Summary

AEW World Champion MJF has taken direct aim at today's unsigned independent wrestlers, accusing many of them of lacking the work ethic and commitment required to earn a major contract. Speaking with SI.com, MJF drew on his own experience grinding on the independent circuit to make the case that talent alone means nothing without the willingness to put in the reps.

Quote from MJF

"I think a lot of these new guys are lazy, they're not getting in the car, they're not traveling to do ring crew. Brother, when I was on the independents, I would get in my car, and I would drive to, name a state in North America, I drove there. Name a place in Canada, I drove there. Name a place in Mexico, I drove there. And I did it for $20 and a can of Coke and a hot dog and a handshake. I did it because I wanted to get better, and I needed reps."

MJF then went further, addressing the frustration he sees from unsigned talent who believe they deserve a spot simply because the landscape now includes AEW, WWE, TNA, and MLW:

"A lot of these guys that are coming into the industry, they're thinking, 'Oh, there's AEW, there's WWE, there's TNA, there's MLW, why aren't I signed yet?' You're not signed yet because you f*cking suck. Get better. Apply yourself. Go to training three to four times a week. Find a ring. Roll around. Make yourself better. Do tape study. Become a student of the sport."

What MJF's Words Mean for Unsigned Talent

MJF has always been willing to court controversy, but this is less a heel promo and more a candid position from someone who actually did the indie grind before landing in AEW. His own origin story, driving across North America for gas money and handshakes, is well documented. That context gives these comments more weight than a throwaway interview line.

The broader picture here is the expanded market. With more television slots and promotions than at any point in recent history, expectations among unsigned talent appear to have shifted. MJF's view is that the bar has not dropped simply because more doors exist, and he's telling aspiring wrestlers that tape study and ring time remain the baseline, not optional extras.

Sources

As reported by NoDQ.