Maxwell Jacob Faceturn (more like fakeout)

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

So many moving parts in this, I can’t help but feel there’s a mother of a swerve coming. Like, not Russo-esque, there’s been a few seeds being planted earlier, but it could be a whopper of a thing to give people a sample of what they want in babyface MJF, only to rip it away when he becomes THE monster heel when he wins the belt.

Or the crowd could just cheer the swerve and render the whole point moot.

[Mid-Carder]

Much as I don't really want him as a face, I hope they commit to this turn now and don't just do some stupid swerve.

[celtics543]

I think this ends with his decision not to use the dynamite diamond ring coming back to bite him and he loses because of it. Sort of like Piper not using the bell at Wrestlemania 8. He realizes that he got soft and he comes back as the biggest heel imaginable before winning the title and starting a reign of terror in AEW.

[simplydurhamcalling]

Oct 27, 2022 3:01:58 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

So many moving parts in this, I can’t help but feel there’s a mother of a swerve coming. Like, not Russo-esque, there’s been a few seeds being planted earlier, but it could be a whopper of a thing to give people a sample of what they want in babyface MJF, only to rip it away when he becomes THE monster heel when he wins the belt.

Or the crowd could just cheer the swerve and render the whole point moot.

Could be somewhat inspired by The Rock's path to top tier babyface where he was first teased as one immediately prior to his move to main event heel at Survivor Series 1998 where he also won his first World Championship. I really hope this leads to World Champion MJF with Regal, MJF remains heel but moves away from the character threatening to leave every other week. It seems borderline predictable which is fine with me and hopefully they don't go a different route for that reason alone.

[pinja]

Oct 27, 2022 2:08:29 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Oct 27, 2022 0:48:57 GMT -5 pinja said:

Was the ending segment so different from his promo segment with Rene? Because even though the crowd cheered for everything he said, he's still an unlikable asshole all the way through. The tone of his voice, his facial expressions, his Moxley impression, his vulgar "joke" towards Rene - if that would be his traits going forward as a full-blown face, I'm good. I'm not convinced he can be a face that I'd like.

No way he's a full blown face, he's more in that Gambit area for me, an asshole who also happens to lean more face or rouge

Like can't help himself to be a shithead even if he's actually trying to change, old habits die hard.

He's gotten over the way he is. What interests me is: What would AEW or MJF himself change when going full-blown babyface or an Austin like tweener? Right now I fear that the audience goes along with everything he does and says.

That's of course part of the beauty of wrestling. You get life feedback from the people which kind of character is popular right now or clamored for. I can think of no other media where that is the case. But it bears the danger of people cheering the most awful shit and it'd tank my enjoyment if I'd feel totally disconnected from the general audience.

Even last week, MJF's heartfelt promo. I thought: "Man, he's talking about doubting himself, considering suicide. Now he's standing there measuring his success by how much money companies are willing to pay him. That's such a dangerous path for the poor guy." But then the audience went with it.

I can't cast judgment on anything that's happening with MJF right now, because I don't know what the audience really is reacting to (the actual content of his promos, the direction, his energy and engagement?) and how it's supposed to react. I just don't see anything faceish in any of his promos. On the contrary, it feels he's just getting unhinged.

[Abdullah]

Look. If it was just the on-screen content that I was measuring, I’d say we’re headed for a Garcia-style swerve. This company usually likes to drag things out.

But there are a few context clues that sway me.
1) If Mox is going on that long-reported vacation, AEW might want another top face at the ready.
2) MJF has openly discussed being more face in interviews.

But meh. That post-match angle was solid, but everything about AEW has me thinking ‘swerve’ and ‘stall.’ The one example of The Acclaimed doesn’t cut it, shining as it is.

[Mayonnaise]

Oct 27, 2022 7:22:06 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Look. If it was just the on-screen content that I was measuring, I’d say we’re headed for a Garcia-style swerve. This company usually likes to drag things out.

But there are a few context clues that sway me.
1) If Mox is going on that long-reported vacation, AEW might want another top face at the ready.
2) MJF has openly discussed being more face in interviews.

But meh. That post-match angle was solid, but everything about AEW has me thinking ‘swerve’ and ‘stall.’ The one example of The Acclaimed doesn’t cut it, shining as it is.

It is an interesting point that with Mox still having a vacation looming (or with Renee now on tv does that happen) that they will be down all their to faces. He could fill that role but he's playing to the crowd so much it just feels like a Rock in 98, or more appropriately Punk in ROH, like thing where he gets the fans behind him only to betray them for more heat thing.

[markymark]

While speaking on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that MJF doesn’t want to be a babyface.

[kingoftheindies]

Remember the greatest trick the devil ever did was convincing people that he didn't exist.

I think this is a calculated move to Swerve and make MJF an Uber heel.

