AEW World Champion MJF believes that modern wrestling fans won’t get behind a “squeaky clean” babyface and will instead gravitate to someone more relatable.
According to a recent interview with GQ Sports, MJF believes that his ability to connect with the crowd sets him apart from other wrestlers in the industry. While many wrestlers rely on high-risk moves and physicality to elicit a response from the audience, MJF focuses on emotional investment. He believes that fans are more likely to cheer for a complex character rather than someone who is squeaky clean.
Nobody wants to cheer for a dude who’s squeaky clean,
He takes pride in his ability to evoke emotional responses from the crowd and believes that his character’s depth and imperfections make him relatable. He compares himself to Batman, stating that the Dark Knight’s flaws make him a more intriguing character than the near-perfect Superman. According to him, the audience wants someone they can relate to and invest in emotionally.
I think there’s a reason why Superman movies have almost never hit, bro. I love Superman, but Batman’s where it’s at because Batman’s more interesting. There’s more depth there. The guy’s not perfect, and that’s something that everyone can relate to,
Unlike some wrestlers who rely on flashy moves and acrobatics, MJF wrestles in his own unique style, favouring technical manoeuvres over high-risk stunts. He believes that his connection with the crowd can be seen through the screen, and his goal is to make the audience have an emotional response to his matches.
You’re emotionally invested in MJF, and you’re emotionally invested in anybody I get in the ring with because I give you no choice. I’m involved, and you care about what I’m doing because you care about me.
He understands that his ability to engage the crowd on an emotional level is what sets him apart from other wrestlers who may receive temporary reactions from the audience due to big stunts or moves.
You can see that through the screen and I’m making you have an emotional response. Other guys in our sport, they’re beating the shit out of each other and hitting moves that look crazy. And if you listen to the crowd, they’ll come up when the big thing happens. But you’ll also hear the big gaps of silence because they’re not emotionally invested in the participants.
What Is MJF Doing Next In AEW?
MJF’s upcoming match at AEW Full Gear will see him defend his AEW World Title against Jay White. He recently defended his ROH World Tag Team Title, which he holds with his currently injured partner Adam Cole, in a Handicap match at WrestleDream.
H/t to Fightful.com