In another turn earlier today (6/2), AEW removed Maxwell Jacob Friedman from their online roster and his merchandise from their store.
This came after what many are calling a worked shoot on June 1’s AEW Dynamite when MJF called AEW owner Tony Kahn a “f——- mark” and demanded Kahn fire him.
While it’s been reported that MJF is legitimately frustrated with his contract with AEW, essentially making this a fiction become reality event, it’s been difficult for many to figure out if this is a work or not.
Many have shared their thoughts that AEW is copying the Sasha Banks and Naomi situation with WWE and removing MJF and his merchandise does fall into line for that.
And added incentive to believe this is a work is the fact that CM Punk came out during the commercial break following MJF’s Pipe Bomb promo and MJF took off into the audience, who were also cheering him at times during his promo.
Since Punk is the most popular of the former WWE signees, it stands to reason they’ll be heading into a feud for the world title shortly with Punk’s faction being ex-WWE guys.
Roster moves
While MJF being taken off the roster seems like a big deal, and it could well be, the fact he’s not in the alumni section with Cody and Brandi Rhodes shows he hasn’t been released.
Like the merchandise being removed, it gives the impression that MJF is in deep trouble and on the verge of being suspended or fired.
MJF is now off the active roster on AEW's official website pic.twitter.com/zoOWKUctKo
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 2, 2022
MJF's ShopAEW was pulled, and sends you to a 404 error pic.twitter.com/dCRxRVgAVn
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) June 2, 2022
As we mentioned above, it’s nearly identical to the WWE with Banks and Naomi, and there are more than a few still calling that a work. And to be fair it could be. It’d be the best one the WWE has done in years if it is.
Mimicking WWE
What’s pretty interesting is the fan bases aren’t even as divided between both being a work or not, but rather management versus employees.
It’s pretty shocking to see so many people that talk about the importance of wrestlers defending their ideas also say they should be fired for doing so.
MJF has the hate against him magnified because he’s a heel and is so good at getting under our skin one way or another.
Adding to this, MJF hasn’t been included in AEW videos on youtube from Dynamite and it’s been reported that no publicity photos from Dynamite have been sent out.
Between him being stretchered off after Wardlow destroyed him and him moving around for his promo without any problem pokes a hole in the storyline and adds a sense that he’s really trying to get fired.
It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out and if it results in the ratings boost AEW is looking for.
More than that, if the reported problems behind the scenes between MJF and Kahn are true, then we hope they can come to some kind of agreement before it gets too far for them to come back from.
What do you think? Is this a work, and if so how will it play out for AEW? Let us know in the comments below.
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