MJF Gets Candid About Not Getting to Wrestle John Cena Before His in-Ring Retirement

MJF has broken silence on how he feels about not getting the chance to wrestle John Cena even once during the course of their careers.

MJF Gets Candid About Not Getting to Wrestle John Cena Before His in-Ring Retirement

John Cena and MJF [via- Fightful Wrestling]

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MJF recently became the AEW World Champion at the Worlds End pay-per-view to usher in his second reign with the title. He then hopped on the Mostly Sports podcast with Brandon Walker. The 29-year-old got asked about not being able to get in the ring with John Cena. It could’ve happened in a different world, said Max in response.

In the episode, the Long Island native called Cena an incredible guy and someone who watches the AEW product. ‘Mystic Max’ affirmed that the retired WWE legend has definitely seen his shtick and has also been appreciative of it. He further asserted that ‘The Cenation Leader’ was his favorite wrestler growing up before CM Punk. Friedman added that he had a Cena fathead on his wall in his bedroom.

I think that there is a different world where that match would have happened. Unfortunately, it’s not this one. I’ve had so many incredible run-ins with John where we’ve shot the s**t. He’s an incredible guy. He watches our product, he’s seen my stuff, he was very complimentary.

MJF on John Cena via Mostly Sports podcast

Max would wake up and salute Cena, whom he hailed as an OG, before getting ready for school. MJF could’ve had a real shot at wrestling John Cena if he had chosen to sign with WWE over staying with AEW in late 2024. ‘The Salt of the Earth’ had held discussions over joining WWE, but ultimately sided with the Tony Khan-led promotion for the money and positioning it was offering to him at that point.

However, if it had been the other way around, Friedman could have just debuted straight on the WWE main roster, considering he was already a well-known figure among the casual wrestling audience.

The timeline of MJF’s previous deal with AEW running out of time almost coincided with the commencement of the John Cena farewell tour. But as Max said in the aforementioned interview, his match with Cena would’ve happened in a different world, which doesn’t exist; hence, neither does his match with Cena.

‘The Franchise Player’ did have a public interaction with the AEW Champion at the movie premiere of The Iron Claw in 2023. As revealed by himself in a chat with Chris Van Vliet, Cena was floored by Maxwell’s professionalism and even tendered his apology to Friedman for Cena’s perceived ignorance of him at the red carpet event. The 17-time world champion also disclosed that he told MJF that maybe one day he could get him to play for the right team.

MJF backs up Timothée Chalamet’s pick of ECW One Night Stand 2006 as his favorite wrestling PPV

In the aforementioned conversation with Brandon Walker, MJF put himself on the Mt. Rushmore of pro wrestler-turned-actors. ‘The Two-Year Vet’ affirmed that he’d love to work with his remaining Mt. Rushmore picks of John Cena, The Rock, and Dave Bautista. Outside of them, Maxwell came up with Timothée Chalamet‘s name.

Timothée Chalamet and MJF
Timothée Chalamet and MJF [via- Variety and Wrestling Inc]

The podcast host eventually brought up the Dune actor, recently naming the ECW One Night Stand 2006 as his favorite wrestling pay-per-view of all time. Concurring with the sentiment, Friedman thought that it was the coolest answer he’s ever heard, being a New Yorker himself.

That night, John Cena succumbed to a hostile crowd, which would’ve accepted nothing less than RVD beating ‘Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect’ for the WWE title.

Both Max and Chalamet were born in NY, the very site of the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom venue that housed the ECW One Night Stand, as the actor mentioned in his conversation with Cody Rhodes on his What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast. Chalamet also disclosed that he once asked Triple H to return to the historic venue for a WWE event, but ‘The Game’ cited logistical issues as the prime hindrance in making it happen.

Speaking of MJF’s current state in AEW, he just won the AEW world title for the second time in his career this past weekend in Illinois at AEW Worlds End pay-per-view. ‘The Salt of the Earth’ defeated Samoa Joe, who had the title, Swerve Strickland, and “Hangman” Adam Page in a Fatal Four-Way match.

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