MJF goes off on the impartial wrestling scene, particularly the brand new technology of wrestlers— and he’s not pulling punches.
The AEW World Champion, who constructed his identify by grinding via small venues, lengthy drives, and low pay earlier than making it to nationwide TV, is now calling out what he sees as a serious drop in work ethic amongst immediately’s rising expertise.
Whereas talking with The Takedown on SI, MJF made it clear instantly that he’s not impressed with a big portion of the present indie scene — and he didn’t maintain again when describing it: “I feel a whole lot of these guys suck.” He instantly adopted that up by drawing a line between the wrestlers he respects and those he believes aren’t placing within the effort — making it clear that arduous work nonetheless stands out to him.
“And the blokes that I am wrestling on these independents are the blokes which might be working onerous and making the cities and doing all the pieces that they should do to grow to be higher skills.”
From there, MJF dug deeper into what he believes is the core concern — saying many youthful wrestlers merely aren’t keen to undergo the grind that used to outline breaking into the enterprise. He in contrast immediately’s mindset to his personal early days, the place he says he did no matter it took simply to enhance, irrespective of the fee or situations.
“I feel a whole lot of these new guys are lazy, they are not getting within the automotive, they are not touring to do ring crew. Brother, after I was on the independents, I’d get in my automotive, and I’d drive to, identify a state in North America, I drove there. Identify a spot in Canada, I drove there. Identify a spot in Mexico, I drove there. And I did it for and a can of Coke and a sizzling canine and a handshake. I did it as a result of I wished to get higher, and I wanted reps.”
MJF additionally pointed to the fashionable wrestling panorama as a part of the issue, explaining that with a number of main promotions now seen, some wrestlers anticipate alternatives with out incomes them first. In keeping with him, that mindset is strictly why many are nonetheless unsigned.
“Loads of these guys which might be coming into the trade, they’re considering, ‘Oh, there’s AEW, there’s WWE, there’s TNA, there’s MLW, why aren’t I signed but?’ You are not signed but since you f—ing suck. Get higher. Apply your self. Go to coaching three to 4 instances per week. Discover a ring. Roll round. Make your self higher. Do tape research. Develop into a scholar of the game.”
He then turned his consideration particularly to AEW, making it clear that the corporate isn’t a spot for anybody anticipating shortcuts or handouts. MJF famous that if you wish to be a part of that setting, it’s good to be keen to outwork everybody else.
“Cease resting in your laurels, simply assuming you are gonna be handed one thing. If you wish to be part of AEW, you higher be prepared. You higher be able to work, and work onerous, and wish it. We’re not the lazy promotion. Now for those who wanna f**okay round and j**okay off, go some other place.”
Lastly, he wrapped issues up with a direct message to indie wrestlers attempting to interrupt via, reinforcing that nothing in wrestling is assured.
“So that may be my recommendation to those cats on the indies. Nothing’s going to be handed to you. If you wish to come to AEW, be able to work.”
In the long run, the Salt of the Earth isn’t simply criticizing, he’s drawing a tough line. In his view, the hole between making it and lacking out comes down to at least one factor: how a lot you’re keen to grind.
Do you suppose MJF is correct about immediately’s indie wrestlers missing work ethic, or is he being too harsh on the brand new technology? Drop your ideas under and tell us.