MJF is one of the few modern wrestlers that does his best to maintain his on-screen personality in public. More often than not, he remains in character even at fan signings and off-camera in order to make him come across as authentic and believable as possible.
So whether this next story makes him look better by showing how much he lies to those around him, or whether it contradicts his character by showing him in a more generous light, is open to interpretation.
Since its inception, AEW has utilized many lesser-known wrestlers for squash matches and quick segments. One of those wrestlers is Rickey Shane Page (no relation to Adam Page or Ethan Page), who had a match with Paul Wight (the former Big Show) on September 22, 2021.
That date was important because it was one of the company’s bigger shows since it emanated from Arthur Ashe Stadium and there were around 20,000 people in attendance that night.
A small lie by MJF helped indy wrestler get a spot on AEW Rampage
In an interview with Fightful, Rickey Shane Page (RSP) detailed how MJF told a white lie to AEW management so that RSP would get booked on that episode of Rampage.
“So the day before the show, MJF called me and he was like, ‘Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?’ I was like, ‘Nothing. Why?’ He was like, ‘Can you be in New York?’ I was like, ‘Sure.’ I’m probably gonna get him in trouble, but he was like, ‘I told them you were in New York already, they need guys.’ I was like, ‘Okay.’
So I went literally took a shower, spray tanned, packed my bag and just drove overnight to New York. I slept on Ethan Page’s hotel room floor and I woke up the next morning and I was having a free continental breakfast for a room that I didn’t have at the hotel. Thank you, Tony Khan.
I was eating and Aubrey, the ref, came up to me and she was like, ‘Oh, hey. Do you know what you’re doing today?’ I was like, ‘No.’ She’s like, ‘You’re wrestling Paul Wight.’ I was like, ‘Shut the fuck up. No, I’m not,’ and she was like, ‘Oh yeah.’ I was like, ‘Uh, okay.’
So shout out MJF. He’s always looking out for me. He’s the best. It was so cool. Paul’s great. He’s a super good brother.”
MJF has yet to wrestle a single match since Revolution as he’s still recovering from the damage he sustained in his successful AEW World Title defense against Bryan Danielson.
h/t Fightful for the transcription