All Elite Wrestling star MJF pulled no punches when discussing his former rival CM Punk during a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour. While the AEW star didn't shy away from sharp personal insults, he was equally quick to acknowledge Punk's undeniable talent between the ropes.
Their 2022 feud remains one of the most memorable in AEW history, highlighted by an intense Dog Collar Match that showcased their respective abilities. While personal heat reportedly grew, fueled in part by Punk's infamous All Out 2022 media scrum and later backstage issues, MJF has repeatedly separated Punk's personality from his in-ring prowess in past interviews.
When Helwani asked MJF if he was surprised by CM Punk's strong run since returning to WWE, the Salt of the Earth responded with his signature bluntness by saying, "No, I’m not surprised at how good he’s doing. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s a f***ing c***."
Pushed to elaborate, the AEW star said, "He just sucks. He’s a bad guy, but he’s an incredible professional wrestler. Not going to take that away. He’s a piece of shit, but he’s a great wrestler."
Whether fans agree with MJF's colourful assessment of Punk or not, one thing is certain: the "Devil" continues to speak his mind with zero filter, staying true to the persona that has made him one of wrestling's most compelling figures. For many fans, it's just a shame that he's doing this in AEW, a company that sits as a distant second behind WWE.
Asked about deciding not to sign with WWE, MJF said, "Was it tough? No. You have to know your worth, and I know my worth. And my worth was built because of the legacy that I’m building in AEW. There is something very enchanting to me, no matter how much money did, or does, or will get thrown at me and trust me, it was a lot, hypothetically."
"It was a f***ing lot, hypothetically. It doesn’t matter because I care about my legacy more than anything," he continued. "The idea of going down as the greatest of all time is really important to me, and I also think that there’s something very special about being able to say that with having never worked 'there.'"
It turns out MJF also isn't a fan of AEW stars signing with WWE after using Tony Khan's company as a stepping stone to what many might feel are bigger and better things.
"The biggest offender? I think it’s pretty obvious that’s Malakai Black," he said of Aleister Black. "I don’t know the guy on a personal level. Do I think he’s a bad guy? No. Do I think he was a mark for 'Oh, I need my Mania moment.' Yeah. There were a couple of guys like that, and they got weeded out. They went over there, and some found out the grass isn’t greener."
You can watch the full interview with MJF in the player below.