MJF Contemplates Lessons Learned During First AEW World Title Run

As a three-time former AEW World Champion, Maxwell Jacob Friedman has etched himself into the history of AEW, with the longest unbroken single reign with the belt so far. Despite his success, he's barely 30 years old, meaning that the franchise star is still very much a work in progress.

"I learned so many lessons in my first world title reign," Friedman admitted during an interview with Pro Wrestling Illustrated. "I think it's safe to say that a brunt of those 406 days is some of the best business our company had ever done." 

He then recalled being betrayed by Adam Cole, who he described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing," and pointed out how the last two months of his reign were isolated, but this was where he learned the most.

"I wanted to stay away from those mistakes that were made and never make them again, and I feel I did do just that," he claimed. "I think the biggest lesson that I learned was trusting people has never benefitted anyone in this profession." 

Friedman went on to claim that everyone in the industry who let their guard down at some point was let down, and while he agrees this isn't the best outlook, he expresses that it's the truth.

Friedman noted how there isn't a tag team in the industry who never had to deal with inner conflict and betrayal, and further claimed that he ultimately let his guard down with the fans, which is where he was burned. "I let them in, if you will. I think that was a massive mistake and a mistake I'm never going to make again," he said. "I don't think wrestling fans deserve having me open up to them at that level again."

Maxwell Jacob Friedman might be many things, but most fans will agree that he has a strong opinion of himself. However, he has seemingly not been oblivious to the criticism and has explained how he deals with others' opinions of himself.

"I don't care if people like me. That s**t's for the birds. I'm good on that," he boasted. "I think it's really easy to tell what's good faith and what's bad faith criticism." 

Friedman explained that if he sees someone online criticizing AEW, and they have an avatar of someone like Alexa Bliss and all they do is bash AEW, he disregards their opinions. 

"But if it's somebody that is genuinely a grassroots fan of our company, and somebody who wants to see our company succeed? I do believe that it's important to hear people out."

While he admits to hearing people out, Friedman still made it clear that he doesn't always think criticism is right, even from the right people. 

"I'm always right, and most people are always wrong," he proclaimed. Either way, Friedman claims that when he does read a negative post, he'll do it while training and use what he perceives as negativity for fuel. "If you find yourself being upset with the way I am on television, and you post about it, just know all you're doing is feeding the monster!"

"The more negativity you speak about me online, essentially what you're doing is: you're feeding me your negativity, and it's just making me grow, and grow, and grow," he further claimed.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Pro Wrestling Illustrated," and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.