MJF on independent wrestlers in 2026: “I think a lot of these new guys are lazy – You’re not signed yet because you f*cking suck”

While speaking to SI.com, AEW world champion MJF commented on the state of independent wrestling in 2026…

“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.”

“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.”