MJF isn't a big fan of the WWE Vs. AEW tribalism that plays out online, and he's never been shy about giving some shine to wrestlers with The Other Company. Such was the case when The Salt Of The Earth appeared on the Sam Roberts podcast to talk all things sports entertainment. The conversation lasted more than an hour and offered insight into Friedman's mindset on numerous topics. Including why WWE COO Triple H is first on his Mount Rushmore of professional wrestling.
As the interview was winding down, Roberts referenced a conversation Friedman had on a different show where he named Triple H his all-time favorite and asked MJF to explain. "Who is Triple H now in 2022? COO [of WWE]. What else is there to talk about?" Friedman reasoned. "Even if we're only talking about his wrestling career, I think he still winds [up] there. The Rock, Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Edge, Bryan Danielson, Randy Orton, Bautista, Ric Flair, at one point... he made all of these people. And I'm forgetting names. I know I am. And it's because he was so incredibly hated that when he went through the curtain and entered that ring... I'll put it this way. If Wheeler Yuta was standing across from him, they would chant Yuta's name. Now, who does that remind you of?"
It's Tough To Argue With MJF's Case For Triple H
(This video contains NSFW language and subjects.)
MJF seems to be one of the few wrestlers who understands how necessary a good heel is. A hero is only as strong as the villain they are contending with, and The Game was one of the Attitude Era's very best bad guys. He committed some of WWE's most detestable acts, and the heat he generated was otherworldly at times. Triple H is the face of the company now, but for a long while, he was one of the most hated wrestlers working.
The list of performers who MJF rattled off had plenty of memorable interactions with Triple H, and it stands to reason that they all benefitted greatly. It also makes a ton of sense that Friedman would respect Hunter's business acumen, noting that he climbed from the bottom of the card to the tippy top of the company during his storied career. AEW fans clamor to try and figure out who The Devil Himself is the "next" version of. Some think he's the next Stone Cold. Others see similarities between him and CM Punk. Triple H might be a better comparison, however, at least in terms of in-ring work. MJF is flat-out better on the mic than Hunter ever was, allowing him to generate heat in ways beyond a sledgehammer or dastardly tactics. MJF beat Yuta on last week's Wednesday Night Dynamite and can cash in his poker chip for an AEW World Championship match whenever he so chooses.
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Source: Sam Roberts podcast/YouTube