AEW's MJF Praises Unpopular WWE Business Practice
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
AEW star MJF has shared his thoughts on WWE running shows head-to-head against his home promotion. In a recent interview, MJF said that he views the practice not as a petty move, but as a savvy business decision.
Speaking with TV Insider, the former AEW World Champion gave credit to WWE's leadership for their competitive tactics. He stated that if he were in their position, he would do the same thing.
It's Business, Not Personal
Rather than showing frustration, MJF explained that he respects the move from a business perspective. He believes that any company should do what is necessary to "stomp out" its competition.
"I think it's a smart business practice," MJF said. "I give jolly old St. Nick [Khan] and Trips [Triple H] a whole lot of credit. At the end of the day, if you can stomp out your competition, you're doing what is necessary. Lord knows I would."
He added that while some may view WWE's scheduling as a coincidence, he believes it is a deliberate and calculated business strategy. "They're not doing this by happenstance," he stated.
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
A History Of Wrestling "Wars"
The concept of "counter-programming" is deeply rooted in wrestling history. The most famous example is the "Monday Night Wars" from 1995 to 2001, when WWE's Monday Night Raw went head-to-head with WCW's Monday Nitro. The intense competition, which included tactics like giving away taped results and talent jumping between companies, is often seen as the creative and commercial peak of the industry.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 21: Wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman visits the SiriusXM Studios on August 21, 2023 in New York City. Friedman defends the All Elite Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship on November 18,...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 21: Wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman visits the SiriusXM Studios on August 21, 2023 in New York City. Friedman defends the All Elite Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship on November 18, 2023 at AEW Full Gear. More
Photo bySince AEW's launch in 2019, a new, smaller-scale war has emerged. The two promotions first went head-to-head during the "Wednesday Night War," when AEW Dynamite consistently beat WWE's NXT in the ratings, forcing NXT to move to Tuesday nights in 2021.
A Timeline of Competition
Since the end of the Wednesday Night War, WWE has continued to schedule programming and events opposite AEW's major shows. In October 2023, a "Supersized" episode of NXT, featuring major stars like John Cena and Cody Rhodes, went directly against Dynamite and won the ratings battle. On multiple occasions, WWE has scheduled premium live events like NXT Battleground on the same weekend as AEW's flagship Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
This trend continues this coming weekend. AEW will present its massive All In: Texas stadium show on Saturday, July 12. On that same day, WWE will be airing two premium live events: Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC and The Great American Bash on Peacock. While AEW President Tony Khan has criticized these moves in the past, MJF clearly sees the competition as a sign of respect.
More WWE News:
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Hulk Hogan's first wife shares throwback post on wrestler's birthday. Take a look
They may have been divorced since 2009, but Linda Hogan's feelings still run deep for Hulk Hogan, who died of a heart attack in his Clearwater, Fla., home on July 24. On Monday, on what would have the wrestling icon's 72nd birthday, his ex-wife shared a sweet tribute on Instagram. 'Me and Hulkster 1981....I love and miss you so much,' said the caption alongside a throwback picture of the two embracing into the reflection of a mirror. Linda (nee Claridge) married the WWE legend (real name Terry Bollea) roughly two years after that snap was taken. They had two kids, Brooke, 37, and Nick, 35, who were also costars of the VH1 reality show 'Hogan Knows Best,' documenting their often wacky lives. Hulk and Linda separated the same year the show was canceled, 2007. Their divorce finalized in 2009. Hulk went on to marry makeup artist Jennifer McDaniel a year later, and split after a little more than a decade. The Real American Beer founder was married to yoga instructor Sky Daily, whom he wed in 2023, at the time of his passing. As for Hogan's relationship with his first wife? Not much was known about their dynamic until a few months ago. In the spring, Linda appeared in a disturbing social media video lifting the lid on the dysfunction in the family. The erstwhile TV matriarch tearfully revealed that she had been estranged from Brooke for years, and that her famous ex was not only a 'liar' and 'sex addict,' but also to blame for not healing the rifts. 