MJF Opens Up About His Tribute to WWE’s Triple H: “The Greatest Ever”
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), the longest-reigning AEW World Champion and youngest to hold the identify, lately shared his deep admiration for WWE’s Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Known for his confident, often brash personality, MJF discovered a rare glimpse of vulnerability and respect as he defined why he selected to pay homage to Triple H, a discern he believes is extraordinary in expert wrestling.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque, a call synonymous with the WWE, holds a legacy that stretches over many years. To the wrestling network, he’s extra than simply an athlete; he’s a visionary, a mentor, and now, the WWE Chief Content Officer. Triple H has fashioned the careers of infinite wrestlers and has been instrumental inside the evolution of the WWE’s logo. His work with NXT, mainly, set a brand new standard for what expert wrestling could be, offering a sparkling, opportunity angle to the principle WWE roster.
Triple H’s in-ring profession is storied, with highlights that span from the past due 1990s via the 2000s. During this time, he solidified his status as one among WWE’s all-time greats, boasting 14 World Titles and a reputation as a main occasion fixture. His affect became specifically strong in the 2010s as he transitioned from lively competition to a at the back of-the-scenes position, wherein his impact grew even extra profound. Yet, while he stepped far from the ring, his legacy endured to encourage a brand new era of wrestlers, such as MJF, who changed into born just 3 years earlier than Triple H gained his first WWE Championship.
MJF’s Return and the Emotional Tribute
In the arena of wrestling, where personas are large than lifestyles and rivalries, the fire of enjoyment, real tributes are rare. So while MJF back to AEW after a significant injury, his choice of attire caught the attention of wrestling fans everywhere. On May 26th, at AEW Double or Nothing, MJF walked out in a blue and black jean jacket. It was a look unmistakably reminiscent of Triple H’s iconic return to WWE in January 2002 at Madison Square Garden, following his own grueling recovery from a torn quadriceps muscle.
For MJF, the decision to mirror Triple H’s comeback gear was far from a random choice; it was deeply personal. “Oh, my god. The greatest ever! When I was a kid… so, I was born in ’96, so I vividly remember that [Triple H’s return from injury at Madison Square Garden]. That was my arena as a kid, and I thought, ‘All right. I’m returning from a serious injury.’ Every other f**king mark/nerd in wrestling does cosplay gear, and I was like, I’m gonna do it one time, and one time only,” MJF shared, his voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and reverence.
The tribute was not just a carbon copy. MJF added his own twist, incorporating his signature Burberry pattern and lion emblem into the design. “I put my own spin on it. I put Burberry all over it, MJF, my lion. But, yeah, it was a bit of an homage, for sure. That was my childhood,” he added, emphasizing how deeply Triple H’s career had influenced him from a young age.