After having a few days to let it sink in, what do you think about the promo now? I've watched it a few times this week, and I think he — and AEW — really nailed it. His delivery was emotional and powerful – he's so convincing when he speaks. And to me at least, I felt like it walked right up to the line of the backstage/insider stuff but never actually crossed over into Russo territory of saying everything is predetermined but this part is real. He's mad at his boss for not paying him enough while he goes out and delivers every week. In that light, I was able to get past some of the things that kind of bugged me the first time I heard it (like that line about second best ratings minute-per-minute). So overall, I think he crushed that and I'm super curious to see how this plays out in the weeks ahead, which I think was their goal.
What are your latest thoughts on the MJF promo?
I don’t think I’m thinking about it as intensely as most of the internet is. It was an exciting moment on the show but it’s clearly a work. Y’all know I’m not a fan of “everything you’re watching is fake except for what you’re watching right now which is real!” And this fit squarely into that. Poor Wardlow, though, who destroyed MJF and then got all of his heat scooped on the very next show.