Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) received a huge honor on Monday as he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason \'The Solomonster\' Solomon was on hand for the ceremony and conducted an exclusive interview with the AEW World Champion.
MJF\'s 2023 was full of big wins and captivating storylines. Ahead of his big title defense against Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End later this month (12/30), we wanted to know about his recent meeting with childhood hero John Cena at the \"The Iron Claw\" premiere.
MJF spoke about what it was like to meet Cena, what sets the 16-time world champion apart from everybody else and Cena\'s advice for him.
\"He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.\"
- MJF on John Cena
\"You\'re an Inspiration\"
The \'Salt of the Earth\' said it meant the world to him that John Cena approached him at the event and paid him a compliment he\'ll never forget.
\"I don\'t think it\'s unprofessional for me to discuss what we talked about. He didn\'t have to do this, and it meant the world to me. [John Cena] walked over to me, and he said he\'s a fan of my work, and he respected my professionalism.
MJF had another chance to talk with John Cena when they were spotted together on the red carpet. MJF reveals he told John Cena that he\'s an inspiration and says Cena\'s work ethic puts him lightyears ahead so many people in wrestling who \'phone it in\' and don\'t go the extra 10 miles that Cena goes.
\"Once we were on the red carpet, we talked some more and I told him straight up, I said, \'You\'re an inspiration\' because he is, you know?
There are a lot of people in my industry who phone it in. I cannot recall one time in the over a decade of John Cena\'s career where he phoned it in even once. He\'s incapable, just like I\'m incapable.
He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.\
Cena was one of MJF\'s wrestling heroes growing up, along with CM Punk. \"... and for crying out loud, my two guys, I make no bones about it, everybody knows that one of my guys was CM Punk, but my other guy was John Cena. As I got older, it became Punk, you know, because I was trying to rebel a little bit, you know, I had a John Cena Fathead on my bedroom wall. You know, it\'s John Cena!
We also discussed transitioning from pro wrestling to acting. He\'s just an incredible person and I don\'t have one negative thing to say about him.\
What\'s Next For MJF?
MJF recently confirmed that he has not signed a new deal with AEW. He also believes that WWE wouldn\'t put him in a corner, or prohibit his creativity. The Bidding War of 2024 could still be on, and someone like John Cena may be able to help grease the wheels in a big way.
Although original plans for MJF in \"The Iron Claw\" were initially cut, that film still gave him a great platform. He is also listed as an Executive Producer on the film, thanks to the contributions he made.
Without \"The Iron Claw\" film, fans wouldn\'t have seen that meeting between MJF and John Cena. It\'s anyone\'s guess if that meeting will just be the first of many down the line.
