MJF had plenty of praise for Gunther while discussing some of WWE’s biggest names, but he still had one complaint about the former World Heavyweight Champion. The AEW star admitted he was “pretty upset” over “The Ring General” defeating John Cena in the final match of Cena’s WWE career.
Speaking to “Pro Wrestling Illustrated” while discussing the wrestlers who made the 2026 PWI 500 top 10, MJF made it clear that his issue was not with Gunther himself. Instead, he took exception to the way Cena’s final match played out, before giving Gunther significant credit for his abilities inside the ring.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman said:
“So, great guy. Pretty upset about the John Cena match. Still am. Well, John Cena is the second greatest professional wrestler of all time behind me. And to just see John go out like that, it was really upsetting. So, didn’t love it. Didn’t love it. But I mean, Gunther probably the hardest-hitting professional wrestler in the game besides me, of course. Really talented, tough SOB. In the words of AEW commentator extraordinaire Jim Ross, he’s tougher than a $2 steak.”
Gunther defeated Cena by submission at Saturday Night’s Main Event in December 2025, putting him away with the Sleeper Hold after Cena fought through several attempts to finish the match. It was Cena’s final WWE match as he ended his career with a loss before receiving a lengthy farewell from the WWE roster and fans in Washington, D.C.
MJF’s comments therefore mixed his usual self-confidence with genuine respect for Gunther. While he joked about placing himself above “The Cenation Leader,” he described the WWE star as one of the hardest-hitting wrestlers in the business and praised the toughness that has defined The Ring General’s WWE run.
MJF Praises Gunther, Trick Williams and Oba Femi After PWI 500 Ranking
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MJF’s comments came while he was discussing the 2026 PWI 500, where he was ranked No. 1. Cody Rhodes finished second, CM Punk was third, and Gunther rounded out the top 10 at No. 10. Trick Williams ranked eighth, while Oba Femi placed ninth, giving WWE five spots in the top 10 alongside Rhodes and Punk.
MJF also had positive things to say about Williams and Femi. He described Williams as a good guy with “a boatload of potential” after meeting him at LaGuardia Airport and later seeing him again at a friend’s party.
Femi received similar praise, with MJF calling him a great dude and pointing out his size and potential. The AEW star also noted that Femi was represented by his friend Brian Dipperstein.
For Gunther, however, MJF’s praise came with a memorable caveat. He may still believe Cena’s final match should have ended differently, but his assessment of Gunther’s toughness was unmistakably complimentary.
Gunther’s No. 10 position also placed him among an elite group of wrestlers across several major promotions, while MJF claimed the top spot for the first time.
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