got into this sport to talk shit, to beat people up, and to make a whole lot of money doing it. I can’t comprehend the idea—it’s like they’re putting a costume on. I can’t relate to that.”
The Salt of the Earth made it clear that he wants wrestling to feel authentic rather than watching performers act like fictional TV characters.
“I want to watch a guy that I know is real on my TV screen. I don’t want to watch a guy playing another guy. If I wanted to watch that, I’d turn on a movie or a TV show. That’s not why I watch professional wrestling.”
The comments line up perfectly with MJF’s long-standing approach to wrestling, where he rarely breaks character publicly and continues treating his on-screen persona as an extension of who he really is.
Do you agree with MJF that wrestlers should protect their characters more, or do you prefer the modern style where performers openly separate real life from TV storylines? Leave your thoughts below.
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