Swerve Strickland and MJF haven’t crossed paths in AEW yet, but their history goes back several years from their time wrestling in promotions like DEFY and Wrestling REVOLVER. Both have risen to become prominent figures in today’s wrestling scene. Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has also expanded into acting, with roles including a part in Happy Gilmore 2. On a recent episode of the Insight podcast, Chris Van Vleet asked Strickland about venturing into acting. Strickland expressed pride in MJF’s achievements, praising him as a hardworking individual excelling in both wrestling and acting.
Strickland highlighted MJF’s impressive ability to balance wrestling commitments—such as high-profile shows in Mexico—and acting projects. Reflecting on their early encounters when MJF was just 17 or 18, Strickland noted that MJF always seemed to understand the business deeply. Seeing MJF’s current success doesn’t come as a surprise to him, but he remains proud and frequently lets MJF know that.
While MJF is currently focusing on his acting career, he is expected to make an appearance at this weekend’s Wrestle Cade tournament, marking his first wrestling-related event during this break. Though it’s unclear if this signals a return to AEW soon, he has completed filming another movie, potentially paving the way for a comeback to the ring.
Fan Take: This news highlights MJF’s impressive versatility and growing influence beyond wrestling, which adds a fascinating dimension to AEW’s roster. For fans, it signals exciting possibilities for his return and the continuing evolution of crossover talents in the sport, enhancing AEW’s appeal and reach.
