How MJF Succeeded Where Roman Reigns Failed

AEW's MJF may have done something unprecedented recently. Generational, indeed...

MJF Long Island
AEW

"MJF needs to turn babyface."

"You can't defy what the fans want; it's something WWE did for so long that it was the reason AEW emerged in the first place."

"They won't be able to do it anyway. MJF is too over as a babyface."

Virtually everybody echoed takes along those lines in the cursed period between All Out and Full Gear 2022.

MJF had turned de facto babyface because, ultimately, his Brian Pillman odyssey did not work: modern wrestling fans, overwhelmed with content, have become so accustomed to cheering a returning star, irrespective of their face/heel alignment, because the medium otherwise rarely allows them to miss or anticipate anybody. CM Punk's conduct at and in the lead-up to 'Brawl Out' didn't help MJF's 'Devil' character either. Punk's surly demeanour had bled into his performances throughout his programme with Jon Moxley - to such an extent that half the fans sided with Mox. Even in Chicago, the atmosphere, while raucous, wasn't remotely comparable to WWE Money In The Bank 2011. That was the idea, too: Punk didn't cut that ultra-regionalised promo, which everyone not from Chicago couldn't like as much, for nothing on the go-home Dynamite.

Punk was the guy who deprived fans, MJF was the man who, with no way of knowing this, filled the void. That wasn't the plan. It was the opposite of the plan. The heel MJF was meant to feud with the babyface CM Punk.

And, beyond all that, MJF was turned babyface because he's too entertaining and charismatic.

CONT'D...(1 of 6)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!