Late last year, Maxwell Jacob Friedman took a brief hiatus from wrestling to shoot a scene for the sports comedy film Happy Gilmore 2. On "Busted Open Radio," former WWE star Bishop Dyer discussed a recent interview where Adam Sandler, the film’s lead, mentioned that MJF will deliver a "Five Star Match" on AEW TV. Dyer then asked MJF how he manages to balance his busy schedule.
MJF replied, "It’s not easy, but when you’re naturally better, it doesn’t affect me as much as it might affect others mentally. I get up every day and put on pants like everyone else. Sure, the pants might be Burberry, Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton—but they’re still just pants."
Though Wrestling Observer gave his singles match against Roderick Strong at AEW Full Gear on November 23rd a 3-star rating, MJF emerged victorious in the bout.
Speaking about Sandler, MJF shared that the veteran actor feels like a second father to him. "Wrestling in front of fans can be intimidating, so it was a relief to be away from the loud, sweaty arena. Being on set with these charming actors who take care of themselves, eat well, and stay fresh was a nice change of pace," he said.
If quoting, please credit "Busted Open Radio" with AH/T to Wrestling Inc. for transcription.
Fan Take: This news highlights MJF’s growing influence both inside and outside the ring, showing how AEW talent is crossing into mainstream entertainment. For AEW fans, it signals the rising star power that could elevate the sport’s profile and bring new audiences to wrestling.
