MJF Discusses What He Feels CM Punk Is Missing In AEW
In a new interview with NY Post, MJF shared his thoughts on what it is like working with someone he looked up to as a kid — CM Punk. But the version of Punk that we are seeing each week on AEW television is "missing" something, according to Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
"Well. I'm me 24/7, 365. I'm not a gimmick. I'm not one of these guys that has to portray somebody else in order to feel comfortable and confident when they walk through the curtain. I'm just me and that's why I make so much go**amn money for my company.
"But as far as Punk goes, why was I such a fan? I said it in what people are calling one of, if not the greatest verbal joust in the history of the business. I said I was a huge fan of CM Punk in the ring, on the microphone. He was the best in the world, or so I thought," MJF said. "Ever since he's returned, I'm not feeling the CM Punk of old. I feel like something's missing there. I also feel like I'm the only person who's even potentially giving him the spark he needs to give me the CM Punk I grew up on, and he should be thankful for that."
But what does MJF think is missing from the in-ring veteran, CM Punk?
"Killer instinct. CM Punk would have done whatever it took to get a W and he would have made sure it didn't take him 12 minutes to beat a schmuck like Lee Moriarty. It's absolutely nonsensical."
MJF, one of the so-called "four pillars of AEW", thinks that he's the man who will bring the spark back to CM Punk to get that killer instinct back.
"I've seen the fire behind his eyes a couple of times ever since I've gotten in his face," MJF noted. "I saw that fire in his eyes when we were in the ring talking back and forth. I saw that fire in his eyes when I said I was going to put his disgusting, flea-ridden mutt (Larry) down last week. I look forward to seeing the fire in his eyes again, but I want that flame to keep running. I think what that's gonna take is CM Punk to understand that if he wants any shot at getting a match with me I need that flame 24/7, 365 just like the one I have because when I get in the ring with CM Punk, I don't want any go**amn excuses. I want the best version of CM Punk."