Brian Damage

It’s Saturday and today we have ’This Week in Wrestling’, the 22nd entry of 2023. Today Brian looks at the masterful heel work of MJF and what he means to AEW and shares all the best wrestling content from this week.

MJF: A Master Class in Being A True Heel

Love him, hate him or love to hate him….MJF is one of the very best heels in professional wrestling bar none. Not only is he actually a good wrestler, but the man “gets it” in how to be a true heel in a business where a majority of heels are so cool to fans, that they play up the crowd almost as if they were faces. In the case of AEW world champion MJF, he doesn’t look for cheers and admiration from the audience…quite the contrary. What MJF exudes is true heat and hatred. Sure, fans want to cheer him and they do, but kudos to both MJF and AEW president Tony Khan for towing the line and keeping MJF a true heel persona.

It isn’t if Khan had thoughts about turning MJF into a babyface, because he did when the heel faction called ‘The Firm’ all turned on him. Khan said this during that period of time…

“I listen to the fans. When the reactions were so massive, I had to at least think about [making MJF a good guy], but MJF is the world’s best young pro wrestler and one of the best pro wrestling heels of any age I’ve ever seen and I think his ability to antagonise the other wrestlers and the crowd is unparalleled.

AEW is at its strongest when MJF is its worst villain.”

To fully see what a great heel MJF is and has been, look no further to the post Double or Nothing press conference or “scrum” where MJF had an open mike and really let loose. In the presser, MJF mentioned WWE, Nick Khan and Triple H and how he knows WWE wants to obtain his services once his contract ends in 2024. Tony Khan gave MJF such a ‘WTF?’ look to which MJF responded by stating…’Relax, there is nothing to worry about Tony…or maybe there is.’ MJF continued his heel rant by calling a reporter asking him a question “fat” and how the heavy set reporter probably had “Type 3 Diabetes.”

MJF then was asked about a social media post he wrote about how other wrestlers do all these insane spots in a match to appease ‘bloodthirsty’ fans who don’t give a f— about that wrestlers health and wellbeing. He blasted social media and stated that only 7% of wrestling fans are a part of the IWC. Basically saying why put your bodies on the line for such a small group of fans. (Great point by the way)

Someone asked him, why he did not close out the show in the main event instead letting the ‘Anarchy in the Arena’ go on last. MJF was quick to say that he didn’t want to be out there rolling around in Jon Moxley’s blood. The icing on this press conference, however, came when asked about ‘The Forbidden Door’ pay per view and who would he like to wrestle from New Japan Pro Wrestling? MJF called New Japan nothing more than an “indie fed” and repeated that a couple of times and said nobody on their roster appeals to him…with the exception of the Great O Khan who he pops for.

Now imagine WWE having a huge cross over pay per view with New Japan or another wrestling promotion and Roman Reigns calling that promotion a minor league or something like that. I think Triple H would have a coronary. Unless New Japan was kept up to speed on what MJF was going to say prior to him saying it, I’m sure there might be some in New Japan that were upset by those comments. Then again, who really knows? This could all be pre planned by MJF and Khan and they have everyone fooled. MJF might have already signed an extension with AEW and they are simply working the room. Either way, it is great entertainment to hear MJF on the mic unfiltered. It is stuff like this, that entertains me personally.

Photo Gallery

Regardless of how you may feel about Roman Reigns the wrestler, making it to 1,000 days as a world champion is still pretty impressive in this day and age of low attention spans.

Congrats to Alexa Bliss and her husband announcing Bliss’ pregnancy!

Also congrats to Tay Melo and Sammy Guevara on their announced pregnancy!

Barbie Blank posing nude in the middle of her pregnancy…

Canadian IPAs with a wrestling theme.

Fantastic artwork!

What might have been…

They grow up so fast.

Since Day One-ish

If Vince McMahon was still in charge of creative on a day to day basis…I really think William Regal’s son would get this gimmick.

Dave Bautista looking tremendous at age 54

Full circle for Seth Rollins

True story

Deep Thoughts…

WWE ring announcer and fiancé to Ricochet Samantha Irvin has really impressed me lately. She is a great ring announcer.

AEW’s Leila Grey

Kayla Rossi

Santana Garrett and Salina De La Renta

Toni Storm

Harley Cameron

Gigi Dolin

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WARNING!!!

NSFW CONTENT BELOW

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

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Catalina Hager

Missy Hyatt from her audition for The Sopranos back in the day.

Paige VanZant and husband

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SAFETY!!!

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Video Gallery

A tribute song to the days of Hulk Hogan body slamming the 8th Wonder of the World…Andre the Giant.