AEW World Champion MJF offered an honest look at the physical toll of wrestling, revealing he was in significant pain during the interview and pushing back on fans who question how often he competes, on the Shut Up And Wrestle podcast.
MJF said he has long been irritated by fans who wanted to see him wrestle more, arguing they don’t grasp what the job does to a body. “Earlier on in my AEW career, fans were like, why isn’t MJF wrestling more,” he said. “You take a bump, it hurts. Do you have any idea how much it hurts? Everything we do in there hurts.”
He said his own body was a live example. “While you’re interviewing me right now, my knee is f—-ed. It’s swollen to s—-. I’m in a s—- ton of f—-ing pain,” MJF said. “But it’s on me, because I’m the f—-ing top guy, and people are leaning on me to make sure that we’re doing well. So I gotta lace my f—-ing boots up and get in that ring.” He was careful to add that he was not criticizing AEW’s medical staff. “A doctor is never going to let me go in there unless structurally I’m okay. I’m in a lot of pain, they’re swelling, but structurally I’m good.”
MJF said a portion of the modern audience underestimates the sacrifice involved. “There is this new wrestling fandom of these younger kids that think this is all funsies, and they don’t understand how much we’re putting on the line physically every time we go through the curtain,” he said. “It takes a toll. I’m 30, I’m in pain, and I’m only 30. I can’t imagine what I’m gonna feel like when I’m 40 or 50.”
Still, the champion made clear he was not looking for pity. “I’m also not asking for sympathy. I’m not a b—-,” MJF said. “I signed up for this s—-. This was my decision and my dream to chase. I just wish wrestling fans understood more that every time we go out there it’s painful. It hurts every time we take a bump, no matter what.”
If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit Shut Up And Wrestle with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