'I've given him more opportunities to come back and make up the family,' the 65-year-old sobbed. 'It's been 20 years and I'm still this sad. Somebody please explain that.' After Brooke clapped back at her mom in her own posts, Hulk broke his silence in the form of a video of him jokingly eating popcorn with Daily. Linda obviously wasn't offended by the popular entertainer's lack of sympathy and had obviously forgiven him. After his death, she told her followers that she was 'devastated.' Linda has no hard feelings toward Daily, either. According to UsWeekly they sat in the same row during Hogan's funeral. READ MORE: Hulk Hogan's daughter has questions about his death
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Vince McMahon was ‘angry' Hulk Hogan got booed in final WWE appearance
Vince McMahon, the embattled ex-chairman of WWE, recalled Hulk Hogan's last appearance on the famed wrestling company's airwaves and the anger he had over the reaction the Los Angeles crowd gave the Hulkster. McMahon took part in a TMZ special set to air Tuesday night, examining the life and career of Hogan, one of wrestling's biggest stars, following his death in July at the age of 71. Hogan last appeared on WWE's 'Monday Night Raw' on Jan. 6 as the program made its debut on Netflix, but he was greeted by a chorus of boos from the Intuit Dome crowd in Inglewood, California. Advertisement 'I was angry,' McMahon said in a teaser clip of the program, 'he deserved much more.' Sylvester Stallone, Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon in 2005. WireImage Advertisement Hogan is one of the biggest names in professional wrestling history, but his legacy became more complicated after he was captured making racist remarks on a leaked sex tape more than a decade ago. Hogan's political leanings have also impacted how some have viewed him. He appeared at a rally for President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden last October and told Pat McAfee on his ESPN show that he thought 'politics had a whole lot to do with' his reception on 'Raw.' Tuesday's TMZ special will be of significant interest, as it marks McMahon's first televised interview since the scandal broke in January 2024 over allegations that he sexually abused and trafficked a former WWE employee. Advertisement Janel Grant alleged in a lawsuit that McMahon had forced her into non-consensual encounters with him and other people at the company. Hulk Hogan takes the stage during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2024. Getty Images McMahon has 'categorically denied' the allegations. Federal prosecutors dropped a criminal probe into McMahon in February over whether he had attempted to cover up numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. Advertisement McMahon, 79, resigned as executive chairman and board member of TKO Group Holdings, WWE's parent company, in 2024 following the bombshell lawsuit.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sounds like Lesnar vs. Cena will headline WWE PLE opposite AEW All Out
The unexpected return of Brock Lesnar at the end of SummerSlam set the stage for one last clash between the former UFC & WWE champ and the retiring John Cena. Typically, that match would go down at WWE's next premium live event, which happens in France at the end of this month. But Cena was booked to face Logan Paul on Aug. 31's Clash in Paris PLE, leaving us to wonder when the seventh and final one-on-one match between two of WWE's biggest modern stars would occur. A report yesterday (Aug. 11) may have indirectly shed some light on it. Word is WWE will run a main roster event in Indianapolis on Sat., Sept. 20 — the same day AEW holds All Out 2025 in Toronto. Many connected the dots between that item and WWE holding off on scheduling a Lesnar/Cena bout. One of those was Dave Meltzer, who said on the post-Raw episode of Wrestling Observer Radio: 'It can change, but the main event for this [unnamed, unannounced Sept. 20 WWE] show is Brock Lesnar and John Cena. So it's a big one. Which is why Brock's not in Paris, is because of this. They wanted him for this show, not for the Paris show. And that's where Logan Paul got the gig.' Whenever it happens it will be Lesnar's first match since 2023, back before he was named in Janel Grant's still-active sex trafficking lawsuit against WWE and its former Chairman Vince McMahon.
