AEW World Champion MJF recently expressed deep admiration for John Cena, citing him as a major inspiration during his youth. The praise came during an interview where MJF shared the influence Cena has had on his career in professional wrestling.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the INSIGHT podcast, MJF recounted his encounter with Cena at the premiere of the film Iron Claw. He described the moment he met the WWE legend and how meaningful the interaction was for him personally.
MJF Reflects on Meeting John Cena and His Influence
During the interview, MJF called Cena “a god amongst men,” emphasizing how impactful his presence was. He detailed how, on two separate red carpet events, he had the chance to talk with Cena, learn from him, and even told him directly that Cena was a significant inspiration in his life and career.
“He’s a god amongst men. I have now gotten to on two red carpets, I’ve gotten to chat him up and pick his brain and like I’ll never forget I’m standing there, I see him enter the room and I walked up to him. I shook his hand and I said, ‘I just want you to know you were a big inspiration for me.’,” said Max.
This display of respect stands out since MJF, known as one of AEW’s top heels, rarely breaks character to openly praise his peers. His genuine admiration for Cena highlights the impact Cena has had beyond his in-ring accomplishments.
MJF Addresses Retirement Thoughts, Referencing John Cena and AJ Styles
In the same conversation, MJF was asked about his future plans and whether retirement was something he had contemplated. Referencing the retirement matches of John Cena and AJ Styles, he made it clear that ending his wrestling career is not on his mind any time soon. Cena’s final match took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event last December, while Styles wrestled his last WWE bout against Gunther at the Royal Rumble event in Riyadh.
“No, because I’m young, the idea hasn’t even entered my head, like when I was watching that John Cena retirement, or the AJ Styles retirement,” he said.
At just 29 years old, MJF has already achieved remarkable success in professional wrestling. His acknowledgment of Cena’s influence and his own long-term outlook suggest he is determined to continue evolving his career for years to come.
