AEW President Tony Khan Lauds MJF’s Wrestling Mastery and Rising Hollywood Stardom

AEW President Tony Khan praised two of his top stars, MJF and Toni Storm, highlighting their achievements and impact on the company.

AEW President Tony Khan Lauds MJF’s Wrestling Mastery and Rising Hollywood Stardom

MJF and Tony Khan (via AEW)

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Since its inception in 2019, All Elite Wrestling has been competing closely with WWE, and one of the driving forces behind Tony Khan’s promotion has been Maxwell Jacob Friedman. As one of AEW’s top heels, MJF combines charisma, sharp mic skills, and in-ring psychology to consistently captivate audiences. 

His legendary rivalries with the likes of Hangman Adam Page, CM Punk, and Adam Cole have elevated AEW to new heights, giving fans a compelling alternative to WWE. And it is safe to say that the AEW President is well aware of MJF’s impact. 

Khan recently praised MJF for all he has achieved in wrestling before the age of 30, but he also noted that being the biggest fish in the sea comes with sacrifices. He alluded to MJF’s heel persona and explained that not everyone backstage is fond of him. In an interview with Going Ringside, the wrestling promoter spilled the beans on MJF’s backstage reception. 

MJF’s not the most popular guy backstage. Most of the wrestlers don’t really like him very much. I would say that among some of the villains of AEW, there is some camaraderie, and a guy like maybe Don Callis or Okada, I think those guys are probably happy for MJF. But a lot of the fan favorites in AEW really don’t like MJF very much.

Tony Khan via Going Ringside

For context, MJF has formed alliances with The Don Callis Family, the Ricochet-led Demand, and several other temporary factions in recent memory. This naturally leads to tension with AEW’s top babyfaces, particularly given his history as a former AEW World Champion.

Despite the backstage friction, Khan praised MJF for his work ethic and his recent transition into Hollywood. This summer, he debuted as an actor in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2, playing one of Happy’s four sons.

MJF’s a huge, huge wrestling star, and now he’s becoming a star in movies. He got a great role playing Happy Gilmore’s son in Happy Gilmore 2. It is the most watched movie in America this year, and MJF’s a big part of the movie. If you remember his very rowdy four sons, the main lead boy is MJF. He’s the most prominent one.

Tony Khan via Going Ringside

Khan has also emphasized MJF’s commitment to acting, noting that with another role lined up in Violent Night 2, AEW is proud of his growth beyond wrestling. Khan called him a hard-working performer who demonstrates incredible talent whenever he focuses on wrestling.

At the same time, Khan acknowledged MJF’s heel persona, pointing out that he often looks for shortcuts and tries to cheat his way to the top. Despite this, Khan stressed that the former World Champion doesn’t need to rely on such tactics, as his natural ability and understanding of the craft make him a standout talent in professional wrestling.

Tony Khan has high praise for the iconic aura of Toni Storm

MJF isn’t the only top talent that Tony Khan admires. The list also includes Toni Storm, who has emerged as the face of AEW’s Women’s division. Her ‘Timeless’ persona has become one of AEW’s most compelling acts, blending old Hollywood glamour with sharp promos and biting wit.

Toni Storm and Tony Khan
Toni Storm and Tony Khan (via AEW)

The English star spent four years with WWE from 2017 to 2021 before joining AEW in 2022. Already a four-time Women’s World Champion, she has delivered memorable matches against the likes of Mercedes Mone, Mariah May, and Athena. During the same appearance on Going Ringside, Khan offered high praise for Storm, declaring her an icon in the industry.

I think that iconic presence was always inside of her. And that’s what I told her when we started this, that she has that presence. She was at the time in her mid-20s, yet she had this timeless presence that she was gonna clearly have throughout her career. This aura, this way of speaking, all these things that Toni Storm brings.

Tony Khan via Going Ringside

For the unversed, Storm’s fourth reign as the title holder came to an end at All Out, where she was pinned by Kris Statlander in a Fatal 4-Way Match that also featured Thekla and Jamie Hayter. Despite the loss, her fourth reign is widely regarded as her best yet, highlighted by several standout performances. 

Khan considers her match against Mone at All In: Texas as one of the finest the company has produced all year, showcasing why both competitors are among the top wrestlers in the world. The Englishwoman is now set to make her first appearance since All Out during the sixth anniversary of AEW Dynamite in an event titled Returns to Hollywood.

Khan has hinted that a rematch for the AEW Women’s Championship against Statlander could be on the horizon. He also emphasized that Storm’s talent and star power are a major reason behind AEW’s strong momentum in 2025, underscoring her importance to the company and the Women’s division.

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