MJF Speaks On Controversial "Quarters" Angle On AEW Dynamite
AEW World Champion addresses Juice Robinson promo after Dynamite.
MJF has addressed a controversial angle aired on last night's AEW Dynamite, which saw Bullet Club Gold's Juice Robinson pull out a roll of quarters with the World Champion's surname across it.
Robinson claimed, in a promo, that he was going to use the quarters to break MJF's jaw. MJF is currently feuding with BCG's 'Switchblade' Jay White - and Robinson has just confirmed his participation in next week's battle royal for MJF's Dynamite Diamond Ring.
Although Juice has used a roll of quarters as a weapon in the past, last night's reference holds extra significance. A victim of anti-semitic bullying, MJF has referenced a story from his youth where he was subjected to horrific abusers throwing quarters at him, telling him to pick them up, talking about it several times on AEW television.
On a 2019 episode of AEW Dark, MJF recalled (h/t Cageside Seats):
“Let’s go there, we can go there — I’m gonna go there. So when I was little growing up, I played football — I loved football. For those who aren’t aware, I am Jewish — the name might have given it away — and there was no other Jewish kids on my football. So, it was an adjustment for me because the other kids didn’t exactly love the fact that there was a Jewish kid taking their spot. So on the first day of practice, I beat out some of the other kids who had been there a little longer than me for the middle linebacker spot, and I remember the next week [name removed] and a band of douchebags walked up to me and they said, ‘Hey Jew boy’ and they threw rolls of quarters at me, and they told me to pick it up. And I was pretty floored and it messed me up pretty bad. I remember just going home and bawling my eyes out. I learned that day that you have to kill the person you were born to be to be the person you want to be. So, I was never going to let myself be bullied ever again and I made it a point to go to the gym every day. Eat right and train right.”
Referencing that trauma - particularly at a time when a reported 1,200 people have just lost their lives during Israel's conflict with Hamas - has drawn criticism to AEW overnight.
MJF addressed the situation on X, including a banner for his appearance at the upcoming #StandUpToJewishHate event in Foxborough, MA:
Tonight that piece of s**t, Juice Robinson decided to bring up a story from my childhood that has left me scared.
AdvertisementI’m glad he did. He brought awareness to something we’ve all gone through in one way, shape, or form in our lives. On behalf of anyone who’s ever been bullied for… pic.twitter.com/wc1oba4YFG
— Maxwell Jacob Friedman™️ (@The_MJF) October 11, 2023
Fightful reports that AEW sources have indicated that MJF cleared the line for use on television.