Of course,an angle of a lone MJF where nobody backs him up could also be very good

[Milkman Norm]

Oct 27, 2022 9:19:14 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Remember the greatest trick the devil ever did was convincing people that he didn't exist.

I think this is a calculated move to Swerve and make MJF an Uber heel.

Of course,an angle of a lone MJF where nobody backs him up could also be very good

Where is he!!?

Who?

The guy with the scarf,where is he!!!?

He just walked out a few minutes ago.

[Abdullah]

Oct 27, 2022 9:18:35 GMT -5 markymark said:

While speaking on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that MJF doesn’t want to be a babyface.

Based on what MJF has said, this could easily mean ‘doesn’t want to change his character for the sake of a turn.’

[y4j1981]

Just to note, he is only guessing but Brian Zane of Wrestling with Wregret thinks it's all a set up (ala Bully Ray getting beaten up by Aces & 8s only to turn out to be there leader in TNA).

And he thinks Regal is gonna turn heel and side with MJF. And MJF will win the title

I would like to add, if that's true, considering there friendship over the years on the indys, I could see Yuta turning as well adding to the BCC breakdown

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Oct 30, 2022 18:55:33 GMT -5 y4j1981 said:

Just to note, he is only guessing but Brian Zane of Wrestling with Wregret thinks it's all a set up (ala Bully Ray getting beaten up by Aces & 8s only to turn out to be there leader in TNA).

And he thinks Regal is gonna turn heel and side with MJF. And MJF will win the title

I would like to add, if that's true, considering there friendship over the years on the indys, I could see Yuta turning as well adding to the BCC breakdown

I hate the idea of going back on that beat down. Specially cuz it’s really the first time it’s happened to MJF. I hate the “beat me up for the swerve” mentality. The fugg is this, Scream?..

..on the other hand I’m all for ending BCC, so..

[xCompackx]

Once you put someone through a table, that really should end the "it's a swerve" talks. But I do love the idea of Regal and Yuta turning heel to side with MJF.

Then again, I also love the "face, but still a dick" promo MJF gave on Dynamite so either way is cool with me.

[4real]

I’m hoping The Firm beat down was genuine and MJF already has an alternative plan to win the title so he doesn’t need The Firm anymore.

The Firm are already complete geeks. To me anyway. Also MJF’s babyface stuff this week just made me feel a bit icky. I’m not ready for him to go face at all.

[salz4life]

This feels like that month or so before Survivor Series '98 where The Rock was "facey" up until the match against Mankind at the PPV. Granted, it was a double turn, so it isn't the exact same thing, but I think The Firm will probably help him beat Mox at Full Gear. It might be a loose arrangement with them, but he will be a heel again.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Oct 30, 2022 19:35:02 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

Oct 30, 2022 18:55:33 GMT -5 y4j1981 said:

Just to note, he is only guessing but Brian Zane of Wrestling with Wregret thinks it's all a set up (ala Bully Ray getting beaten up by Aces & 8s only to turn out to be there leader in TNA).

And he thinks Regal is gonna turn heel and side with MJF. And MJF will win the title

I would like to add, if that's true, considering there friendship over the years on the indys, I could see Yuta turning as well adding to the BCC breakdown

I hate the idea of going back on that beat down. Specially cuz it’s really the first time it’s happened to MJF. I hate the “beat me up for the swerve” mentality. The fugg is this, Scream?..

..on the other hand I’m all for ending BCC, so..

I'm ok when there's ways around it and the heel avoids any direct conflict with the people he's secretly teaming with, mysterious assaults we don't see, the whole group scattering when they run in just too late to stop the beatdown etc.

[dynamitekidd]

Yeah as long as the swerve isn't all about MJF and the Firm pulling one over on everybody. For all the reasons already mentioned plus, for me it feels like there hasn't been enough closeness or time given between MJF and the Firm for it to really hit hard.

I think the Dynamite match with Mox/Moriarty will tell us a lot. If at the end it's like, MJF and Mox standing strong against the Firm or MJF stopping a Mox beatdown or something like that, then yeah that might just be the swerve after all.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

It could have nothing to do with The Firm as well. MJF’s vowed to beat Mox clean. The swerve could ultimately be him ending up cheating anyway or using the Pinnacle to win, to remain Heel/Tweenerish.

[dynamitekidd]

Oct 31, 2022 10:13:14 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

It could have nothing to do with The Firm as well. MJF’s vowed to beat Mox clean. The swerve could ultimately be him ending up cheating anyway or using the Pinnacle to win, to remain Heel/Tweenerish.

I honestly think this is it. It will be all about him using the ring to cheat or not. He was very specific about the ring in his promo. I think he thinks about it and either says f'k it I am the devil and uses it to win, or he doesn't use it at all to move along MJFace.

I like the fact that I honestly don't know what's going to happen.